I purchased
Chasing Holden on DVD in fall 2005 when my thesis concerning J.D. Salinger in film was much more broad than the final product. When the movie arrived, I knew I was in trouble: the type at the top of the cover said, "Starring DJ Qualls of the hit
The New Guy."
This is the worst movie I have ever seen.
Plan 9 From Outer Space was at least cohesive. Besides a scene of sudden, unnecessary profanity that Qualls' character spits before returning to his subdued "nice guy," there are many other inconsistencies. The most notable example is when Rachel Blanchard's character shoots at Qualls when he enters their hotel room. She mistakes him for the sleazy, stalking hotel manager and blasts a bullet just over his head. Instead of freaking out, he lazily says something like, "Whoa! Watch your aim," and then goes back to being "the cool guy." Holden Caulfield may have been manic-depressive, but do the script and acting need to be bipolar?
It's a shame that this movie (don't call it a film) is so bad. The premise is intriguing and Qualls has emerged into an interesting actor, most recently in
Hustle and Flow.
However, the true shame is that "Mystery Science Theatre 3000" is on longer on the air. Their roast of
Chasing Holden would have been priceless.