Man With a Van
One of the funniest films of all time, Man With a Van is a hilarious sequel the financial disaster Argyll and Costello Christmas classic It's a Wonderful Life. It's a comedy with the same clueless American innocence that defined the latter film, Russell Brand plays the eponymous Van Man, a man who travels back to the present day New York City, where the man falls in love with an attractive young woman who works at a theater. But instead of saving Man and Van , he instead decides to go off with her to help him save his struggling enterprise... But are they able to save their own marriage, and if they do, will Van Man destroy his family and his livelihood along the way?
If you think of Michael Caine, you probably picture the actor in his most famous sequences in A Few Good Men, in which he is a bad guy who's about to be executed by authorities. The film Man With a Van, however, Caine plays Robert "Bob" Wurzelbacher, an honest former moving truck driver who knows what it's like handling people's possessions and of course, the Van Man himself. The film's story progresses and we get to know more about this peculiar man who is able to have a pretty good time doing so. He even gets away with his cousin after being informed authorities are looking to inspect his trucks. When two moving trucks who are from the other side of the country decide to make a stop at his house, things get worse.
Brand plays the role of the one man who isn't afraid to get his hands dirty - literally. After letting two moving movers take a swift exit from his house Brand is given his own truck to handle the remaining work. Two movers are amazed by his capacity to complete the task quickly and easily, even allowing the two trucks he employs to move his belongings to break some laws (one being related to the dimensions of the fronts of his vehicles). When they offer to assist him, Bob realizes that he has a lot more happening within his own life that he ever thought. However, despite all that, he's still dedicated to helping others and making life easier for people around him.
A troubled young girl named Beth is having a difficult time adjusting to her new surroundings. She's always being targeted however, she's uncertain about her previous experiences and what she's likely to become in this new town. She shares with her family the story of moving into Man With a Van, but they don't believe her claims and soon she begins to feel a fearful of the new town. The two movers from earlier come to help her out of a jam when they discover Bob's involvement in the moving. They end up saving Beth and making Beth feel secure in her new city.
Over time, Bob develops feelings for the local girl. Beth starts working with him and they end up falling in love. Then the unthinkable happens, which puts their love on the back burner when Bob is laid off from his job at the news corporation.
I highly recommend this book to someone who's been in a similar position to Bob. It's a great read because it's so real and convincing. It's not an uplifting story as most novels are, however, it's filled with excitement and valuable lessons. It's not your typical emotional read, neither. There's no cute sidekicks or excessive twists.
I'd suggest this book if you're someone who likes humorous situations and who likes thrilling plots. If that's you, then this book is surely a book worth taking the time to read. My favorite part was when Bob and Beth decided to live in the van of one of their friends. The whole thing was hilarious and made me laugh several times. I'd also like to say that the plot was enthralling. I didn't encounter any issues with the plot and I was captivated from beginning to end.
Overall, this was a fun book. It's a realistic read and I think that people would recommend it. People who love to travel, like adventure, and simply want to see how others deal with life in a humorous sort of manner should definitely check out Man With a Van by Paul Therien. It's a quick enjoyable read that has a great storyline.
