Skid Marks

The 2007 film Skid Marks is an uproarious comedy which centers around the antithetical worlds of deadly serious EMS workers and riotously amusing misadventures. Directed by Karl Kozak, this film's star-studded cast includes Tyler Poelle, Mikey Post, Scott Dittman, who, through their exceptional performance, transport the viewers on a joy ride packed with hilarity, speed bumps and, of course, lots of skid marks.

The film introduces viewers first to two of its central characters, Budget and Larry, portrayed brilliantly by Tyler Poelle and Mikey Post. They are custodians at a hospital, who completely embrace their laid-back pharmacy delivery jobs, passing time in shooting the breeze and dreaming of bigger things. Budget is the more ambitious of the two, dreaming of enrolling in medical school, whereas Larry is carefree, preferring to coast along beneath the radar, far removed from the high-pressure scenarios regularly faced by medical professionals. Yet, their uneventful lives take an unexpected turn when their hospital falls on hard times.

The local hospital is facing closure due to lack of funding, and the underpaid staff members are driven to their breaking point. The hospital director, a determined woman who's unwilling to see her institution fail, spins a web of deceit in order to receive more government funding. She cunningly advances Budget and Larry, who are unqualified and clueless, from custodians to emergency medical technicians (EMTs), intending to create an excuse for garnering extra funding.

Thereon, Skid Marks follows the comedic upshots of the duo’s promotion as they're suddenly thrown into the world of medical emergencies. Without any formal training, and huge boots to fill, they must navigate the drama and tension, and learn the ropes at lighting speed, while still maintaining their sanity and the safety of the patients under their care. They are faced with the immediate challenge of proving themselves to the real EMTs - a highly skilled, slick team led by the seriously chiseled Dankan (played by Scott Dittman), who view them as an embarrassment to the profession.

What separates Skid Marks from other slapstick comedies of its kind is the genuine chemistry between its two leads, Poelle and Post. Their on-screen bromance is a highlight, delivering laugh-out-loud dialogues and engaging in hilarious sequences that keep the viewers entertained. Also, the narrative could have been a simple one about incompetence, but it offers more depth than that as it considers the dynamics of the competitive world of emergency medical services.

Scott Dittman's performance as Dankan is also noteworthy. Dittan exudes a near-perfect blend of intensity and authority needed for his role as EMT leader but manages to infuse it with just the right dose of humor to keep the balance of the film. The supporting characters, including the rest of the EMT team and hospital staff, further enrich the storyline and add more layers to the humor.

Despite being a comedy, Skid Marks doesn't shy away from touching upon serious subjects like economic struggles and the high stakes of emergency medicine. Yet, it does these skillfully, maintaining a light-hearted tone throughout and cleverly intertwining them with comedic elements, delivering a movie-going experience that's not only humorous but also thought-provoking. The film is both a rib-tickling tale of fish-out-of-water and an insightful take on the challenges faced by underfunded hospitals.

Featuring comedic set pieces enlivened by performances from Poelle, Post, and Dittman, Skid Marks manages to weave together an amusing narrative with undertones of genuine care for its characters. This results in a film that is not just a comedy about emergency services, but also a story of perseverance and camaraderie. With its mix of straight-up slapstick, action-filled emergency scenarios, and pun-filled humor, Skid Marks is a delightful comedy that offers plenty of laughs and cheeky wit while also finding room for a genuinely engaging story. It's a wild, funny journey of two underdogs, worth watching for anyone ready to brace for some major laughs.