User Reviews

I watch a lot of indie films and everybody is so Godamn serious all the time it's always some topic like the war or drug abuse or abortion or relationships. It was different to see an indie filmmaker just make a simple heart warming comedy. I saw this curious little film recently at the Big Island Film Festival in Hawaii while vacationing with my wife and two daughters. It's about a guy who works at a mattress warehouse store who challenges his nasty workmate to race in "the mini" (a mini marathon in Indianaplois). At first I had a hard time rooting for this guy because he was such a loser with no self esteem. But he evolves and becomes a lovable loser, and then by the end of the film, a winner. Me and my family walked out the movie with big smiles on our faces.

Another thing I liked about this movie was the absence of needless foul language or stupid sexual innuendos. You can take your family to this film and not worry about them being subjected to hearing the f word for the one millionth time.

The Mini stands apart...

With this roller-coaster comedy that from a pure entertainment standpoint is so far ahead of the average dark or dreary indie film, you are going to have FUN! In anywhere USA Fran Molon is a normal guy with really bad luck. And he works with some low-grade characters at a riff-Raff bedding store. He only gets to sell futons, which is obviously not cool! The annual mini marathon (hillariously and ironically sponsored by the fight against "Competitive Psychosis") is around the corner and Fran gets involved. He is going to run against his nemesis at work for a promotion, which is just absurd and also really simple and fun.

THE MINI is definitely an indie film in that the cast and crew are no-names and it is shot on digital. But that is where the low-budget description should end. It is really well directed and acted and the production is off the hook with all the colorful and unique locations.

In short, have a good time with this flick, knowing you're seeing something "special"!

What's a loser to do when he's even smaller than the small-time? Win the Mini!

Fran Molon works in a small mattress store in a tiny town. And he's not even allowed to sell mattresses. Fran only gets to sell futons. Fran's nemesis is Rick, the cocky, womanizing mattress salesman who is a shoe-in for the new assistant manager position.

In this hilarious battle of losers, Fran just needs to beat the state champion at a mini-marathon, and win the heart of the lovely Carmen. This loser just might pull it off.

In The Mini, director Ron Beck has taken everything small about no-budget independent films, turned them into strengths, and created a true gem that will appeal to audiences of all ages and persuasions.

The story is filled with zany characters like Fran's best friend Dale, a lovable, swaggering mall security guard who dreams of being a cop, and Roy, the overeager citizen that dreams of being a mall security guard.

Fran Molon is played to subtle, geekish perfection by Larry Dahlke, who works well as a poor-man's Steve Carell.

The film is filled with all the marks of a no-budget independent film, but they are packaged into story, setting, and characters that just make it all work. It is truly a small film with a huge heart.

Not since Napopleon Dynamite has a true indy picture been made with such heart while relying on straight forward storytelling from it's filmmakers. The Mini does not rely on the typical shock effects, i.e. graphic violence/language and unrealistic themes that so many indy pictures do in fact rely on. Ron Beck, writer/director of The Mini, instead relies on actual intelligence and creativity to push this story forward. Where most Hollywood hack filmmakers depend on chase scenes, graphic killing sequences, and unnecessary/awkward sex scenes to fill in the pages, Beck shows a talent for understanding and magnifying simple human characteristic flaws in order to create a very interesting story arc. The Mini just seems to work from the opening scene, and the story doesn't waste anytime getting you to root for Frannie, a character that seems to stay with you even after the lights go up. The Mini will provide an enlightening movie going experience for cinema fans of all ages.

If you looked up the word underdog in a dictionary, there you would find an image of Fran from the movie The Mini. No doubt this futon salesman from Boonville, Indiana is a kind soul who just keeps getting hit with the hard knocks of life. With just a handful of characters surrounding Fran's life, Maverick Entertainment gives a nice compelling satire of when the nice guy does actually finish first.

Not only is he in the running for a promotion to mattress sales, Fran's career path on climbing the ladder in the bedding environment is configured by his power to win the annual mini marathon race against the current mattress sales guru, Rick. The manager of the store Rick and Fran work at can only be described as an instigator at best, but Fran's belief in himself to take the race is strengthened by his best friend and trainer, Dale.

Even unlucky Fran gets lucky sometimes as he scores the last pair of free tickets to a concert featuring his favorite band and takes his newfound love Carmen. She is very supportive of Fran's endeavors, as is his Mom who knows that Fran's Dad won first place in the same race in the 1970's. And while the pressure is on for Fran to juggle his work and social status amongst his peers, he will not stop until his goal is accomplished.

There are some super funny scenes in the film, such as Fran using the expressway for his jogging purposes to get in shape for race day. The humorous tag lines used when answering the incoming calls at the bed mart, very creative approach. Lastly, Fran gets the final chuckle and everything ends as it should in this heartwarming tale where the underdog finishes first! Out on DVD everywhere May 11th and available OnDemand beginning in June! Health and Happiness! Janel Rana aka "Discount Diva" DiscountDiva.Multiply.com "Saving the world 1Qpon at a time!"

A hilarious comedy! "The Mini"'s humor may be compared to that of "Napoleon Dynamite" or "Office Space" only with lighter, funnier, and quirkier characters. Certainly not a complicated movie, "The Mini"'s story moves fast and keeps your interest from opening titles to ending credits. It is a heartwarming film where acting and writing come together seamlessly.

I saw this film at the Big Island Film Festival and had the opportunity to meet the producers. For their first full length feature this independent film's quality is astounding considering what a small budget it was made with.

"The Mini" is a fun movie that is easy to watch and is enjoyable for any age group.

THE MINI is a funny, sweet, often laugh-out-loud surprise of an Indy film. This Mini has a BIG heart and it's pitch-perfect in its aim and no-budget execution. I caught a screening of it at the Temecula Valley Film Festival this fall. It played to a packed house. Later, I also caught it again on DVD, it was so much fun. The Temecula Valley Film Fest crowd I saw it with loved it. It's a low-budget comedy about the under dog geek in us all as we just try to get by, do our job, find the-significant-other-of-our-dreams and run that mini-marathon of life. This film is so true to itself and hasn't an ounce of pretension in it. The performances are spot-on and wonderfully endearing. The film's director creates a sense of good will right from the start that remains infectious. Maybe it won't cure cancer or change the world, but it's a refreshing tonic to so much of the self-important, terribly hipper-than-thou Indy nonsense that seems to wash up wherever you turn now. The Q & A session at the Temecula Fest with director Ron Beck was a revelation and inspiration to all Indy filmmakers out there. Beck wrote a solid, funny script and then, with no previous film-making experience to speak of, he maxed out a couple of credit cards and for about half what the average person would spend on a year's college tuition he assembled a terrific cast and production crew and just did the thing. I can't help thinking that this is sort of like the "El Mariachi" of super-geek comedies. Beck has a great story sense, plays the laughs and emotions perfectly and made a very nice film. Beck and company deserve much credit and thanks for this little gem. If he writes another script and he and his gang make another film, I'll certainly buy a ticket.

I viewed this film at the Temecula Valley Film Festival. Comedies are usually laced with coarse language and sexual innuendos, however, I was pleasantly surprised with The Mini. Because most comedies are crass, I hesitated to see The Mini.

How refreshing to view a film with a positive message---the good guy wins over the bad guy. The story was told without words that needed to be bleeped out or without sexual innuendos or scenes that no one else needs to see.

May I suggest to film makers and Hollywood, that this example be followed.

Thank you Mr. Director. I will be looking for more of your films and tell others.

A subtly scathing and hilarious look at middle America. Most independent comedies try to ratchet up the raunchy, but this film takes a different approach with goofy characters and absurd plot twists. On its surface, the movie is a sweet, fun-loving ride that kids of all ages would enjoy, but if you look closer there's a layer of cultural commentary that makes the film a more thoughtful comedy than most with some rather devious, subversive wit. And can anybody tell me why Chris Stack isn't a superstar? The man is hilarious in this film. Now I've got to go rent everything else this guy has been in. A very funny and sweet film.