TANKHOUSE (2022)
A wildly funny theatrical farce best reserved for discerning adults.
Should You Watch It?
TANKHOUSE is a rare modern theatrical farce that improves dramatically as it goes. The first half is annoying and over-the-top, but the second half becomes hilarious and touching. Stephen Friedrich’s performance as Tucker is the film’s great strength. His comic expressions and perfectly calibrated condescension make him a marvel to watch.
The film also finds room for forgiveness and sacrifice. Its central relationships and artistic ambitions give the comedy some emotional weight. But the R rating reflects content and worldview concerns, including a non-explicit homosexual relationship, a couple living together, implied acceptance of premarital sex, and a scene of heavy drinking.
If you are an adult who can engage those concerns with discernment, the film’s originality and comic performances may reward you. For children and young teens, choose something else.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESTucker Charlemagne is a flamboyant avant-garde theater actor and producer in New York City. After a disastrous incident ruins his troupe’s engagement, he and his actress girlfriend, Sandrene, leave town in shame and start over in her hometown of Fargo, North Dakota.
There, they discover a contest to determine which theatrical troupe will win an old movie palace. Tucker assembles a ragtag group of performers and turns a decrepit storage space called the Tankhouse into their theatrical home. Their toughest competition comes from Sandrene’s former acting teacher.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means a highly original, very funny film with noticeable flaws. Director and co-writer Noam Tomaschoff overcomes an annoyingly over-the-top first half and delivers an uproarious, occasionally touching second half.
Stephen Friedrich steals the movie outright. His nonstop facial expressions and condescending speeches show exceptional comic control. The supporting cast of unusual performers is also top-notch and very funny. The film’s uneven opening keeps it from being stronger overall.
The Worldview
TANKHOUSE has a strong Romantic worldview about art and personal relationships. It treats artistic expression and romantic feeling as powerful sources of identity and purpose. The film also includes light biblical and redemptive themes involving forgiveness and sacrifice, although faith itself is not mentioned.
The worldview becomes more troubling in its treatment of sexuality and relationships. Two young men reveal a homosexual relationship, argue about coming out, and express romantic love. The two leads also live together, implying acceptance of premarital sex. The film mocks political correctness and theatrical pretentiousness, but its romantic framework remains distinctly non-Christian.
The film’s emphasis on forgiveness and sacrifice points toward truths Scripture affirms, even though the story does not connect them to faith in God: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Strong Romantic worldview about art and personal relationships, with light Biblical, redemptive principles of forgiveness and sacrifice though faith isn’t mentioned, and some mockery of political correctness and pretentiousness in the theater, and two young men come “out of the closet” and reveal they have a homosexual relationship, but then fight about the coming out twice, and in the end, they’re holding hands and briefly kissing while saying they’re in “real love”
Foul Language
No obscenities and two OMG profanities
Violence
A male actor comically pretends to slap a female actor while they’re onstage, and one man jumps out of the crowd to punch the slapper, two men comically fight and one gets punched in the face and knocked down comically, a woman punches a man and kicks him in the groin after he accidentally puts his arm around her
Sex
Two men reveal they have a homosexual relationship together and fight about it, but they eventually hold hands and kiss and say they’re in love, plus two men have a romantic rivalry over one woman, who has been living together with one of the men
Nudity
No nudity, but a theater performance has a woman taking off her top, but in the performance one of the other actors places a “Censored” sign in front of her exposed chest
Alcohol Use
In one scene, the lead acting troupe drinks copious amounts of alcohol, and they all pass out drunk
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking or drugs;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Rival to lead male character, who runs a theatrical troupe, uses a spy to infiltrate the troupe and sabotage it so the rival’s troupe can win a contest.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The troupe’s members must work together despite their differences. What does Scripture teach about using different gifts for one purpose?
Romans 12:4–8 · 1 Corinthians 12:12–27The film includes themes of forgiveness and sacrifice. Why are both necessary for restored relationships?
Ephesians 4:31–32 · Philippians 2:3–4The story treats romantic feeling as a major guide for personal relationships. How does that compare with the Bible’s teaching about love?
1 Corinthians 13:4–7 · John 15:12–13The rival uses a spy to sabotage another troupe. What does Scripture say about honesty and pursuing success?
Proverbs 12:22 · Galatians 6:9–10The Final Word
TANKHOUSE takes a rare theatrical farce from an irritating beginning to a hilarious and touching second half. Its comic performances and themes of forgiveness and sacrifice offer real merit, but its worldview and sexual content require adult discernment. For adults who can engage those concerns thoughtfully, the answer is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For others, consider our family-friendly picks.
