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Film Review: 'Hey Mr. Postman'

A job at the post office leads to various mishaps in this solid enough comedy that ends on a high note.

By Trevor WellsPublished 5 years ago 3 min read
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Brian Lincoln's (Walter Franks) luck couldn't be worse. He's lost his job as a bus cleaner, had his car towed, found out his girlfriend has left him for another man, and has all his furniture repossessed. Desperate for a new job to provide for himself as well as his ailing mother, Brian takes up his cousin's offer of getting his a job at the local post office as a mail carrier. While Brian's wild and unfiltered personality rubs some the wrong way, he still manages to score the job.

Brian soon learns, however, that the job is not going to be as easy as he once thought. From crazed dogs to bizarre customers, Brian finds himself running into one crazy mishap after the next. But after falling for the beautiful Jovanna Mendoza (Liana Mendoza) and becoming entangled with neighborhood crime boss Mack (Omar Gooding), Brian finds his job getting a lot more exciting—and, if such a thing is possible, even crazier.

When I think about how I felt about this film, the old adage, "Don't judge a book by its cover," comes to mind. In the beginning, I had mixed feelings for Hey Mr. Postman; the plot takes a bit to get going and, for the most part, the brand of humor that constituted the film's opening acts wasn't hitting the mark for me. But after sticking it through, I found myself surprised at how much I began enjoying some of the humor and the zany situations Brian was finding himself in. The final act also introduces a compelling story that breaks the film away from its "series of comedic events" storytelling, making for a satisfying conclusion to what could've been just a weightless comedy.

The film's weaker moments of comedy are nonetheless successfully carried by Walter Franks, who delivers a ton of energy into his loud-mouthed, unfiltered character, while also keeping him grounded so that his behavior doesn't cross the line into un-likability. The film's third act introduced plot arc also has Brian showing off a more serious and courageous side, with Franks playing the transition with as much energy as he gives to Walter's humorous side. The film also manages to play its serious third act arc with a nice blend of comedy and drama, making for a well-toned final act.

Liana Mendoza and Omar Gooding are also strong in their respective roles, with Mendoza's solid performance surprising me due to her introduction, setting her up to be a "Hot But Dumb Girl" stereotype. Mendoza also forms a strong chemistry with Franks, making you believe in Brian and Jovanna's budding relationship and root for it to survive. Gooding, meanwhile, brings a good mix of comedic toughness and genuine malice to his role, selling him as a legitimate antagonist during the film's final act.

Hey Mr. Postman's side cast carries much of the humorous gags Brian encounters on the job, and while the humor itself is a mixed bag for me, there are quite a few side characters who struck a chord with me. Some include Aaron Johnson Levy as the over-the-top Levelle, Diane Scott as insatiable nymphomaniac Peaches, and Jimmie Lee Williams as loud mail carrier "Crazy Dave." Paula Jai Parker is another gem as Brian's stern but well-intentioned boss Ms. Kelly, and Irma R. McQueen injects a bit of heart into the film as Brian's supportive mother. John Walker also serves as the film's secondary antagonist Harry Cocks (yes, really), making use of his limited screentime to make Harry an effective loathsome menace to Brian.

Hey Mr. Postman proves to be a tough sell, as the slow pace of the first acts of the movie and inconsistently effective humor can prove too big a hurdle for some viewers. But if you stick it out, the second half of the film proves to be genuinely funny and surprisingly heartfelt, with a conclusion that ties everything together with a nice bow. It's not a perfect film, but it's an enjoyable one all the same, once it gets into its groove.

Score: 7 out of 10 taser guns.

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About the Creator

Trevor Wells

Aspiring writer and film lover: Lifetime, Hallmark, indie, and anything else that strikes my interest. He/him.

Link to Facebook

Twitter: @TrevorWells98

Instagram: @trevorwells_16

Email: [email protected]

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