STAN THE MAN

Cinemavixion Review

Steven Chase delivers a dual performance in "Stan the Man," a 2020 comedy-drama that explores themes of redemption and self-discovery. Chase stars as Stan Mann, a flamboyant millionaire whose decadent lifestyle of ladies, gambling, and booze is abruptly halted when a fateful bet with Russian mobsters leaves him destitute. His life takes an even more dramatic turn when he's critically wounded during a liquor store robbery, taking a bullet meant for the clerk, Kristi (Anne Leighton). This near-death experience becomes a catalyst for change, as a celestial being grants Stan a mere 30 days to mend his ways, find his true love, and ultimately, redeem himself. The film, directed by Chase himself, offers a familiar narrative arc but is elevated by Leighton's grounded performance and the film's brisk pacing. While "Stan the Man" may not reinvent the genre, it provides a serviceable and occasionally poignant exploration of second chances.