We don’t typically review movies that are currently in the theatres here on Ground Control, but then again, Napa Boys isn’t your typical movie. For one thing, I couldn’t get a straight description of what the movie is about. Most of the reviews call it one big inside joke, or they’ve been polarizing: people are either loving it or calling it unwatchable. I guess I had to see it for myself, and as luck would have it, my local theatre was going to be screening it followed by a Q&A from one of its stars Mike Mitchell. i.e. Mitch to those of us who are fans.
To be perfectly clear, I care about Napa Boys because I care about Mitch, and I’m a fan of Mitch because I’m a fan of Doughboys: the popular podcast about chain restaurants. I don’t listen to a lot of podcasts, but I’m a pretty solid Doughboys listener, having not missed a main episode in 5 years. It’s not the reviews of fast food that I tune in for (although, most of the time, it doesn’t hurt), it’s the dynamic between the co-hosts Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger. They have the kind of conversations I’m interested in and interact in a way that I can relate to. They’re also funny as hell. The running joke (or I should say, one of the running jokes), is that the show is stupid and bad and they should end it. But the show is popular for a reason, and many of us feel a connection to it. It’s just too cozy.
A screening of Napa Boys with Mitch definitely seems like a fun way for a fan to spend a Monday night. Adding to the magic is that, somehow, my “journalist’s” request to talk to Mitch and ask him about the movie somehow got approved…by the Napa Boys Instagram page, of all places. I don’t know who is managing it, but don’t let anyone tell you social media isn’t making our lives better.
The Somerville Theatre is pretty packed for a Monday night, which is encouraging, and I’m nervously writing down questions for Mitch on my Notes app. As soon as I’m happy with the ten I come up with, I turn off my phone. Just as the movie is about to start, I notice Mitch come in from the back and take a seat to watch the movie with the rest of us.
The movie can be described in a number of ways. The Napa Boys, a group of adventurous wine enthusiasts, reunite to help their winemaker friend Mitch win a wine competition so he can save his vineyard. However, the movie also parodies Sideways, adventure movies, and direct-to-DVD style American Pie comedies. The film is presented as Napa Boys 4: The Sommelier’s Amulet (in Indiana Jones font) not to confuse, but to make a point: you don’t need to understand references and backstories. In a cheaply made adventure/comedy, it’s all going to be obvious exposition, expected beats and familiar tropes. The delivery of the movie is also highly absurd and deranged. There really is nothing like it and as a DIY project, it’s impressive that this movie even got made. Most of all, it’s charming that passion projects like this can still be made and even screen in theatres. I’m looking forward to watching it again once the DVD comes out.
When the credits roll, Mitch makes his way on stage to thank the crowd for coming and answers questions. I’m both glad and a little nervous that many of the questions from the audience are the same ones I have. The movie was shot over the course of 9 days, and Mitch himself admits it’s a very weird and particular movie. Co-writer Armen Weitzman was supposed to be at this Q&A but missed his flight. The character of Mitch Mitchellson was always written for him, and believe it or not, he has seen the movie twelve times at this point.
Mike Mitchell answers questions after a live screening of The Napa Boys at the Somerville Theatre
As he thanks the crowd again for coming to see the movie on the big screen, Mitch once again reiterates how passion projects like these are becoming rare and that supporting them is important if we’re going to see more independent comedy like Napa Boys.
While people are filing out, I approach Mitch along with a dozen other people. I’m a little unsure how an interaction with him was going to go: was he going to be down for an interview at this hour? Did he even know I was going to be there covering the screening for the most prestigious online outlet of the greater Boston area? What did the Instagram account TELL HIM?
As soon as I introduce myself to him, I breathe a sigh of relief, because my name doesn’t sound unfamiliar to him.
“Oh, yeah! Did you want to talk?” he asks me.
It becomes obvious that we’re both trying to be polite, but I see an opportunity and take it, “Yeah, I’d like to ask you a few questions about a piece I’m writing about the screening, if you don’t mind”
He happily agrees and asks me to hold on while he greets more people and talks to his friends. I happily stand aside as I talk to his sister and serve as a photographer to all the people who want a picture with him. When he’s done, he asks me how we should do the interview.
“We can do it here or we can just go to a bar and have a drink.” I know I’m pushing a boundary here. I’d much prefer the latter suggestion, and sure enough, he prefers that as well. The Burren is maybe the best bar in Davis Square and a three-minute walk.
I accompany his friends and introduce myself making small talk about Quincy to fill the dead air. The Burren is a great bar and one of Mitch’s friends graciously offers to buy us a couple of ciders (I owe that guy a drink!) as we settle into a cozy table in the back.
We end up speaking for 30 minutes or so, and I’m delighted by the fact that our conversation flows so naturally that I don’t really need my notes. I’m a Doughboys fan, after all, and know a little about his career, but I basically just ask him questions that I personally feel are interesting. Mitch is very eloquent and gracious with his answers and gives long and insightful answers, even though my questions are scattered, rambling, and poorly formed.
Of course, I hit on the inside joke that they think about ending the show, bringing up that his cohost Nick Wiger has mentioned that the podcast is in a very good place, both monetarily and content-wise. He immediately agrees. “I love to work and I love acting and Nick loves to write. The podcast affords us to make harder decisions and stand up for ourselves. It’s also important for us to pay our staff well, like [show producers and editors] Emma, Amelia, and Mike. When people pinch pennies, it’s like, we’re a podcast and WE can afford it.” We also get a little more into comedy (SNL is a strange creature) and Hollywood in general (we both loved Marty Supreme). So, what would it take to actually end the Doughboys, I jokingly press him. “For us, it’s on a week-to-week basis. If we ever feel like there’s nothing left for us to do on the show, or if financially it doesn’t make sense, but it’s not about the money. We were losing money with the podcast the first few years, buying fast food from chain restaurants. Sometimes we think the show is bad but our producer Amelia says we feel that way because we’re so used to it.” Well, it sounds like everyone is happy and there are no plans to call it quits, and a lot of that has to do with all the support they’ve gotten from their fans over the years…including the Redditors.
Mitch then notices his friends behind me. “Hang on, two of my guys are leaving, I have to say goodbye.”
I think this is as good a cue as any, so I quit while I’m ahead and tell him this is a good place to stop the interview. We pleasantly shake hands, take a quick selfie, and he thanks me for the interview. The feeling is very mutual, as I walk out of the bar having just experienced a best-case scenario with one of my favorite comedians.
Thank you, magical Napa Boys Instagram page and support the arts, you bastards! Go see this movie!
