Skip to main content

Dome Pondering Movie Review: 30 Minutes or Less (2011)

What is it about? 

Two start-up criminals strap a bomb to a pizza delivery guy and inform him he must rob a bank or else...

Who is in it? 

Jesse Eisenberg - Nick

Danny McBride - Dwayne

Aziz Ansari - Chet

Nick Swardson - Travis

Favorite Scene: 

After getting masks and fake toy guns, Nick and Chet rob a neighborhood friend's father for his car, and then rob the bank. Both situations filled with amateur and uncomfortable moves by both. 

Favorite Quote: 

Chet: [gasp as Nick shows the bomb vest] Is that thing real? 
Nick: Chet, if I don't get to the money in time. This thing gonna blow. 
Chet: [angry] And your first though was to come to a school, filled with young children?
---

Nick: [to Mr. Fisher] Now, listen to me... We're obviously, uh, stealing the car! And you won't report it stolen until later tonight, let's say... 5 o'clock. Or 6, to be safe! 
Chet: 6:15! 
Nick: Yeah, right! 6:15. 
Chet: Don't even bother calling the cops! We own the cops! 

Review: 

30 Minutes or Less is a pretty entertaining film. Boasting a pretty good lead with Jesse Eisenberg in the lead role along tremendously funny guys like Aziz Ansari and Nick Swardson, the film is very funny. With many silly situations and awkward lines, 30 seconds or less will have you laughing from beginning to the end. Especially since it is only 84 minutes long. 

While the plot does develop really nicely with all of the characters being invested, the film is very predictable  and isn't of much depth. However, it's good at what it was meant to do, and that is make you laugh. 

A recommendation for those in need of a laugh. Not great, but overall, decent. 

Grade: 2.5/5

Recently Read

Dear Son, Big Fan of the Kid Turning Seven

---7 Years Old --- Dear Son,  It’s been a while since I’ve dropped a few thoughts. Forgive me, I’ve just been watching. Just observing. Taking it all in. Trying to be a good dad. I’m punching the keys today from one of your martial arts practices. It’s your second with “the big kids” and also the second time I’ve found myself watching from the sidelines with anxiety, with pride, and with likely my biggest fandom for you yet in this space. My feelings are much more than you playing baseball or coaching you in basketball. Your disposition is different. Your excellence is different in this space. With martial arts, you stay diligent with the process. Respectful. Working hard. Getting better. In competition with and respecting the older kids you are training with. That’s what I’ve enjoyed. It encapsulates everything you’ve grown into thus far. Still empathetic as ever, but adding an element of self-ambition and drive - something I’ve prided myself on - and to see you mature into this m...

Working in Higher Ed, Lately

"Working in higher education must be interesting these days, huh?" That question was posed to me by several people who recently learned that I worked in higher education. The recent discourse around the industry and field has certainly shifted in narrative and the overall feel within it. I recently wrapped up my fourteenth (!!) academic year. It's remarkable to think that I've been serving students and following a passion for this long. This is especially the case considering the rising turnover, the documented yearly burnout, and the increasing exodus from the field.  And, yup, there is that whole enrollment cliff combined with the politics that are more present than ever on college campuses.  So yeah, higher education is weird right now. Very weird.  Some quick thoughts : IS IT TIME?  Yes, I have thought about leaving the field several times. Especially, over the last few years. COVID didn't really bother me, but it's safe to say that the world of higher edu...

Quick Ponder: Future Self

We always think,  what would we say  to our  younger self? However,  what would  our younger self say  if they met us, today?