Review: Raunchy & Contrived 'Donny's Bar Mitzvah' Comes to Blu-ray

Raunch is the name of the game in "Donny's Bar Mitzvah," and it has plenty to spare, with its gag-a-minute approach to depicting a raucous party unlike any other. Filled with a myriad of sequences of kids and adults yelling, throwing up, fucking, and getting obliterated on the dance floor, the film tries, and mostly fails, to sidestep its narrative shortcomings with whatever gross-out gag it has at its disposal. But what's left is a really aggressive attempt to be offensive and amusing, mostly falling flat in both categories.

"Donny's Bar Mitzvah" comes to Blu-ray from Circle Collective, one of the new and exciting Vinegar Syndrome partner labels, on a disc that offers great audio and video, as well as some special features to dig into. While I have my own reservations about the film, some people may be impressed by its specific brand of abrasive sex-and-drug-fueled mischief. Plus, there's a decent interview with writer/director Jonathan Kaufman, where he speaks frankly about his inspiration for the film.

Originally shot on digital and then edited in post-production to look like a home video from 1998, "Donny's Bar Mitzvah" follows a swath of colorful characters as they gather to drink their troubles away, get involved in affairs, and, yes, celebrate Donny (Steele Stebbins) for turning from a child into a man. There's a ton of disparate threads all happening at once in the film, bolstered by the haphazard direction that attempts to tie them all into one bewildering evening. Danny Trejo is also at the party, undercover and investigating a serial party pooper for some reason.

Amidst all the love triangles and overall naughtiness, Donny gets pranked on by his friends and almost misses out on the girl he has a crush on. His central dilemma is picked up and dropped many times as the amateur-recording aesthetic takes over. But even all that craziness isn't without minor pleasures, like one of the parents who can't stop projectile vomiting and the DJ who will save the day with his talents.

All in all, "Donny's Bar Mitzvah" gets points for trying, especially since it seems to come from a single voice hell-bent on transgression. If the film is something that may interest you, the Blu-ray comes with plenty of goodies that'll reward your viewing experience.

Other special features include:

� In character commentary track with Gary & Susie, played by actors Adam Herschman and Tricia O'Kelley
� Multiple trailers
� Rabbis react to the film
� Reversible cover artwork
� Optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature
� Limited edition slipcover available at vinegarsyndrome.com

"Donny's Bar Mitzvah" is now available on Blu-ray from Circle Collective.