"Route 30" is not so much a feature film as a collection of three vignettes set in rural Pennsylvania and featuring a loosely-connected cast of characters. A few of the concepts are interesting, but overall the production devolves into a lot of broad, obvious humor and quirky characters doing things strictly for the sake of quirkiness.
It plays more like television than a movie, and that's not surprising since writer/director John Putch is a veteran TV guy, both in front of and behind the camera. I'm not necessarily knocking TV; it's just that the medium is pitched to the largest possible audience, so sophisticated humor tends to get dumbed-down.
There are some unknown actors in "Route 30," but also a few recognizable faces. There's Dana Delaney (TV's "China Beach), Curtis Armstrong (forever Booger from "Revenge of the Nerds"), David (son of Dom) DeLuise and Robert Romanus (the jerk friend from "Fast Times at Ridgemont High"). What's notable about the cast is that they're supposed to be playing rural, eccentric characters, but seem very urban in their mannerism and smarter than the roles they're playing.
The action is all set in and around Gettysburg. The first vignette is about a pair of married hunters dealing with their wives. One (Christine Elise) wants to shoot a porno with her husband so they can post it on the Web and make money, but he steadfastly refuses. The other (Nathalie Boltt) is a historical tour guide who is obsessed with the story of Jennie Wade, the only civilian casualty of the Battle of Gettysburg. She's upset over the persistent myth that Wade was killed by a shot in the buttocks.
The second bit has to do with the search for a modern Bigfoot. Some of the guys want to get video of it so they can sell it to television. There's also a subplot about a neighbor who's a Christian Scientist, and professes that humans cannot know pain because they are a perfect reflection of God. This theory is tested when he twists his ankle.
The last section is about a guy who's been working in television for many years and wants to do something original. He moves to the country, buys a house and discovers his neighbor is an Amish woman who secretly longs to hear music, watch TV and drink beer.
I think "Route 30" is one of those movies that the cast and crew had more fun making than it is to watch.
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