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Martin & Orloff
by: lickyoats 10.30.2002


Suicide and egg rolls have never been funnier. Matt Walsh and Ian Roberts, known to most as Trotter and Antoine from the Comedy Central skit-com "Upright Citizens Brigade," are more than just sketch comedy gurus. Last week, my friend Vernon and I were both fortunate enough to attend a private screening of Roberts' and Walsh's first full length feature film together. Although it is obviously not the first time that these two have collaborated, nor the first time that either of them have had a significant role in film (Ian Roberts played the infamous Sparky on "Bring It On" and Matt Walsh had his major motion picture debut in "Road Trip"), it is the first movie to cast all four members of the Upright Citizens Brigade. Martin and Orloff, directed by Lawrence Blume (director of ABC's "Otherwise Known As Sheila The Great"), is an offbeat blend of high brow dark comedy and light hearted low brow humor, and is loaded with more wit than a schizophrenic milkshake made with Robin Williams, Jerry Seinfeld, Roseanne Barr, and Conan O'Brien.

And speaking of Conan, this film boasts an all star roster of comic gems including Conan's former sidekick, Andy Richter, as well as Mr. Show's comic genius, David Cross, and SNL babes Janeane Garofalo, Tina Fey, and Rachel Dratch. The basic synopsis is that Martin (Ian Roberts), a conflicted mascot costume designer for a Chinese restaurant empire, has just recently attempted suicide, and is about to begin therapy with Dr. Orloff (Matt Walsh), a peculiar, unprofessional psychiatrist whose methods are anything but orthodox. Dr. Orloff leads a reluctant Martin through a series of unexpected adventures, and during the most inappropriate moments will suddenly 'lapse' into a 'session,' asking an embarrassed Martin 'so why'd you try to kill yourself?'

After umpiring a game of softball, getting arrested, having the best 'underground' sweet potato pie in New York, and going on a hot date with a stripper (UCB/SNL's Amy Poehler), Martin is prescribed a 'friendship' by Dr. Orloff. Dr. Orloff begins to tackle Martin's feelings of suicide, and Martin manages to team up with an unlikely group of adversaries {a woman enraged by a death wish for her father under permanent hypnosis (Katie Roberts), a professional football player with a ten foot schlong (Sal Graziano), an obsessed director (David Cross) reaching out to Dr. Orloff for commentary, and a man who defecates in bathroom sinks and camouflages himself in upholstery (Jon Benjamin)} to face his most feared enemies of all {his boss (Matt Besser) and owner of the Chinese fast food empire (Les Mau)} and save a group of brownie scout girls from being burned alive by spare rib sauce.



This is definitely the most I have laughed in a theater in a very long time, and I certainly hope that this film makes its way to cinemas across the country, as I was absolutely floored by it. If you enjoyed the deliciously obscure humor of the Upright Citizens Brigade when they were on Comedy Central, then you will absolutely cream yourself over this one. And if not, then you probably just have a small penis.

--Licky Oats--

You can learn more about the film, the incredible cast, and director Lawrence Blume at www.martinandorloff.com. You can learn more about the Upright Citizens Brigade (and even sign up for improv comedy classes at their UCB theater!) at uprightcitizensbrigade.com.
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