Kalamazoo? MIA

I saw Kalamazoo? at one of the premier showings in beautiful Kalamazoo MI the week it was released. I was quite impressed with the film and was eager to see it when it came to the Chicago area. The last bit of info I've seen on the web site was it was coming to Los Angeles back in June. I kept checking the LA listings for showings and came up empty. Looks like there were no takers in L.A.! As for Chicago screens.. sadly it never happened.

There were a bunch of crappy films hitting the theaters the same time Kalamazoo? was showing on limited screens in Western Michigan and later the Lansing / Jackson area . RV (Robin Williams), M.I.-3 (Tom Cruise) to name a few. Kalamazoo? got lost in the BIG name high budget wave and it's a rotten shame.

As a close observer of the art of film making, what Kalamazoo? accomplished with such limited budget was truly amazing. It was a fun film and even with some of it's quirks, drove home a "Wizard Of OZ"ish message as in be grateful for what you accomplished outside your predictions for your future because, there's no place like coming back home... for a high school reunion. You found out you did OK but, were too shallow to see it until it slapped you in the face.

Those of us that are either from Kalamazoo or spend a significant amount of time there, could look past the local scenery in the film and absorb the storyline. You could see more than just the Amtrak station, Bronson Park and Sweetwater Donuts if you didn't let your mind get lost in expecting a home movie of Kalamazoo people and places. Heck, any idiot with a camcorder can do that and not even need a script! Some of the scenes that got a wink and a nod were fine for locals but, that's not why the film was made.

The producers promised that Kalamazoo? would be released on DVD but, did not commit to a timetable. Unfortunately the to-date revenue has not paid the bills so, the dough for burning the DVD and putting it to market will involve somebody taking some substantial risks. The writer and producer of Kalamazoo? have a steep hill to climb before they can join the ranks of John Hughes and the Cohen brothers but, this effort shows they mean business and are on the right track.

I had hopped to see Kalamazoo? again by now (six months later) but, all links to the film's future are leading to nowhere. Perhaps the principals went back to the edit room to tweak it and give it a shot at a second release at a later date. I just hope it's before "Home Alone 4... Kids Of My Own" comes out. I hope the hard work that went into this project doesn't go un-noticed and wind up in never to be seen again land!