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Beerfest
Directed by	Jay Chandrasekhar
Produced by	Michael Beugg Bill Gerber Steve Lemme Richard Perello Erik Stolhanske
Written by	Jay Chandrasekhar Kevin Heffernan Steve Lemme Paul Soter Erik Stolhanske
Starring	Jay Chandrasekhar Kevin Heffernan Steve Lemme Paul Soter Erik Stolhanske Jürgen Prochnow Cloris Leachman Mo'Nique Donald Sutherland
Release date(s)	August 25, 2006
Running time	110 min.
Language	English
IMDb profile

Beerfest is a 2006 beer-themed comedy film by the comedy group Broken Lizard. Along with the regular members of Broken Lizard, other actors who appear in the movie include Jürgen Prochnow, Blanchard Ryan, Will Forte, Eric Christian Olsen, Donald Sutherland, and Cloris Leachman.

Beerfest was filmed in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The plot begins with two American Brothers, Jan (Paul Soter) and Todd (Erik Stolhanske) Wolfhouse, who are mourning the death of their immigrant grandfather Johann von Wolfhausen (an uncredited Donald Sutherland), founder of the Schnitzengiggle German beer hall in Colorado. They learn from their great-grandmother (Cloris Leachman) that they have an opportunity to travel to Germany to deliver their grandfather's ashes. Jan and Todd gladly take this opportunity when they learn that Oktoberfest will be occurring at this very same time in Munich, Bavaria.

While in Germany, Jan and Todd find "Beerfest", an underground drinking game tournament run by Baron Wolfgang von Wolfhausen (Jürgen Prochnow). As the brothers arrive, they witness the German national team defeating the Irish national team and discover that the German Von Wolfhausen competitors are relatives of the American Wolfhouse family. The arrogant Germans explain that Jan and Todd's grandfather Johann had stolen a beer recipe decades ago and demand the recipe back from the unknowing brothers. Jan and Todd engage in a drinking contest with the Germans but are soundly defeated. The brothers travel back home and swear to get revenge on the Germans, who arrogantly celebrate the victory by humiliating the Wolfhouses, destroy their grandfather's urn, and spill the ashes all over Jan and Todd.

In order to beat the Germans at "Beerfest", Jan and Todd assemble a team of their college drinking friends to represent the United States. They first recruit Phil "Landfill" Krundle (Kevin Heffernan), an overweight former brewery employee who is recruited to the team because of his drinking skills. They next enlist Charlie "Fink" Finklestein (Steve Lemme), a nerdy, Jewish scientist who is recruited to the team because of his knowledge of beer and understanding of chemistry. The third recruit is Barry Badrinath (Jay Chandrasekhar), who is recruited to the team because of his impressive ability to play drinking games. When the gang recruits Barry they learn that he had been working as a male prostitute. Conflict arises between Barry and Todd, as Barry had slept with Todd's then-girlfriend (now wife) when they were in college.

During the one year training period, the Americans discover that Johann did indeed steal the family beer recipe, although he should have been the heir to the family brewery in Bavaria. The team uses the recipe to brew Schnitzengiggle Beer, which they find to be the greatest in the world, and they taunt their German relatives by mailing the Baron a bottle of it. Under the guise of a nurse for Jan and Todd's great-grandmother, a German-sent spy named Cherry (Mo'Nique) presumably steals the recipe and murders Landfill after he attempts to stop her treachery. After Landfill's funeral, the team decides to disband. However, in an obvious deus ex machina, Landfill's twin brother, Gil (also played by Heffernan), suddenly appears and expresses his desire to join their team. Gil is similar to Phil, yet better in almost every way, and asks to be referred by the same nickname as his deceased brother; Landfill.

The team travels to Germany for the international competition. The Americans lose in the finals to the Germans through further intervention by Cherry, but Jan, still clueless to the fact that Cherry had stolen the recipe, offers the Germans a deal. He has them agree to a rematch on the condition that the Germans will get the recipe back if they win, while the Wolfhouses will receive the family brewery if the Americans win. The Germans inform Jan that they already have that recipe, but Fink points out that they had stolen the wrong recipe, which prompts Wolfgang to have Cherry executed. Using Fink's scientific beer knowledge, the Americans defeat the Germans in the ensuing drinking contest and inherit the Wolfenhausen brewery.

As the team celebrates their victory in Amsterdam, they find Willie Nelson (in a cameo role) who welcomes them to compete in a marijuana-smoking tournament that he has been invited to. After the team gladly agrees to join Nelson's team, the film ends as the screen fills with smoke and the words "Coming Soon - Potfest" appear.

According to box office tracking website BoxOfficeMojo.com, Beerfest opened in fourth place for the weekend of August 25-27, 2006, with receipts of $7,031,228 domestically. The film cost an estimated $12.5 million to produce. As of November 2, 2006, it earned $19,185,184 domestically.

Beerfest was released on DVD on December 5, 2006. Two versions of the movie are available: an R-rated theatrical version (available in widescreen format only), and the "Completely Totally Unrated" edition (available in both widescreen and fullscreen formats).

Both versions of the DVD include the following special features:

• Audio Commentary with Broken Lizard Members Jay Chandrasekhar and Steve Lemme
• Audio Commentary with Broken Lizard Members Kevin Heffernan, Paul Soter, and Erik Stolhanske
• "Rule #1" Featurette
• "With the Frog Fluffer" Featurette
• "Beer 101 History Lesson" Featurette
• Deleted Scenes (with 2 Optional Audio Commentaries: 1 with Broken Lizard Members Jay Chandrasekhar and Steve Lemme and 2 with Broken Lizard Members Kevin Heffernan, Paul Soter, and Erik Stolhanske)
• Theatrical Trailer

Beerfest was inspired by Broken Lizard's experiences at Colgate University, as well as a spontaneous "boat race" drinking contest at a beer festival between the comedy troupe members and Australians during the promotion of Super Troopers.^[1] After the German cast members completed their final day of filming, the American and German cast competed in another boat race; the Broken Lizard team won two out of three games.^[1]

The cast drank non-alcoholic O'Doul's beer during most of the filming, although alcoholic beer was sometimes consumed near the end of a day of filming.^[2] Beer brands seen, mentioned, or sponsored in the movie include Franziskaner, Spaten, Henninger, Red Stripe, Beck's, Guinness,^[1] and Radeberger.

The German movie Das Boot is referenced in the movie. Jürgen Prochnow, who plays Baron von Wolfhausen, starred as The Captain in the World War II submarine movie ("I start to feel all cooped up in these U-Boats; I had a bad experience once."). The British-born Philippe Brenninkmeyer, who plays the German referee, also played a German in Super Troopers. The names of two of the German competitors, Hammacher and Schlemmer, refer to the retail store Hammacher-Schlemmer.

Will Forte impressed the cast with his beer drinking speed.^[2] Drinking games played in the movie include Beer Pong, Beirut, Quarters (and Speed Quarters), Asshole, I Never, Shotgunning, Boat Race, Bat Spin, Thumper, Depth Charge, and Strike Out. The "Monkey Chug" game was played by the Broken Lizard members during their time at Colgate University.^[1]

Along with the beer consumption humor like a beer goggles scene, the film also makes fun of ethnic stereotypes, such as the Canadian team wearing hockey jerseys, the English team speaking in nearly indecipherable British slang and Cockney rhyming slang, and the Swedish team being composed solely of attractive blonde women (reminiscient of the Swedish Bikini Team).

The large boot-shaped mug the cast drank from during the film was rumored to hold 64oz. of liquid.

The final scene with the message "Coming Soon - Potfest" was confirmed by Broken Lizard as a joke to make this film have an open-ended feel. The troupe said there has been fan support to create the sequel, which might be made as an animated film.^[3]

• Paul Soter (Jan Wolfhouse)
• Erik Stolhanske (Todd Wolfhouse)
• Jay Chandrasekhar (Barry Badrinath)
• Kevin Heffernan (Phil "Landfill" Krundle/Gil "Landfill" Krundle)
• Steve Lemme (Charlie "Fink" Finklestein)
• Jürgen Prochnow (Baron Wolfgang von Wolfhausen)
• Will Forte (Otto)
• Eric Christian Olsen (Gunter)
• Ralf Moeller (Hammacher)
• Gunter Schlierkamp (Schlemmer)
• Nat Faxon (Rolf)
• Mo'Nique (Cherry)
• Donald Sutherland (Johann Von Wolfhausen)
• Cloris Leachman (Great Gam Gam)
• Blanchard Ryan (Krista Krundle)
• Philippe Brenninkmeyer (Herr Referee)
• Candace Smith (Naomi)
• Willie Nelson (Willie Nelson)
• James Roday (German Messenger)

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Groucho Reviews- Interview with Broken Lizard's Steve Lemme & Erik Stolhanske
2. ^ ^{a b} IGN: Set Visit: Beerfest
3. ^ IGN: Broken Lizard on the Road to Potfest?

• Official website
• Beerfest at MySpace (created by Broken Lizard)
• Beerfest at the Internet Movie Database
• Beerfest at Rotten Tomatoes
• Beerfest Vidcaps (Built Report's gallery)