Super Troopers (2001): Give me a Meow
2001 • Jay Chandrasekhar • 1.85:1 • Jump to Gallery ↓
Produced by comedy group Broken Lizard and directed by Jay Chandrasekhar, Super Troopers follows a group of Vermont state troopers whose unorthodox methods and constant pranks cause friction with the local police and their own superiors. When their station is threatened with closure, they attempt to prove their competence by solving a drug trafficking case.
This low-budget comedy is a cult favourite, adopting a straightforward visual style with minimal stylisation. This makes the absurdity of the characters’ behaviour stand out against a mundane backdrop. However, the story is rather loose and is used to connect a series of comedic set pieces. Highways and roadside stops, police stations are the stages for variations of comedic routines.
As scenes often function independently, progression is made through repeated jokes with variations and simple premises pushed to absurd extremes. Even moments involving crime or investigation are primarily setups for humour. In Super Troopers, the officers treat their roles as opportunities for entertainment rather than as a responsibility. It is not a serious film, but a perfect example of an early 2000s ensemble-driven, improv-based comedy which has endured thanks to its endless quotability.
Technical Specs:
- The Story: A group of prank-loving Vermont state troopers spend more time pulling stunts than enforcing the law, until a drug-smuggling case and a looming shutdown force them to prove they can actually do their jobs. Read my review of Super Troopers.
- Actors: Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter, Erik Stolhanske, Brian Cox, Marisa Coughlan, Daniel von Bargen.
- Director: Jay Chandrasekhar
- Year: 2001
- Cinematographer: Joaquín Baca-Asay
- Origin: American Cinema
- Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
- Genre: Comedy
