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Three salesmen from National Screw are attending a sales seminar for two weeks in sunny California - Bobby (Jake Weber), Jerry (David Thornton), and their boss Howard (Michael McKean). All three are married but have different views about fidelity. Bobby's been happily married for 12 years and isn't interested in having an affair; he even goes home for the weekend to be with his wife (Shawn Huff). Jerry, the self-proclaimed "Road King", tells him he should be taking advantage of the traveling salesman's infamous 100-mile rule: when you're 100 miles away from home, affairs don't count.
During the second week, Bob runs into a cocktail waitress, Monica (Maria
Bello); she's attracted to Bobby and isn't willing to take no for an answer.
After Bobby's momentary lapse, things go from bad to worse as a scheme
comes to light involving Monica and the bartender Paul (Nick Chinlund)
- a plan that starts with revenge and blackmail, and ends with a dead body
in the bathtub. Bobby drags Jerry into the mess and they turn to their boss Howard for help (Michael
McKean); he's the best guy to have around when you into crap up to your
neck and you're more than 100 miles from home.
The movie starts out a little slow (at least it's more exciting than the lectures they attend in the sales seminar), but quickly shifts gears into a dark comedy with some absolutely hilarious moments and even some nods to the movies they are blatantly ripping off. The more bizarre the situation gets, the funnier it is - with "movie violence" and classic physical comedy.
The performances by the entire cast are top notch, including a supporting role by Jerry's hair (it's practically another character and has to be mentioned). Once the movie gets rolling, the pacing of the comedy is well maintained.
Other rules to learn from this movie:
- Never attempt to have phone sex with your spouse when you're calling from
your date's house.
- Believe it or not - a sad tale of your dead father can be used as an effective
seduction device.
- Grapefruits are a multi-purpose fruit - they can be used as a weapon (when
placed in a pillow case) or as entertainment (bowling with alcohol bottles
from the mini-bar).
- If you land the big Chrysler account while stepping on someone's toes,
watch your back.
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