Written and directed by Don Tjernagel, Rudy’s (2024) tells the story of a restaurant owner torn between selling his family business and considering the impact on those closest to him in this comedic mosaic. Starring Corey Kerr, Sam Tarasco, Daniel Solwold and a whole lot of other talented actors, the film is a dramedy that has a surprisingly warm and fuzzy message by its end.
Tjernagel has a knack for creating and exploring genuine human drama. Taking characters who have recently suffered a shock in their personal lives, Tjernagel always focuses on how these characters are knocked back by life and then rebuild their lives, soaring to happiness in the process. It is this theme that we have seen again and again in several Tjernagel films and here, in Rudy’s do we find this exploration of suffering yet again. Everytime Tjernagel manages to find something new and here, in the shoes of Chris Campbell, we see how a young man finds himself at a crossroads, contemplating how a single decision of his will end up impacting numerous others..
The narrative pacing of the film is brisk and this helps the story on its toes as no moment is lost during useless exposition dumps. Tjernagel keeps the bulk of the narrative focused on Campbell as other supporting characters are briskly introduced and then utilised for the service of the story. The script balances comedy and drama well and each character is unique enough to leave a mark on the audience. The cinematography is impressive as shots are expertly framed and there is even a hint of narrative visualisation in there as well. The sound mixing and sound editing are both above average and all technical aspects of the film remain top notch. All in all, every aspect of the production works as it is expected to, resulting in a film that is better than good.
Part of the appeal of the film lies in its diverse characters as Tjernagel has written a story populated with a variety of different, quirky characters. Some of these characters are quite memorable, others not so much but the crux of the matter is that these characters are written and acted in a way that they fly off the screen right into our memories. From the customers to the restaurant employees, every character makes his or her mark. With the cast being jam packed as it is, this enables the audience to remember these well written characters.
Another strong aspect of the film is its cinematography. The signature black and white montage that has been a staple of Tjernagel productions for some time now, is missing here but fret not as what replaces it are beautiful, lively shots that still retain the signature Tjernagel red yellowish colour scheme. The 80 minute film whizzes by and this speaks to the prowess of the editors who make sure that the narrative momentum never flounders once it gets going. Therefore, Rudy’s is as strong technically as it is narratively and the result is therefore a film that works on multiple levels without feeling derivative or cliched.
Thus, Rudy’s (2024) is a great film that manages to impress by the time it ends. We say this because the characters are great and memorable, the story works on multiple levels and there is enough genuine human drama mixed with natural comedy to keep audience interest hooked throughout. There is a lot going in the film and kudos to Tjernagel for keeping everything perfectly balanced. The 80 minute film breezes by in a flash and as the end credits roll, you find yourself yearning for more of this dose of crazy, energetic tale of a man contemplating selling his food business. Not only is Rudy’s (2024) a winner, but it continues Tjernagel’s insane streak of making multiple films a year without fail.
