Review: Tapawingo (2025)

© 2024 TAPAWINGO FILM

​When a comedy movie fails, it really fails, but when it is hitting on all cylinders, it is so much fun. Tapawingo is definitely firing on all comedic cylinders. From Director Dylan K. Narang comes the story about thirty-year-old Nate Skoog who has a boring job and lives with his mom. Most of his free time is spent hanging out with his friend Will Luna, discussing the future, blowing up fireworks, or training to be “mercenaries”. One day, Nate is asked to pick up the boss's son, Oswalt, from school. He soon discovers Oswalt is constantly being bullied by two brothers. Putting their “mercenary training” to work, Nate and Will assemble a ragtag group to serve as security for Oswalt. Things escalate quickly when they discover a network of bullies who have more connections to the group than they realize. The bullies turn Nate’s world upside down, ruining his life at every turn. The question is, what is he gonna do about it?

Jon Heder - Tapawingo © 2024 TAPAWINGO FILM

​Tapawingo is a sharp, quirky comedy that could easily be considered the spiritual successor to Napoleon Dynamite. While it does stand on its own, fans of Dynamite will feel right at home. The toughest part about a story like this is to make it goofy enough for the laughs but also stay grounded to where you could almost see these characters in real life. Co-writers Brad Demarea and Dylan Narang pull that off here. The situations that Nate finds himself in are situations that many of us may have been in. Yet it is the unique cast of characters that elevate these situations to funny levels. It also helps that this takes place in the era of analog phones and arcades. Setting it in the past gave the writers more freedom in their storytelling.  One particular scene where Skoog and Luna use a pay phone to call about a mercenary job was especially funny. The added joke comes from the challenges of using a pay phone for long distance calls. There is not a lot of flash here as far as special effects, though Skoogs vehicle is pretty bitchin, so it falls on the shoulders of this talented cast to keep things entertaining. 

Jon Heder and Jay Pichardo - Tapawingo © 2024 TAPAWINGO FILM

​Nate Skoog is played by Jon Heder perfectly. While there are some Napoleon Dynamite-like traits, Skoog is definitely his own character. This guy, with dreams bigger than his abilities, is someone you can definitely pull for. He is not as clueless as he may first seem but there sometimes is a lack of common sense. Heder brings the right balance of goofiness and realism to a character that could have easily been over played. Kim Matula plays Gretchen the way you need this tough girl character to be played. She is strong in who she is and has a take-no-shit attitude, but there is also a softer side which she reveals in her own way. I loved the interplay between Skoog and Gretchen. It made for some very funny and touching moments. It was also fun seeing Gina Gershon playing the wild, promiscuous, heavy-make-up-wearing secretary Dot. Not a role we are used to seeing her play. Fans of Married with Children will recognize Amanda Bearse who plays Skoog’s mom, Ramona, who was wonderful in her scenes with her boyfriend played by John Ratzenberger. Having these two in the movie also fits the implied era, given both performers’ past works. Billy Zane also shows up in a humorous tough guy role, marking the second time this year Zane and Heder have been in a movie together. 

Kim Matula - Tapawingo © 2024 TAPAWINGO FILM

​Like with any comedy, this one may not be for everyone, but I say give Tapawingo a try. It is not too over the top, but also is not afraid to take some chances. The cast have wonderful chemistry while the breezy editing and sharp direction keep things moving. I did not know how I would feel about this movie when I saw the trailer. Now I can say this is one of the most fun movies I have seen this year.

Look for Tapawingo at all major VOD outlets including Amazon Prime and AppleTV