Electric Apricot (2007)

Touches You

Just perfect...

Instant Favorite.

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

In the style of "This Is Spinal Tap," a pseudo-documentary film burlesque and improbable. Completely out of touch in the wonder-world of Hollywood California's artists, the band, victim of the industrial musical system, go on record for a so called tour in the countryside of the United States. No one really understands what happens once they turn up, they got lost in the maze of the high ! The scenario is just hilarious and Claypool, the extraterrestrial Bass-player of the legendary band "PRIMUS", gives us here a production from his planet ! An excellent unknown footage. Recommended for fans, freaks, curious of nonsense among others !

First let me get out this out of the way... Unlike most of the people who have previously reviewed this film, I'm not a fan of Les Claypool or Primus. I never really got into their music, although after seeing this film, I definitely have a whole new respect for the guy. Anybody who can do something that completely makes fun of their own art form, deserves a modicum of respect, because they are at ease with themselves and with the world.I checked this film out on a whim. And I was hugely satisfied. This movie isn't laugh-out-loud hilarious, and in fact the jokes will probably only be found funny to mainly musicians or fans of the jam band scene. Myself, being a musician, and a fan of certain groups on that scene, found it to be hilarious.Les Claypool does a great job as Lapdog, their overtly confident and technical freak of a drummer (and who knew Les could play the drums so well? I certainly didn't). The scene where he's discussing drums and drummers with Matt Abst of Gov't Mule is priceless! The other members of the group all have their quirks and ticks. Gordo especially. He has an idolatry of Jerry Garcia that is unmatched, to the point where he has a customized guitar to match Jerry's style (with a dash of Warren Haynes), has a tortilla that supposedly bears Jerry's image (which Bob Weir, in a quick cameo, quickly refutes as possibly just being Jesus, in his many appearances on food), and punches out a bartender who was talking smack about Apricot and Jerry. A little cinematic slap-in-the-face to the neigh-sayers, perhaps...?Most of the cameos are spot-on. Seth Green and Matt Stone as "Tapers" arguing about which kind of microphone is better is absolute genius. Arj Barker as Apricot super-fan "The Cube" was a bit weak. It just seemed to me that he was essentially playing the same character that he plays on "Flight of the Conchords", although he can bring a big tray of "special brownies" to my house any day.Dian Bachar (whom "South Park" fans will know as the voice of Satan's lover "Chris", or as 'Squeak' from "Baseketball") is probably the best cameo in the film. He plays an overeager music school graduate who longs to go on the road as Electric Apricot's roadie, which again for me hits home, since I am also currently in school for music and have done internships at recording studios. Not that I was ever overeager or anything like that, nor have I ever been sacked from a job for being overeager, but I do long to be on the road, but as a musician and not a roadie (although in the Philly indie music scene, we're our own roadies).Overall the film is very well done, although some may be put off by the very specific jokes and references. But I assure you, if you liked Spinal Tap, A Mighty Wind, or Bad News, you will love Electric Apricot.

Like probably everyone else who ends up seeing this flick, I'm also a pretty big fan of Les. But mostly for his Primus work and his unique personality. I never knew he had a knack for making movies, and low and behold he dishes out Electric Apricot.Electric Apricot is mockumentary on a jam band whose goal is to make an album and to just get big. To get big their manager wants them to play the Jam festival, Festeroo. I still don't know if it's a fictitious festival or not. Anywho, this is basically the story.Electric Apricot is a good movie, but for this guy, it didn't really do much. I tend to notice the bad before the good, which is good and bad, but there was a surprisingly tedious, especially during the beginning. I was also disappointed with almost all the beginning cameos. The ones with Seth Green, Matt Stone and that dude from Flight of the Conchords. They all oozed, "We're acting." and I just didn't find it funny. The laugh at my funny-cube-dance bit.....gimme a break. And for the first half of the film I wasn't digging the band members either. Surprisingly, the best actor out of everyone involved was, of course, the most talented person in the film, Les. His acting was neurotic and funny. I won't completely say I disliked the acting by the band, because by the end I was into all the characters and I was enjoying the movie for what it was, a movie about a band with no limits, no fear and no clue. Which is exactly how this movie played out.Oh, and a shout out to Choda Boy (Orgazmo anyone?). He was by far the most entertaining actor in the film. His scene when he gets in his car, was also the funniest part of the film.Like I said above, I kinda thought the movie was boring at points. But it does hit a stride, and it wound up be pretty entertaining. And I didn't laugh but only about a handful of times, which kinda stinks. Electric Apricot should have a little cult-following behind it, and fanboys of Les, Jam fans and fans of Spinal Tap should probably get a nice kick out of it. Definitely a nice effort and overall achievement by first time director Les Claypool.

When I bought my ticket, I wasn't prepared for the laughter I'd soon experience. Musicians are well known for their senses of humor, but Les Claypool really outdid himself. This guy's got it down; to make great music and great movies is a very admirable skill.Even those who are not musically inclined will love this movie. Each character reflects their real-life counterparts, whom we all know and love.If you laughed at Spinal Tap, you'll cackle and howl at Electric Apricot. This is, by far, the best film National Lampoon has had its name on--at least in the last ten years.From an avid musician, this is a no-brainer to recommend all around.