Dill Scallion (1999) User Reviews

What a hoot!

[=G= · 7/10 · 1 March 2001]

"Dill Scallion", with Billy Burke in the title role, tells of the rise and fall of a fictional country/western singer. Full of tongue-in-cheek humor and endless good natured spoofing of country music, this fun flick is shot as a mockumentary with the usual jiggly shoulder cams, boom mics in the shot, grainy film, etc. "DS" gets off to a slow start and it's no frills approach may turn off many viewers early on. However, those who hang in there will find some seriously clever writing and dead pan lampooning during this 1.5 hour joy ride.

"This here is Nashville, the City of Dreams..."

[raymond_chandler · 7/10 · 23 May 2004]

I rented this flick because I am nuts about Lauren Graham, who worked steadily for a decade, in TV and low-budget movies, before her breakthrough on "Gilmore Girls". It turns out, this is a darn funny movie, with a very engaging cast.

Billy Burke is perfect as an innocent Texas boy who dreams of Nashville while singing his songs to the kids on his school bus. He gets a break after a local talent show, and the movie is a documentary-style chronicle of his rise and fall. Along the way, he crosses paths with Kathy Griffin as his randy girlfriend, David Koechner as the leader of his backup band, Jason Priestley as a country megastar, Henry Winkler as a promoter, and several bonafide country music stars as themselves. Refreshingly, the characters are not portrayed as clueless hicks, but ordinary folks just trying to find some happiness, and maybe a hit record or two.

Lauren Graham is gorgeous as Dill's love interest/"muse", and completely different from her Lorelai Gilmore character. She nails a Southern accent (but not Deep South), and is unrelentingly sweet to everyone, even when she is not happy with them.

This is a fun, low-key movie with affection for its characters and some good scenes sending up stardom and fame in our celebrity-crazed culture. I believe it is available for rental only through Hollywood Video. Give it a try, it is funnier than 75% of the big time comedies out there.

"Stop the Madness of Gingivitis"

Frickin' hilarious!!!

[jrb23 · 6/10 · 9 August 2002]

I happened upon "Dill Scallion" late one night on one of the pay channels and have never laughed so hard. To describe it in one phrase I would call it a Country Spinal Tap. It has the same mocku-mentary style. The acting was great, but most of the songs were terrible (or was that part of the joke?) I place this film up there with "Spinal Tap" and "Fear of a Black Hat"

Dill Scallion, quite possibly the funniest movie ever made.

[j_royall · 10/10 · 3 November 2005]

Perhaps the only weakness upon first viewing of the film Dill Scallion is that fact that you don't yet realize that every single line of this movie is a punchline. It's a joke from beginning to end. In fact, it was only after seeing the movie a handful of times that we found ourselves laughing at not only the more obvious jokes, but also reeling at the layers and layers of jokes hidden deeper in the text.

On the surface, Dill Scallion's sense of humor is too easy. It makes fun of country music and pokes fun at life in the South in general. But actual examination of the dialog shows much more thought than you'd expect. Take Dill's song "Tube Top Boogie," Please! At first it's just pretty funny that someone is writing a song about tube tops. But examine the first couplet:

Now don't get all dolled up, cuz we're going out on the town,

Ain't no need to wear no formal wedding gown,

If you think about it for half a sec, you're forced to ask "Just what IS a formal wedding gown?" Are there casual ones? And why would she be contemplating wearing one out on the town anyway? The joke is three layers deep, easily missed, and indicative of Dill's inability to grasp the English language as whole, much less write an intelligent song using it.

For anyone who has ever played in a band- country or not- this movie is a must see. It perfectly portrays something that is far more rampant and ubiquitous than TALENT in the world of up-and-coming bands: Deluded Musicians.

Dill Scallion is a silly, thoughtful, intelligent, and well written movie whose humor is far too easily overlooked by those wanting to relegate it to just another Spinal Tap wannabe. Watch it, then watch it again. You don't get it until you can sing along.

A rising star can only rise so far before falling.

[michaelRokeefe · 3/10 · 7 June 2001]

This movie is impudent enough to bedazzle you. A funny satirical mockumentary about the rise and fall of a dimwitted bus driver that becomes a country & western one-hit-wonder. Billy Burke plays Dill Scallion the unlikely star with his hit "When You Shared You". His gimmick is having his foot stomped on before going on stage; and his crippled dance becomes a dance hall sensation.

Lauren Graham plays Scallion's girlfriend that is caught up in the fame game. David Koechner plays Bubba Pearl, the right hand man of the new star and wanting to reclaim some of his own past glory. Henry Winkler plays a talent promoter and a bearded Jason Priestly plays the role of county icon Joe Joe Hicks.

Making cameo appearances are LeAnn Rimes, Travis Tritt and Willie Nelson playing themselves and Robert Wagner cameos as Mr. Llama the boot baron.

You really start thinking this is too damn dumb to watch, but you hang in there waiting to see how silly this thing can get. I will definitely watch this again. Laugh at it and with it.

This is a funny movie!

[markguszak · 10/10 · 14 March 2001]

I laughed quite a bit at this one. It was the classic "busdriver becomes big music star, breaks his foot every day, has the two biggest singles in the United States and is washed up before his first album is released" story that we are used to seeing, but with some twists. Funny movie, I don't know what those people that gave it bad marks were on.

A showcase of the talented Billy Burke

[rocket-20 · 21 May 1999]

This kooky and funny indie mockumentary made me chuckle. If you liked Spinal Tap then you'll enjoy Dill Scallion. Billy Burke shows us that he can not only act, as he gets deep into Dill Scallion but he can sing and probably dance too. It may go on to be remembered that this film spotlighted the many talents of this "one to watch." Dill is a likable, foilable character. You are drawn into his naive sincerity easily with this terrific performance. The supporting cast is also a who's who of a spectrum of show biz as well. The concept has been played before but Burke breathes a breath of freshness into it.

Enjoyable fluff.

[WendyOh! · 5/10 · 17 October 2002]

I quite liked this movie, despite the fact that it tried so hard to be likable. The plot is silly, the music very funny, and the 'mockumentary style' always a delight. My only quibble is that instead of getting real actors to play it truthfully (a la the classic "Spinal Tap") the director seems to have chosen comics, and let them go for the laughs, and in the process, they lose believability. Even the real actors that are in it are hamming it up, trying to get us to be amused. That's when it doesn't ring true, and the whole 'mockumentary' becomes an MTV sketch, which is unfortunate. But you can't fault them for having fun I suppose, I just wanted them to really believe what they were doing so that I could have had as much fun as the actors did. But it is undeniably fun!

"A funny Spinal Tap for Country Music"

[dthejensen · 10/10 · 6 October 2004]

I'm not sure how This is Spinal Tap can be on the Top 250 list and Dill Scallion has a rating of 4.5. Maybe the world doesn't need another 'mock-umentary' of the music business, but this one is a worthy addition to the genre.

Besides a well cast group of actors, you'll find that Sheryl Crow wrote the score for the movie (though I don't believe she was involved in writing any of Dill's songs or the Waffle Barn jingle) and there are a few country music stars who make cameos.

Plus, you have the opportunity to learn the Scallion Shuffle. Spinal Tap never taught us any sweet dance moves like that.

Rollicking Good Time

[howardde · 10/10 · 13 June 1999]

This movie is hilarious. You will find yourself laughing aloud at the simple lines delivered by a no-name ensemble peppered with famous cameos. Billy Burke in the roll of Dill is incredible, convincing you that he is Dill, an aspiring Country Music sensation, a la Billy Ray Cyrus. The musical score is lively with a theme song with one catchy hook, and a dance move, of sorts, to boot! If you enjoy off-wall-comedies, say Muriel's Wedding or Strictly Ballroom, this movie will delight.

FUNNY MOVIE!

[Fatboyslim3001 · 10/10 · 11 June 2002]

How often is it that a movie can literally make you laugh at every single line? This is such a movie. To say that this is the country music version of 'This is Spinal Tap' is an understatement. It's one of the funniest movies of all time and, if you can find it, is a great movie to rent or own.

Hilarious Parody of Country Music Star Machine

[webkat · 8/10 · 16 July 2002]

This very funny parody follows the rise of the fictional Dill Scallion's country music career, including the genesis of his trademark wild on-stage dance, his first music video, and his big breakthrough at the Gingivitis Aid concert ("We must stop the madness of gum disease!" rails one character). The characters are all intentionally painted with very broad strokes, and the tongue in cheek humor keeps the movie going along at a great pace. Cameos by some country music superstars are also great fun...and even the movie's name is neat--Dill Scallion? Yeah, the guy in question is about as smart as a vegetable...and that's a big part of the fun.

Hilarious Parody of Country Music Star Machine

[webkat · 8/10 · 16 July 2002]

This very funny parody follows the rise of the fictional Dill Scallion's country music career, including the genesis of his trademark wild on-stage dance, his first music video, and his big breakthrough at the Gingivitis Aid concert ("We must stop the madness of gum disease!" rails one character). The characters are all intentionally painted with very broad strokes, and the tongue in cheek humor keeps the movie going along at a great pace. Cameos by some country music superstars are also great fun...and even the movie's name is neat--Dill Scallion? Yeah, the guy in question is about as smart as a vegetable...and that's a big part of the fun.

Satire at its Indy Finest

[Kleist · 10/10 · 12 June 2002]

DILL SCALLION is a carefully crafted lampoon of the mechanics of fame-- here, in particular, the Country-Music-hit machine. Although the basic contours of Dill's rise from obscurity as a school-bus driver to superstardom and back again are predictable, the jokes are fast-paced and dead-center. The entire cast has a great time with this script, and their hilarity is infectuous. Henry Winkler as the cigar-wielding Big Manager was a real surprise ("Hey, that's the Fonz, isn't it?"): he's unprepossessing as a prepossessing maniac, and he's funny as hell.

There's so much to like here: the hideous breakthrough hit, "You Shared You," with its closing verse about granddaddy's ecstasy when "You Shared You"; Dill's on-stage "Scallion Shuffle," which inspires broken footbones across the nation (and a legion of crutch-waving audience members); Dill's original promiscuous lover, then the quickly fame-sullied roadie girlfriend; sidekick Mr. Pearl, who pretends to be Minnie Pearl's son; and so on.

I would love clarification of Sheryl Crowe's part in this madness: did she really pen these hilarious songs for a lark?

This easily could become a cult classic, and deservedly so. I thought it was funnier than THIS IS SPINAL TAP, with which it is rightly compared. Who wouldn't fall in love with the cow-turd-sized silver belt-buckle?

Any musician will love this...

[dsever · 8/10 · 3 November 2001]

Fun & weird story of a musician who has a short brush with stardom. Any musician who has thought about 'the big time' will love this. Dill Scallion is well done. I think that the independent movie genre is a good art form. hit & miss, but this one is a hit.

Save the Fonz?

[K.Pigeon-2 · 22 June 1999]

Charming mockumentary on a country singer's rise and fall. Hilariously written, and the song titles alone are worth the price of admission ("I Found Love at the Family Reunion" is just one of many fine examples). The documentary feel is tainted by some very Hollywood injections (i.e.: a "quirky" romance) that sometimes destroys the illusion, and despite its unique angle it just can't escape the mighty shadow of "This Is Spinal Tap." Nonetheless, it's very, very funny; people who hate country will roar at the jokes made at the genre's expense, and those who love it will laugh at the movie's knowing look at the industry. Surprisingly, "Dill Scallion" submits compelling evidence that Henry Winkler's career may actually be worth saving.