Published: February 24, 2009 10:53 am      

Karma Police is a satisfying game of turn about

Karma Police will probably not come to your local cineplex. But it is definitely worth searching out, finding and buying. One can find it at most national video rental shops, or online at most major outlets.

I have to admit, I kinda-sorta wish there were a group like the Karma Police — I would love knowing that not only would I get my reward — or punishment — after I died, but I would get it now.

I think that if Karma Police had been made by a major studio 20 years ago, it would have starred Tom Hanks. That's a compliment, by the way. Hanks, before he became a star, had a knack for playing good-hearted people who mainly wanted to please. Of course this release takes it one step farther and he actually gets back at those who, for lack of a better phrase, use him as their tool.

The con-job worked on the principal character, Charles West (Chamblee Ferguson) is well thought out — sort of unbelieveable, but then you think, hey this is an independent movie, so maybe it is possible in this world — and the viewer doesn’t — or at least I didn’t see the floor about to fall out from under the protagonist.

And the turnabout at the end is great — and very satisfying.

The old saw, “What comes around, goes around,” is given new life with this release.

I really enjoyed the turn about.

I seriously recommend this release. This is one of the better independent films I’ve had the opportunity to watch.

Karma Police is a fine example of what can be done in independent film. The acting, for the most part was extremely believable and the camerawork, the music and the plot were all well-crafted.

One of the main reasons that Karma Police leaves such a long-lasting impression on the viewer is that it takes advantage of the gullibility of the audience. For the first 50 minutes or so, we are delivered an unbelievable story which finally becomes almost believeable. Then the finale turns the entire film around.

This is one of the films that the entire family may watch. This movie had no sex, no killing (some violence), and a feel good ending. What more could you want?

Cast: Chamblee Ferguson, John Wesley Shipp, Nicole Leigh, Dan Forsythe, Jessica Turner, Julius Washington, Dell Johnson, Ian Leson and David Sullivan

Karma Police

Rating (***1/2 out of *****)

Synopsis: (Courtesy of Filmfrog productions) The world’s largest secret organization, the Karma Police, recruit all-around good guy Charles West as their newest agent. The Karma Police help ensure that good people are rewarded and bad people are punished. Charles joins the Karma Police, but his motivation for doing so is not entirely for doing good. As Charles begins doling out rewards and punishments, his involvement with the Karma Police becomes increasingly personal in more ways than one. He is responsible for judging the decisions and actions of others, but in the end, he should have been judging his own.

Runtime: 99 minutes

MPAA Rating: Not Rated