Let's Go to Prison (2006)

It is a performances centric movie

The first must-see film of the year.

The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

... but WHY do I feel guilty? Maybe it is because such terrible things go on behind bars - rape, gangs that dish out death based on race, bad food, corrupt guards, etc. and all of that is treated comically in this film. BUT, really nothing that you would expect given the set up of the film actually happens to the degree that it could, and in the end it turns out to have some very clever twists. It is just not all stupidity and it is very non-violent considering what could happen.The setup is that a career non-violent criminal, John Lyshitski (Dax Shepard) is constantly getting caught and sent to prison by Judge Nelson Biedermann. But Lyshitski blames all of his incarcerations on the judge, not on his own bad choices, and he spends so much time in prison he knows everybody by name. So John decides to carry out a plan of revenge on the judge, except the judge dies right before he gets out of jail. So John changes his plan to avenge himself on the dead judge's son, Nelson Biedermann IV, by tampering with his inhaler and making him temporarily high. In this state Ned trashes a store and attacks the store owners, all caught on the store security camera. Did I mention that Ned IV is an insufferable preppy jerk? So Ned demands that the Biedermann foundation help get him out, BUT the foundation decides they would like to be rid of this stupid jerk and defend him themselves and throw the case. Ned goes to prison for 3-5 years.Meanwhile, John is not feeling the glee he thought he would at Ned going to prison. After all, he figures, he won't be there to see Ned get what is certainly going to be coming to a soft preppy rich kid with no street smarts. So this time, John gets caught on purpose, gets sent to prison for 3-5 just like Ned, and manages his prison connections so he is Ned's cellmate. At first things go like you think they would, but then a twist of fate for both Ned and John change things in a way that was inconceivable to John when he started this whole thing. From there you will have to watch yourself and find out what happens. If you have a distaste for violence, don't worry, this is not Shawshank Redemption on any possible level.Oh, and kudos to Chi McBride who becomes the unlikely means for Ned to give the foundation that dumped him their comeuppance. This film is probably a 6.5 as a comedy, but I rounded it up to 7 for originality, especially during the last half.

This movie is an instant classic. The laughter never stops. The funniest thing about this film is that it isn't that far from the truth of what actually happens behind prison walls. The comedic relief is actually the facts of the matter. The humor in this movie is actually pretty dry, but creative. I found myself laughing more often than not. I like how everyone is against the lawyer, even the people at his own foundation (The Beederman Foundation). It basically says "all lawyers are crooks" ha-ha. At least that's what I got out of it. I also like how the movie took actual prison type scenarios and turned them into comedic drama. That's the best part about it. This movie is a hoot. You'll laugh most of the way through. It will be enjoyed by most people familiar, or unfamiliar, with our justice system.Over all, this movie will keep you laughing, and wondering what will happen next. It's a hell of a laugh fest, with good acting and fun characters. Prepare for a good time.

When a career criminal's plan for revenge is thwarted by unlikely circumstances, he puts his intended victim's son in his place by putting him in prison... and then joining him.I remember when this film came out (2006) and it looked mildly funny but seems to have fell off the radar. Now (2016) I finally gave it a shot. It's not hilarious, but has its moments and definitely is one of a kind. Other than "Half Baked", I can't think of another prison comedy that compares.What really makes this interesting is how big Will Arnett has become. At the time, I'm sure he was known for "Arrested Development", but he has really blown up with "Lego Batman", "Bojack Horseman", "Flaked" and more... seeing him in this role is a treat.

"Let's go to prison" is a film that begins in a way and then totally changes it's main plot. In the get go of this picture, we get to think that the story is gonna focus on the judge's son revenge, but actually it focuses much more in the routine of a prison than anything else. The cast is professional and never fails in doing his job, mixing good actors with funny-- and stereotypical-- characters. The duck scene in the shower was really hilarious. I felt they should've made a last scene involving a beautiful message of friendship, but the writers chose to end it lightly. So, the movie as a whole, although being very different from it's synopsis, is quite entertaining and delivers a good time-- but never totally pleases. Give it a chance as a cheap comedy and you will may have a good time.