Pears (2024)

Pears is a low budget ($3,000-5,000) Indie movie written and produced by Ryan McCurdy. This film is about private investigators, P.I. wannabees, over-the-top crazy woman girlfriends, but most of all about unchecked incompetence. Move over Inspector Clouseau, I present you with Perry Matthews, A.K.A. “Pears” acted brilliantly by Kevin Arnold.

Perry, (5 jobs in 12 months) wants to be a P.I., and only gets the chance because his sister insists that Hollis Archer (Jeremy Brailsford), who is a genuine P.I. and is Pear’s brother-in-law, give him a chance. After Pears bungles horribly his first two assignment, Hollis give him an ultimatum, “shape up, or you’re done”, regardless of familial relationships. Hollis leaves, having received a phone call from Eddie Hightower, an important client. Well, after 3 days, Hollis has gone missing, and it is up to Pears to man-up as an investigator and find out what is going on.

Now things get complicated, with the appearance of Pear’s estranged and whacky girlfriend, and his meeting with Eddie Hightower (Kevin Roach), an odious and powerful player in city politics. This creates the perfect set-up for Pears to showcase his incompetence. Apparently Sarah Hightower, Eddie’s wife, has gone missing as well, and Hightower retains Pears to track her down. His leads from Sarah’s cell phone take him to a cell phone repair shop, and ultimately to a Comic Book shop, where he meets another unsavory character, ex-con, Derek DeGarmo (Jabob Belinski). 

Well, the plot thickens and complicates, and you will just have to watch the movie to see how things work out. Our hapless P.I. Pears finds his mission complicated by chloroform and two equally incompetent goons, Sly and Richie…Not to mention the crazy girlfriend, Tiffany. By now, most viewers are probably scratching their heads, wondering who is doing what, and to whom? Where are these missing people, who is responsible, and what in the world is going on? And, most importantly, how crazy can a jilted ex-girlfriend be? Well, you will have to just watch this strange, but entertaining film to find out. 

Here at Ruthless, we try to give Indie films more than a fair shake. Sure, Pears is not Pulp Fiction, but considering that the entire movie was made on a budget that would not even buy you one ticket to the Super Bowl, it was an outstanding effort. The acting was surprising good, especially by Kevin Arnold as Pears and the two goons, Sly and Ritchie (Leo Kempf and Joe Gilpatick). 

And again, considering the tiny budget, this Indie movie was quite entertaining and well done technically by writer and director, Ryan McCurdy. This movie is available at Prime Video and is certainly well worth a watch.

7.0/10.0 with the Goatesians rating of Entertaining Indie Movie

Memorable Quotes:

• “You don’t tell a pregnant woman TO CALM DOWN!” -Justine
• “How am I going to explain to my grand-babies a grown man with his genitals out in public.” -Karen (Looking at Pears taking a leak beside his car)
• “I can’t go to jail, I got herpes last time!” -Ritchie
• “If you sleep with me, I will never ask you for money again.” -Tiffany
• “Who in this town doesn’t know Eddie Hightower, You Simple Bitch!” -Derek
• “We are not killing Derek.” You can beat the shit out of him, but no KILLING! ” -Pears