The Machine wants us to assume many unlikely things, with Bert Kreischer’s global fame being the most improbable. It also wants to be both high stakes as we follow Bert and his father (Mark Hamill) being chased by the mafia and comedic as they make lighthearted jokes along the way. But it never really achieves that balance. Though it looks sleek and high-budgeted, its contents are lopsided and messy, not once hitting the mark on its many targets. Moreover, it's based on a premise so thin, that it loses all credibility midway through the film. After that, it simply becomes a parody of itself. To be sure, there are some noteworthy moments in between, like when Kreischer and Hamill share genuine father-and-son moments, but for the most part, it’s just too overbearing to warrant anyone’s attention.

This may be Kreischer’s life story, but it’s Tatro who shines. Not only does he uncannily look the part, he also evokes the energy and charisma that Kreischer should and probably used to have. Tatro injects the film with the freshness it needs, and after gaining similar success in comedic wonders like Theater Camp and The King of Staten Island, it’s safe to assume that he’s going places.