"Keep Austin Weird" has gone from being a motto to a desperate plea, as Texas's capital city has seen its soul ripped out by wealthy transplants who drove out its many artists and cultural institutions. There are some hidden gems and longtime staples that remain. But so many great shops, restaurants and hangouts have been replaced by high-rise condos, toll roads, and chain stores. The makers of The Salamander King, a delightful new comedy, are part of that seemingly last bastion of true Austinites trying to just keep L-I-V-I-N, as one of the city's most famous residents would say.
While the film feels true to its Central Texas roots, the story itself is one you've seen many times before. The Blues Brothers. UHF. The Muppets. All these films and more have done the "greedy developer wants to tear down a beloved institution" plot, complete with a race against time to raise just enough money to keep the place solvent. The Salamander King is quite predictable, but it's got charm to spare.
A big part of that charm is Ryan Hansen as Ray, the fun-loving manager of the Austin Municipal Golf Course. Some golfing takes place, but it's mostly used as a hangout for drinkers, partiers, LARPers, and other folks who have nowhere else to go. Unlike everything else in the city, the small staff takes pride in not having raised their prices in many years, despite operating at a huge budget deficit.
Enter Sam (Adrianne Palicki), the new consultant hired by the city council to turn Muni around. Does she have a tough exterior that hides a good heart? Oh yes. Is she annoyed at first by this ragtag group but learns to love them? Yeah. And does she have a rich, well-dressed boyfriend (Justin Chatwin) who will have a showdown with our slovenly protagonist? You better believe it. Why, there's even a huge last-minute fundraiser that the community rallies around, despite attempts to shut it down from evil politicians.
While the film indulges in countless clichés, it's impossible not to have a big smile on your face throughout. The Salamander King may not win any points for originality, but it scores plenty of laughs and goodwill.
