Director: Peter Atencio
Comedian Bert Kreischer trades stand-up storytelling for action-comedy chaos in "The Machine," a film built around one of his most famous real-life anecdotes about a wild night in Russia decades earlier.
What is The Machine about?
Years after a legendary, booze-fueled trip that has followed him ever since in the form of a viral bit, Bert finds his present-day family life colliding head-on with that past. A mobster from the old story resurfaces, dragging Bert and his visiting, estranged father back across the ocean to settle an old debt tied to that same reckless night. What starts as a kidnapping quickly turns into a forced road trip through hostile territory, with father and son bickering their way through danger while a sociopathic crime family closes in around them. Along the way, old grudges between Bert and his father surface, forcing both men to reckon with the choices that shaped who they became. The film leans into broad physical comedy and absurd set pieces, using the central hostage plot mostly as a excuse for escalating gags rather than genuine suspense. It's less concerned with realism than with mining laughs from a mismatched family forced to cooperate under pressure.
Cast & crew
Bert Kreischer plays a version of himself, extending the persona from his stand-up act into a full narrative role, while Mark Hamill brings gruff comic timing to the estranged father. Jimmy Tatro and Stephanie Kurtzuba round out a supporting cast built for improv-friendly banter over dramatic weight.
Context & significance
Directed by Peter Atencio, known for his comedy work on television before moving into features, "The Machine" adapts and exaggerates a story Kreischer has told for years on stage, turning a comedy-circuit legend into a full-length action-comedy. It arrived in theaters in 2023 as one of the year's stand-up-to-screen crossover releases.
Where & how to watch
"The Machine" streams on K-Time with a free account login, available with Persian dub and Persian subtitles for viewers who want either option. The service's Farsi-language interface is built for the Iranian diaspora, making it simple to find comedies like this one alongside dramas and series in the same catalog.