Off-The-Walls Crime Comedy On Hulu Takes Hustling To The Next Level
By now, we’ve all seen our fair share of films criticizing capitalism, by showcasing the seemingly impossible nature of pulling oneself up by their bootstraps and rising out of poverty. One hilarious under-the-radar comedy however showcases the depths that natural born hustlers will reach in order to achieve their capitalistic dreams, including ripping off other poor people to get ahead, clawing their way to the top like crabs in a bucket. The hidden gem in question, 2019’s Buffaloed, is an unrated thrill-ride currently streaming on Hulu for those who may have missed it.
The Scheme
Buffaloed centers on a struggling Buffalo, New York native named Peg Dahl, who spends the majority of her childhood studying economics while trying to hustle the kids around her like some kind of live-action gender-swapped Ed Edd n Eddy.
In her teenage years, Peg manages to land a spot at a highly sought-after Ivy League school, though she ultimately cannot go due to her lack of financing. In a desperate bid to make money for her family, Peg launches a scheme to sell counterfeit tickets to local NFL games, which ultimately lands her in prison for over 3 years.
Debt Collection
Despite swapping her formal higher education with a crash course in prison economics, Peg departs from her incarceration with high hopes, and quickly procures a job at a debt collection agency.
As the narrative of Buffaloed carries on, Peg finds herself hustling harder than any of her peers at the agency, and essentially scamming her impoverished neighbors out of their hard-earned funds with a silver-tongued script.
By the time the film reaches its thrilling climax, Peg becomes so successful that she launches her own private debt collection firm, staffed with an eclectic group of hustlers, telemarketers, and even phone sex operators.
Reception
I was personally drawn to Buffaloed because the film seemed to be tackling a similar premise as Boots Riley’s 2018 sci-fi comedy Sorry To Bother You, which is one of my all-time favorite movies.
While it may seem that way from the trailer, Buffaloed ultimately takes its narrative in a completely different direction, offering a wholly unique viewing experience that has been lauded by fans and critics alike.
Today, this quirky unrated comedy touts a Rotten Tomatoes critic score of 80 percent.
The Cast
Buffaloed stars Zoey Deutch in the leading role, alongside performances from Jai Courtney, Jermaine Fowler, Noah Reid, Lusia Strus, and Archer’s Judy Greer. The film was written by Brian Sacca in his feature length screenwriting debut, and directed by Jolt filmmaker Tanya Wexler.
I wouldn’t go so far as to call this film 100 percent perfect, but if you’re looking for a solid comedy with some heartbreaking elements of realism to make you forget about your incoming avalanche of bills for an hour and a half, you couldn’t do much better than Buffaloed.
Stream It Now
GFR SCORE
For those of you who missed out on the unrated comedy upon release, or those who caught it and just need a quick rewatch, be sure to stream Buffaloed on Hulu today.
