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Jesse Eisenberg, Danny McBride, Aziz Ansari, Nick Swardson, Michael Peņa ... see more see more... , Dilshad Vadsaria , Fred Ward , Bianca Kajlich , Samuel Johnston , Jack Foley , Elizabeth Wright Shapiro , Brett Gelman , Paul Tierney , Staci Fletcher , Gary Brichetto , Ilyssa Fradin , Grace Heemstra , Torey Adkins , Rebecca Cox , Rick Irwin , Sam Tedesco , Wayne Bibbs , Jamaal Hines , Joseph Lyman , David Fleischer , Lucas Fleischer , Matthew Napier Sullivan , Matthew Sullivan , Johnny Yong Bosch

In the action-comedy 30 Minutes or Less, Nick (Jesse Eisenberg) is a small town pizza delivery guy whose mundane life collides with the big plans of two wanna-be criminal masterminds (Danny McBride an... read more read more...d Nick Swardson). The volatile duo kidnaps Nick and forces him to rob a bank. With mere hours to pull off the impossible task, Nick enlists the help of his ex-best friend, Chet (Aziz Ansari). As the clock ticks, the two must deal with the police, hired assassins, flamethrowers, and their own tumultuous relationship. -- (C) Sony

Flixster Users

43% liked it

38,314 ratings

Critics

44% liked it

154 critics

R, 1 hr. 23 min.

Directed by: Ruben Fleischer

Release Date: August 12, 2011

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DVD Release Date: November 29, 2011

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Flixster Reviews (3,027)

  • stuartb1234
    March 25, 2012
    stuartb1234
    Good idea but not realised. Also most of the cast where very annoying.
  • nikhilnn95
    February 26, 2012
    nikhilnn95
    This movie is so simple and so stupidly funny, that it is entertaining. I enjoyed every second of it. Despite its very clear flaws the movie's strongest points are also its weakest. The movie is choppy, crude, stupid, random, and I loved it.
  • cosmo313
    January 27, 2012
    cosmo313
    Man, what a tremendous disappointment. I had high hopes for it given the cast, concept, and director. I really don't know what went wrong. Sophmore slump, perhaps? Or maybe just decent idea with unfortunate execution. Either way, what could have been a wildly entertaining farce i... read mores instead an unfunny mess that lacks cohesion.

    Where to begin: well, let's just run down the synopsis: a goofy, slacker criminal wannabe and his equally underachieving friend decide to have the first guy's dad killed so they can reap the benefits of his inheritance. To make this happen, they hire a hit man. To pay the hit man, they decide to kidnap a pizza delivery boy, strap a bomb vest to him, and force him to rob a bank. If he doesn't do so in 9 hours, he's toast.

    It's an intriguing set up, but the way it's done sucks. It's not funny (only maybe a couple of jokes work for me, and the trailer was way too spoiler heavy (both on the gags and other things)), it's annoying, obnoxious, ridiculous, and almost all of the characters are unlikeable and poorly developed. The only two characters that actually are half way decent or all that interesting are the two female characters, but they are misused and shortchanged. Go figure.

    I like the cast, but they don't do anything new or exciting here. Well, okay, I don't like Nick Swardson, and he failed to win me over here. Danny McBride is a great guy, but his typical schtick (on full display here), grew tiresome long ago. Time to change it up man. Eisenberg's whininess would make him more empathetic if he were better developed, and Ansari is way too over the top and abrasive.

    The film at least moves along at a brisk pace and doesn't waste too much time slacking around, but it is only 82 minutes, so it can't afford not to. However, I think the time should have been better spent, and also the film needed to be a tad longer, ya know, for better plot and character development. The damn thing isn't even really tongue in cheek or tries ot go for satire, two hugely missed opportunities.

    Since I didn't give it a failing grade, that must mean there are some things I liked. This is true. The opening credits scene is well done, and I loved the fancy, high precision and speedy driving as Eisenberg's pizza boy Nick flies across town (while smoking a joint) trying to make adelivery on time. Fun stuff. Too bad the rest of the film didn't follow suit. I did like the concept, it had some clever ideas, and when the film starts to deal with the craziness of the varioussituations, and miscommunication between the various parties started to the raise the stakes, the film won back some points it lost. However, it was all in vain sicne I didn't really care as much as I should have.

    This film is a mess. I'm not sad I saw it (not totally since it didn't waste too much of my time), but it just pains me to see such a promising idea and cast and crew I like (well, some of them), come together only to crash and burn.
  • fb535316333
    January 16, 2012
    fb535316333
    Not very funny or smart, 30 min or less is a prime example of mediocre, soulless comedy. It's unfortunate to see Eisenberg work on something so poorly conceived but I guess with McBride in the mix you know you're in for a terrible ride of lowbrow.

    The movie cruises along a fine ... read moreline of slapstick chuckle-gags and petty insults that could have been watchable if the characters had an ounce of emotional substance for us to care about. The core of the film needed better grounding whether it be exploring their frienships, romances, or daddy-issues. Just SOMETHING.

    Slightly amusing, but overall? A waste of time.
  • bbcfloridabound
    January 6, 2012
    bbcfloridabound
    Not the movie I expected from watching the trailer Aziz Ansari is who makes this movie funny. A pizza delivery guy is captured by two want to be thugs, they strap a bomb to him and force him to rob a bank, more of a teen movie. Not a family film that's for sure, 3 Stars
  • 3niR
    January 4, 2012
    3niR
    The fun seemed to me like it was forced. Watchable.
  • phubbs1
    January 3, 2012
    phubbs1
    Totally ridiculous farce of a comedy that is more of a guilty pleasure than anything :) Its pretty stupid but admittedly quite amusing in many places, not hilarious but definitely makes you smile.

    The duo of Eisenberg and Ansari as the bumbling blackmailed robbers is actually a ... read moresurprisingly fun pairing that work really well together, the bank robbery is a funny scene and their constant bickering will raise your spirits rest assured. The other winner here is the second duo of McBride and Swardson as the bumbling losers trying to blackmail the other bumbling losers hehe again their dialog is witty and amusing as they talk nonsense getting nowhere fast.

    Holds together quite well throughout but apart from a few various sequences its nothing that special, the casting is well thought of for sure but the rest is a bit daft, think along the lines of the film 'Nothing To Lose'.
  • axadntpron
    January 2, 2012
    axadntpron
    Funny people involved, but feels awkwardly forced and a little too free flowing. I love improv, but when an entire film seems like it was conceived and shot in one day, the viewer feels cheated.
  • fb1576983399
    January 1, 2012
    fb1576983399
    A decent movie with a fair amount of laughs. It starts out very slow and the bad acting by everyone besides Eisenberg is hard to get past, but at the end you don't regret sitting through it. It could have been a lot funnier though.
  • lewiskendell
    December 14, 2011
    lewiskendell
    "And your first thought was to come to a school filled with young children?"

    30 Minutes or Less is an oddball action/comedy mishmash that reminds me of Pineapple Express more than anything else (though it's not quite as good or funny). Jesse Eisenberg and Aziz Ansari star as a p... read moreair of friends who are coerced into robbing a bank, thanks to a bomb and a couple of would-be "criminal masterminds" (Danny McBride ad Nick Swardson) in need of $100,000.

    The humor comes very rapidly, and each joke, hit or miss, doesn't linger long before the next one comes along. Your own particular sense of humor will largely decide how much you enjoy 30 Minutes or Less, as most of the entertainment comes from the silly, rapid-fire banter between the two protagonist characters and also that between their two bomb-making nemeses.

    I liked 30 Minutes or Less. It's not perfect, but it kept me laughing. If you're a fan of the usual brand of crude, dark humor that is sort of expected from a movie that Danny McBride plays a big part in, then this'll probably be something you enjoy. And if it turns out to not be your cup of tea, hey, at least it's short.

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Critic Reviews

Ben Sachs
December 6, 2011
Ben Sachs, Chicago Reader

The film contains a remarkable level of violence, yet never establishes a tone that would make it seem funny or truly shocking; the jokes flounder in an air of half-hearted spite. Full Review

Richard Brody
August 22, 2011
Richard Brody, New Yorker

It never reconciles the meticulous intelligence needed to build the weaponry and the monstrous stupidity needed to use it. Full Review

Meghan Keane
August 17, 2011
Meghan Keane, New York Observer

Probably has the approximate cultural staying power of its title. Full Review

James Berardinelli
August 12, 2011
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

The dark, biting comedy often strays into territory that can be categorized as politically incorrect, but the result is funny, engaging, and at times a little disconcerting. Full Review

Christopher Orr
August 12, 2011
Christopher Orr, The Atlantic

The movie belongs to Ansari, who steals nearly every scene he is in with his jangly, nervous intensity. Full Review

Lisa Kennedy
August 12, 2011
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post

This is disappointing news, given that the director of this sputter-rev-sputter ride is Ruben Fleischer​ and that nattering Jesse Eisenberg stars. Full Review

Tom Long
August 12, 2011
Tom Long, Detroit News

It's a bit like the Three Stooges on crack -- nutty, loud, profane and full of laughs. It won't change your life and it might hurt your ears, but it should keep you smiling. Full Review

Peter Howell
August 12, 2011
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

In a year lousy with badly written movies filled with phallic fixations, it's a relief to watch one that is happy to be rude good fun without excessive raunch. Full Review

Rick Groen
August 12, 2011
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

From the premise to the performances, everything and everybody just seems to be trying way too hard. Full Review

Dana Stevens
August 12, 2011
Dana Stevens, Slate

One of the great disappointments of my cinematic year so far. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Facts

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    • Dwayne: We're gonna hit him where it hurts.
    • Travis: In his dick?
    • Dwayne: No, in his pussy.
    • Travis: ...
    • Cop Outside Bank: Lower your weapons and put your hands on your head... Aww shit.
    • Chet: Not into rape, just into sliders.
    • Chet: Spraying our guns. Spraying our guns.Spraying our guns for the bank robbery. Cuz were going in with our plastic guns and the cops will shoot us in the face.
    • Dwayne: I'm the one fucking this bitch, you're just holding the camera.
    • Nick: Hotlanta? You know I know a little bit about it from rap music, and uh...it sounds like a fucked up place.
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