Color, PG-13 (language, coarse humor), 92 min., PPV: 90 days, VHS $49.95, DVD $24.95
Street: Oct. 15; Prebook: Sept. 26
Cast: Jeff Daniels (Dumb & Dumber), Kimberly Norris Guerrero (Folly Island), Joey Albright (Ordinary Killer), Harve Presnell (Fargo)
Director: Jeff Daniels
MONARCH
Story Line: It's hunting season again, and the men of the Soady family are making their annual trek to a deer camp in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. At 43, Reuben (Daniels) still hasn't bagged a buck--but he expects to better his chances this year by making some alterations to the clan's hunting ritual.
Bottom Line: Daniels has played both leading and supporting roles, working in big--budget studio films and low--budget indies. Some have been big hits and some have been flops. This rustic comedy, which Daniels also wrote and directed, shows him to advantage as a lovable loser. It's not especially noteworthy, possibly because he consistently takes the low road when trolling for laughs. The plot is pretty thin and would have worked much better as a half-hour sitcom episode. But the gags are plentiful, and some are pretty good to boot. You won't set any records with this one, but it'll find a receptive audience among less sophisticated renters. --Ed Hulse