Hits

Hits is a 2014 American comedic drama film written and directed by David Cross. The movie features a remarkable ensemble cast, including Meredith Hagner, Matt Walsh, and James Adomian. Cross’s directorial debut, Hits, is a dark, satirical exploration of the concept of fame in the age of viral videos.

The plot centers on Dave Stuben (Matt Walsh), an unassuming municipal worker in a small town of Liberty, New York. Stuben spends his days fixing potholes and whiling away his time in the local diner. His seemingly routine life takes a turn when he begins to believe that a city councilman isn't doing enough for the citizens. Dave’s banal routine is is periodically sidetracked by his seemingly innocuous rants during city council meetings. He becomes hysterically frustrated over what he perceives to be the significant issues in his town not being addressed appropriately. His over-the-top complaints about the city's pothole problem and other municipal matters eventually turn him into a local laughingstock.

Meanwhile, Dave's teenage daughter, Katelyn (Meredith Hagner), dreams of fame outside of her mundane town. Inspired by reality TV fashionistas and pop star divas, she dreams of becoming a celebrity. Katelyn sees her ticket to stardom in the form of an audition for an American Idol-esque talent show. However, Katelyn struggles to gain attention from the show's producers and strives to accumulate the funds she needs to record a demo for the audition.

In between Katelyn's ambitious dreams and Dave’s simplistic life, the irony begins to unfold when one of Dave’s frequent and memorable city council tirades becomes an unexpected viral sensation on YouTube. Unbeknownst to him, Dave begins to earn notoriety and fame on the internet, attracting attention from radical Brooklyn hipsters and fame-seekers, including, particularly, Donovan (James Adomian), an activist who sees Dave as the new symbol of resistance.

As Dave's viral tirades create an unexpected internet phenomenon, Katelyn sees an opportunity to capitalize on her father's rising fame to turn her dreams of stardom into reality. This sets the stage for a series of unpredictable and hilarious scenarios that shed light on the absurdity of the modern world's obsession with viral fame and the internet's ability to put anyone into the limelight at a rapid pace.

Hits is a delightful blend of satire and realism. The dynamic characters put forth by Cross’s storytelling, combined with purposeful exaggeration, delve into the invasive nature of digital culture and the commonplace, yet eccentric, portrayals of everyday heroes. In this case, an ordinary blue-collar worker who stumbled into viral fame through his unfiltered and authentic rants.

The performances by Meredith Hagner as the aspiring fame-hungry teen and Matt Walsh as the disgruntled town worker stand out remarkably. Hagner perfectly depicts the naïveté and relentlessness of her character, whereas Walsh's portrayal of an everyday man turned internet sensation is both laugh-out-loud funny and surprisingly touching. James Adomian, as the overzealous activist, adds a perfect touch of chaos to the plot.

Cross's unique screenplay juxtaposes the idea of viral popularity and the mundane realities of a small town, taking the audience on a laughter-filled journey while simultaneously making critical social commentary about the modern era's infatuation with fame. Hits underscores that fame can be as unpredictable and unrelenting as it is desirable.

In all, Hits is a film that successfully debuts David Cross as a director. It draws the spectators into a world of amusing characters and unexpected viral stars. If you are looking for a refreshing and amusing comedy that flawlessly integrates reality with satire, Hits offers a ride through an unforeseen journey toward stardom, small-town politics, and the modern-day digital hysteria.