By Kevin McCarthy

RENO 911!: MIAMI is pretty much an extended and uncensored version of the Comedy Central program. This is JACKASS: THE MOVIE with a plot. We’re offered a number of funny vignettes that benefit from a studio’s deeper pockets, but suffer from the cast’s newfound freedom from time to time. 

But what a cast it is. In addition to the Reno Police Department regulars, there are a slew of familiar faces and friends who lend their extensive talents to a hilarious collection of scenes. If you’re a fan of the small-screen version, there’s a good chance that RENO 911!: MIAMI is going to entertain. If an improvisational COPS spoof is not your cup o’ tea, well then maybe you should just go back to Boringtown.

At a staff meeting, commanding officer Lt. Jim Dangle (Thomas Lennon) informs the troops that the department has been invited to a police convention in Miami. They travel to Florida (by bus) and arrive at the hotel hosting the event, only to discover that their registration has been botched. Unwilling to cut their vacation short, the Reno P.D. checks into a seedy oceanside motel and goes out on the town. The following morning, they discover that the hotel is on lockdown and all the officers staying within have been exposed to a deadly biological agent. The Reno guys are now charged with patrolling the entirety of Miami and bringing a terrorist to justice before their colleagues meet their maker.

Much like the show, RENO 911!: MIAMI doesn’t go out of its way to adhere to a steady plot. The humor of the series comes from the sheriffs responding to calls, and the formula remains intact here. Unbound in this way, the writers can run a string of scenarios that draw constant laughs. The stars are improvisational geniuses, and the supporting cast of comedians repeatedly keeps pace. Patton Oswalt as Deputy Asst. Mayor Jeff Spoder, and Paul Rudd as the villainous drug lord are ceaselessly funny. They are matched by great cameos from the likes of David Koechner, the Stella guys, and Nick Swardson as the recurring male-prostitute-on-skates, Terry. I could go on. MIAMI is honestly a laundry list of underappreciated comedic talent, without a weak link in the group.

Most people get understandably skeptical when they hear a TV show is being brought to the silver screen. And, shows like RENO 911! don’t seem to offer the scale for the big box-office draws. The lure to just cash in on the built-in fan base is strong and oftentimes damning. In fact, the release schedule makes MIAMI particularly suspect.  After making the majority of its money on opening weekend, the film promptly disappeared. With a DVD release only three-and-a-half months after its theatrical debut, all signs pointed to a scant offering for a select audience. But the truth is much more heartening. Not only is RENO 911!: MIAMI a great comedy in keeping with predecessors like SOUTH PARK: BIGGER, LONGER & UNCUT and the JACKASS movies, but the DVD has some solid features and a promised deluxe edition on the way.

Here, we get three different commentary tracks from an assortment of cast members. Amid a wealth of comedy nuggets, Ben Garant’s and Kerri Kenney’s comments on the making of the film are terrific. In addition, we get a number of extended scenes; these are real gems. Most scenes are shot as a couple lengthy takes, so seeing them in completion is really special. The actors are true craftsmen, and their ability to work on the fly is exceptional. The cherry on top are a few short PSAs of the type that you’ve probably seen pepper most episodes. They’re definitely worth a view. 

Overall, it’s a good bundle that I’d happily recommend to anyone. Personally, I’ll wait until the must-have special edition hits shelves.