Sam and Me (2015)

“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.