Something I'm starting to learn about myself: I kinda like ripoffs, or at least the ones that understand their influences well enough to effectively replicate them.
LaRoy, Texas is, in pretty much every regard, a poor man's Coen Brothers movie. The similarities are simply unmistakable. I challenge you to watch it and not constantly be reminded of Fargo, The Big Lebowski, and No Country for Old Men. But here's the thing: the Coen Brothers are possibly my all-time favourite filmmakers, and they aren't making anything like this anymore (or anything at all, if we're discussing them as a duo), so I'll take this kind of movie any way I can get it.
And, honestly, judging it on its own merits, I think it works really well. Sure, it's not exactly on the level of those three Coen comparables, but it still has a compelling and riveting story, a fun collection of characters and performances (Steve Zahn, as you may have guessed, is the runaway standout; oh, how I've missed that guy), a fitting sense of humour, and a strong understanding of pacing and mood. Plus, there's a palpable air of melancholy throughout, which lends enough weight and significance that the movie ultimately feels like far more than just a pale imitation to me.
Grade: A-
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