Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God… Be Back by Five (1998)

Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God… Be Back by Five: Directed by Richard Schenkman. With Jon Cryer, Rick Stear, Rafael Báez, Ione Skye. Two young men (Jon Cryer, Rick Stear) who have been friends since early childhood decide to go on a trip to find a third friend (Rafael Baez) who has long since disappeared. Stories they have heard indicate that the friend has been seen in an apparently rambling, incoherent state at Coney Island. Their trip leads them to a number of adventures involving the otherworld-like life at the Park and revelations related to their own pasts including the death of one’s sister, a failed past relationship, financial failings, and alcoholism.

“u0026quot;Went…u0026quot;, a downer drama with a spritz of humor, tells the tale of two of a trio of young men who grew up together in school days off to Coney Island in search of their wayward, homeless comrad. The story proceeds in preset day using interleaved flashbacks in a clumsy attempt to develop characters and story and trite aphorisms to lend credence to a weak plot with no payoff. The film has poor technical execution, the look of a super 8mm shoot, bad makeup, and general mediocrity in art, acting, and directing and conjures up more sympathy for the actors than the characters. Very forgettable.”