We start at a little restaurant where film writer Byron (Byron Thames) is waiting for his associates to discuss their latest film which may or may not be called The Mad Killer. Over drinks and coffee they try to make a film script work, but when two of them are just interested in titillation and mayhem, Byron wants something more. There has to be something more than just making movies because you can, right? Byron Thames does a great job as the writer who thinks this is the best he's going to get. He's been doing it for so long that he doesn't know anything else. Larry (Larry Thomas, yes, The Soup Nazi) is a hilarious director who revels in making crap. When asked about a movie he made a while back none of them can immediately remember the name of it. We get to go into the movie being made with scenes by David Faustino and Joe Estevez. Somehow they got Erin Moran and Ed Asner to be in the movie. For his two little scenes as a financial backer, Asner is hilarious. Lindsay Gareth as Holly deserves a mention as their waitress for the evening. All she wants to do is act and she got a waitress job five years ago thinking it would be temporary. She wants to act and is willing to do anything to get into a movie. Anything. HACKS is a funny, sweet movie that is probably spot on in the making of low budget films today. The fake scenes for movies that will never be made made me laugh. They even make fun of the movie their in when Byron suggests making a movie based on them sitting around talking about the script for the movie. They all agree no one would watch that. SO funny. Finally, a refreshing viewpoint from an unexpected source gives Byron the nerve to try something new and different. This was such a fun little film and Byron Thames carries the majority of the weight and makes you want to find out what happens to this guy. That's what makes the movie good. Well, that and Joe Estevez. You can never have too much Joe Estevez.
