Movie Reviews

Movie Review: The Luck Of The Irish Is Most Certainly With “Clover”


 

Two brothers owe money to the wrong guy at the wrong time. While they go on the run trying to pull together the money they become burdened with a teenage girl and hunted by assassins they don’t know are following their every move.

“Clover” is what you get if 1970s Martin Scorsese was transported through time to today and given a broad sense of humor. Not to say his movies haven’t had moments of levity but overall, Mr. Scorsese is not known for his comedic chops, rather, his violent, bloody, and, at times, grisly ones. Director and star Jon Abrahams infuses “Clover” with enough bloodshed and humor that each facet complements the other constantly, and amusingly. He also packs his film with a bevy of top-notch actors including Ron Perlman, Chazz Palminteri, Jake Weber, Mark Webber, and an assortment of well-known character actors. The final result is a funny, character-driven, ensemble piece with passionate performances and unexpected plot twists. And with many people stuck at home because of the Coronavirus, you could do a lot worse than sit down and watch “Clover.”

When Mickey’s (Jon Abrahams) brother Jackie (Mark Webber) loses a card game and ends up owing a lot of money to local mob boss Tony Davalo (Chazz Palminteri), he agrees to wipe the slate clean for the brothers if they accompany his son Joey (Michael Godere) on a trip to sort out Barry (Sky Paley), a dead-beat for non-payment. They reluctantly agree but once they arrive at Barry’s house, Joey ties him up in his basement and tortures him, looking for his father’s money. When he informs Joey that he doesn’t have the money and it will take him a few weeks to get it, he shoots Barry dead. When Barry’s teenage daughter Clover (Nicole Elizabeth Berger), unexpectedly appears behind them and kills Joey, Mickey and Jackie realize that Tony will never believe it was a young girl who killed him and the blame will fall squarely on their shoulders. With that in mind, the trio escape into the night and Mickey and Jackie must rely on their resources and friends to help them stay alive but with two mysterious assassins following their every move, they may not make it through the weekend.

Director Jon Abrahams has created a sometimes dark but entertaining movie filled with conventional gangster tropes and stereotypical characters but with some unique and unorthodox plot twists. Heavy hitters Ron Perlman, Chazz Palminteri, and Jake Weber chew up the scenery surrounding them in the few scenes in which they appear but the real stars of the show are Jon Abrahams and Mark Webber, playing brothers who love each other but more times than not, love to hate each other, bringing to mind Robert Davi and Joe Pantoliano’s Fratelli brothers in “The Goonies.” Their constant bickering and physical interactions are remindful of real-life siblings and they bring that aspect of the film to life splendidly. The overall ambiance is, at times, reminiscent of Scorsese’s “Mean Streets” and “Taxi Driver” but with a lighter tone and director Jon Abrahams inscribes his own aesthetic and visual style while still paying homage to Scorsese and occasionally, Tarantino. “Clover” is by no means an original story but it does have enough appeal and entertainment value that it will keep you amused for an hour and forty minutes.

 

In theaters and on Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, YouTube Movies, Cable and Satellite On-Demand April 3rd

 

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James McDonald

Originally from Dublin, Ireland, James is a Movie Critic with 40 years of experience in the film industry as an Award-Winning Filmmaker. He is also a member of the Critics Choice Association and the Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association.