"Uncle Sam" Armstrong (Craig Henne) is getting out of court ordered rehab - for the 8th time. Sam was a Vietnam War hero who came to embody the populist patriotism of the late 80s and early 90s. Known as "the Hulk Hogan of American politics," his endorsements swayed presidential elections and three of his books became action movies, which he starred in. Uncle Sam lost it all because of his addictions to gambling, alcohol, women, and drugs. His release from rehab legally requires a halfway house, but none can take him due to his high profile. A magistrate allows his nephew Kevin Armstrong (Brian Kirk) to take him in. Kevin, 39, has idolized Sam for a lifetime, and is eager to give back to the uncle who helped shape him through his books, movies, and love. A hard working and driven man, Kevin is a struggling real estate agent. He's grown skeptical of the federal government, viewing it as the primary obstacle to success, echoing sentiments from Sam's books. Kevin grows disillusioned when he sees that Sam has become utterly dependent on him, to the point of emotional and financial exhaustion. Sam spends thousands of Kevin's dollars without asking, and when confronted, questions Kevin's loyalty as a nephew. Once Kevin works up the courage to cut Sam off financially, his uncle signs up for a Bank of Asia "Vice" card, using Kevin's name. Sam begins buying items with the card, reselling them for cash, in order to feed his drug habit and keep his gambling debt collector at bay. Kevin's best friend and boss, real estate broker Jake Joseph (Declan Joyce), has a secret family in Albania that needs his financial support. Working behind the scenes with Uncle Sam, Jake recruits former "dancer" Heather (Theresa Carissimi) to pose as a client and love interest, distracting Kevin from the damage being done to his bank accounts. The office manager at Kevin's brokerage (Lulu Braha) warned Kevin about Sam from the beginning, to no avail. Kevin's distraction is compounded when he begins to fall in love with the office manager's daughter, Lauren (Madylin Sweeten), whose sass and substance prove irresistible to him. Torn between family loyalty and self preservation, Kevin takes action.—writer / director Brian Kirk
What if 'Uncle Sam' crashed at your place for awhile? Sam & Me explores the complex relationship between taxpayer and government in a very personal way. Starring Madylin Sweeten (Everybody Loves Raymond, American Splendor), Craig Henne (Miami Vice, Cape Fear) and Declan Joyce (Not Another Not Another Movie), Sam & Me is an ultra-low budget comedic thriller sure to capture the imagination of those with a healthy dose of skepticism regarding big brother. Political topics dealt with on a personal level include immigration. NSA snooping, food stamps, Section 8 housing, and more. Sam & Me treats religion with respect, and contains no foul language (a challenge for potty mouthed writer and director Brian Kirk). "I went out of my way to be upfront about the libertarian-leaning philosophy of the film. But I'm proud to say that we have actors who are certainly well to the left of where the script is,' says Kirk. 'From the get-go, I wanted a film that could appeal to all ideologies, but wasn't watered down in its message. Even though I disagree with his politics, I can watch Michael Moore's films and say, "Hey, it made me think, and it was really well done." I hope that left-wingers can say the same once "Sam & Me" is released,' continued Kirk.
