Operation Taco Gary’s is one of those offbeat comedies where you’re all in on what it’s selling, or it won’t be for you. Maybe it’s because offbeat comedies have been missing like this in the marketplace, but I was mostly invested in all of the film’s silliness, its broad comedy, and truly out-of-this-world characters. Written and directed by Michael Kvamme in his feature directorial debut, Operation Taco Gary’s is one part a collection of comedic moments probably best served when you’re stoned with your friends, but it also has a little to say about making sense of the world we’re living in. Perhaps the best thing to accept about this nonsensical universe is that nothing really makes sense, and not to drive yourself crazy, you have to scream into the void, get your frustrations out, and carry on. Operation Taco Gary’s can be enjoyed without deciphering its true message, but it’s appreciated when even the silliest of comedies that begin with the mysterious death of American Pie’s Jason Biggs have a little something to say beneath the surface.
Danny (Simon Rex) and Luke (Dustin Milligan) are estranged brothers, with the latter a paleontologist preparing to move to Ottawa for a new job. During his moving sale, his older brother, Danny, arrives with tales of his very own new job in Tucson, and, perhaps against his better judgment, Luke looks at this as an opportunity to have him ride along. It doesn’t take too long to figure out why the brothers are estranged. Danny is a free spirit and a conspiracy theorist who doesn’t have a good relationship with the truth. Danny’s sudden arrival in Luke’s life again comes with its own agenda, and a part of it has to do with what’s going on at the Taco Gary’s fast-food chain and the mysterious death of actor Jason Biggs (the less you know about the journey, the better).
To say more about Operation Taco Gary’s plot would ruin some of the fun, but it should be noted that most of the fun comes from the very committed performances of the cast. Rex is wonderfully unhinged as Danny and brings a manic energy to the role that suits his comedic capabilities. You have to question the stuff he’s spouting off about (he frequently utters the phrase “I haven’t been honest with you”), but also have a sense that he COULD be telling the truth. It’s to forget that Rex can be a spark in some of his projects, something he demonstrated perfectly in 2021’s Red Rocket and in a supporting role in 2024’s Blink Twice. Milligan provides an essential counterbalance to Rex’s Danny (who, despite Rex’s committed portrayal, isn’t the best person to be around on his own) and comedically portrays the growing disbelief and aggravation with his brother as more of the story unfolds. Together, they share the appropriate chemistry to make this work because, as with any road trip movie where you’re mostly stuck with a pair of characters, it must be time well spent for the audience. Thankfully, that’s mostly the case here.
Operation Taco Gary’s also does its own share of world-building that works within the framework of its story. Part of Danny’s conspiracy theory is that “The Coalition,” a standard shadowy organization, is actually in control of our planet, and Taco Gary’s fast-food chain is our only safe zone. In the universe of all this craziness, other characters drive the story. There’s Tiago (Arturo Castro), a one-eyed agent who is in pursuit of Danny, and a girl named Allison (an underused but effective Brenda Song), who is an ally of Danny’s and serves her a role as a “badger,” making her necessary for crossing into Canada while she’s deep undercover at her job at a trampoline park. No one said this was MCU world-building, but it’s so specific to the film that it’s hard not to be caught up in the wackiness of its charms.
At the film’s core, though, beyond the conspiracy theories, extraterrestrials, and escalating silliness of the plot, this is a story about brotherhood and accepting family despite the dysfunction. Danny and Luke couldn’t be any more different. As Luke gets wrapped up even more in Danny’s unhinged world, it’s clear that there is a reason he’s there and why Danny, despite not filling him in from the jump, trusted Luke enough to go on this journey with him. What surprised me the most was that there were consequences and poignancy that paid off, which gives the movie a beating heart.
Operation Taco Gary’s is really about accepting the chaos in the world because, despite some of our best efforts, chaos will exist, and we simply have to carry on. Sure, it involves a secret organization led be celebrities and it may have been founded by aliens and it features a standout sequence involving cocaine and ketamine but, once you get passed all of that craziness, it’s really a movie about loyalty and learning that, even if you can’t understand everything in the world, you can certainly find a way to live in it.
Operation Taco Gary’s is currently playing in theaters courtesy of Chroma, in association with Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.
Operation Taco Gary's is really about accepting the chaos in the world because, despite some of our best efforts, chaos will exist, and we simply have to carry on.
Hello! My name is Gaius Bolling: movie, TV, and pop culture junkie! The industry has been in my veins since I was a kid and I have carried that on through adulthood. I attended Los Angeles Film Academy and participated in their screenwriting and editing program. From there, I have learned to hone my skills in the world of entertainment journalism. Some of my favorite genres include horror, action, and drama and I hope to share my love of all of this with you.
