Pan Handlers: A short trip into the world of bad sales pitches

Is it worth your time?

If you like old-school slapstick and don't mind a movie that barely has a plot, you'll probably get a kick out of Pan Handlers. It's essentially a series of gags strung together by the sheer frustration of trying to sell pots to people who definitely don't want them.

If you need deep character arcs or a cohesive story, skip it. You will absolutely hate this if you get annoyed by people shouting over each other in small kitchens.

There is something inherently funny about the premise. Patsy Kelly is clearly the engine here. She has this way of looking at a customer that says, "I know you're lying about not needing a new skillet," and it lands every single time.

The pacing is breathless. It doesn't waste time with setup. You are just suddenly in the middle of a doorway argument. It reminds me a bit of the frantic energy in Popcorn, though way less weird.

The Kitchen Scenes

The scenes inside the houses are a total mess. And I mean that in the best way. There’s a point where the pots start piling up, and you can see the set decorator struggling to keep the chaos contained. It feels authentic, like watching two people fail at a job they never wanted in the first place.

• Patsy Kelly’s facial expressions are the real MVP.
• The cookware looks suspiciously heavy for props.
• The dialogue is mostly just people talking over each other.

I found myself thinking about Bachelor's Folly during the middle act. It’s that same frantic, "how do we get out of this room" energy. It’s not genius, but it’s snappy.

Is it a classic? No. Does it need to be? Also no. It’s just a nice, short burst of people being terrible at selling aluminum. Sometimes that’s exactly what you need on a Tuesday afternoon. 🍳