Slow Dancin' Down the Aisles of the Quickcheck (1999) User Reviews

sweet, quirky and funny

[paleolith · 7/10 · 8 March 2011]

Starting with a concept that could have turned corny, saccharine, or just plain flat, Jackson balances and blends sweet, quirky, funny and romantic in this short. Jackson's original music worms its way into the heart of the plot, and of the viewer.

A wide variety of characters inhabits the short time and space, lending a breadth that's often lacking in a short, yet they fit together comfortably.

I saw it on a DVD that came directly from the director. It's on Youtube (I'm not sure who put it up), not quite DVD resolution but pretty good.

If you have a dream, you'll be touched. Where would we be without dreams? Reality, that's where.

Sweet as southern iced tea

[rnigma-1 · 23 December 2004]

I admit to a bit of bias. The man who made this film is my cousin, and I appear very fleetingly as an extra. That said, "Slow Dancin' Down the Aisles of the Quick Check" is a gem, and one wishes it were longer than a half hour, for we want to spend a little more time with Earl, Maybelline, and the others who work and shop in that supermarket. Thomas Wade Jackson made the film to fulfill his master's thesis at the Florida State University film school. Not only did he write and direct, he also composed all the songs (except the one that plays over the closing credits), edited, and acted (as Earl's cousin Gene). The film generated a favorable buzz even before its first showing. It was filmed after hours in a supermarket in Wade's hometown of Bainbridge, Georgia, and actual townspeople were used in small roles and as extras. His goal was to show a slice of life in the South without stereotypes or editorializing, and, working closely with his actors and crew, he has certainly succeeded. The performances (especially Mark Lainer as Earl) are poignant and heartfelt. Even if the director weren't my cousin, I'd still cherish this film. It was previously available on Atomfilms, and is now on YouTube.