Turner and Cooch.

I love Hood Tubi. Miscalculated was filmed on a cell phone, and I know that because I saw the cameraman in numerous shots.

Miscalculated is billed as an action comedy crime movie and frankly it leans heavily on the comedy more than anything. Perhaps a little less intentional than the director expected, but it’s still pretty enjoyable. Maybe it’s the editing. Maybe it’s Maybelline. Maybe it’s stuff like the bad green screen cutting off Mabeel Malik’s nose.

Miscalculated stars Dameron Kirby as Detective Evans and director Romel Xavier Moralez as Detective Martin, two detectives (go figure) working to take down a crime syndicate and stop the biggest arms deal in the country. No, the world. No, the universe. The deal is being perpetrated by Nabeel Malik disguised as the character Frank Manum to make this all look like a fictional story in a movie.

I’m a firm believer in giving credit for movie makers working with what they’ve got rather than trying to go too far and looking like crap. Like the fight sequences using heavy editing for impact or how everyone screws basically fully clothed. The fight sequences are a little jarring at first but I got used to the style and they worked for me after a while. Also the cheap CG adds to the cheesiness of the film, as well as the aforementioned points where I can see the cameraman and also where they put tape on the floor to let the actors know where to stand.

Also they use a surprising amount of practical blood effects, including a man getting a drill shoved into his leg. Whoever handled the headshot wounds did a really good job all things considered. I’m pretty sure blood doesn’t bubble like cranberry juice being blown through a tube when coming out of someone’s leg, but I’m not a doctor so what do I know. Guy might have had a steady diet of vitamin oxygen.

I love Romel Xavier Moralez as Detective Martin, he was my favorite character and the man is hilarious in everything he does be it dancing in the middle of a barbershop fight or intimidating a vape shop owner by knocking over clearly the few things he could easily knock off a shelf without breaking. He asks the important questions, like what the fuck is a pimp and an arms dealer doing hanging out together. Moralez bleeds charm and confidence, and you can tell he had a really fun time filming this movie.

Otherwise Miscalculated has everything you’d come to expect from a Hood Tubi film. Shootouts? Check. Rap montages? Oh yeah. Gorgeous women? Double check. Smokin blunts? Sure thing. Audio that sounds like it was recorded in an empty warehouse? You know it. Side characters who have no idea what to do with their hands? Delicious.

I have to wonder if this film was partially sponsored by Choice, given the random table of stuff set up like a window display with the brands pointed right at the camera. Or if it was made up for the movie, because I can’t find the brand anywhere on the internet. Maybe it’s a local brand and they’re friends with the director. I have no idea, but the film is fantastic.

Rating: C+