Last Day of Summer DVD

DVD Review by Kam Williams

Headline: DVD Features Janitor Going Postal in Offbeat Romantic Comedy

Joe (DJ Qualls) is on edge and right at the end of his rope. He’s the janitor at a fast food joint being run like a boot camp by Mr. Crolick (William Sadler). While all the workers at Burger Heaven find themselves the brunt of their boss’ abuse, the sadist taskmaster really seems to revel in torturing his custodian, teasing the gangly young man about everything from his looks to his intelligence.

Thus, it’s no surprise that Joe might be a prime candidate for “Going Postal” in this era when an automatic weapon is many a disgruntled employee’s answer to discontent on the job. This candidate’s breaking point arrives the day that Mr. Crolick gives him a new toilet brush in front of the entire staff before forcing him to plunge his arm elbow deep into a feces-filled bowl.

Then, to add insult to injury, before he has a chance to quit, Joe’s fired for insubordination. So, he quietly plots his revenge, purchasing a pistol and recording a farewell tape explaining why he’s about to go on a rampage.

But when he enters the restaurant on the day of reckoning, he’s distracted by a cute customer (Nikki Reed) just as he’s about to execute his plan. Convinced that the pretty stranger is flirting with him, he decides to take her hostage instead of following through with shooting Crolick. He then drags Stefanie off at gunpoint to a seedy motel, where he binds and gags her while frantically trying to figure out what to do next.

This is the novel premise of Last Day of Summer, an offbeat comedy which asks you to empathize with a copycat psychopath bent on committing Columbine-style mayhem. Without giving anything away, let me just say that Joe finds a sympathetic ear in Stefanie, a girl who comes with baggage of her own. Thus, don’t be surprised if these lost souls ultimately feel lucky to have found each other, despite the bizarre way in which they met.

A Stockholm Syndrome saga giving new meaning to the term “Shotgun Wedding!”

Very Good (3 stars)
Rated R for violent images, drug use and pervasive profanity.
Running time: 85 Minutes
Studio: E1 Entertainment
DVD Extras: “The Making of” featurette.