Cheers for taking the high, er, low road – which is it?

“Live Free or Die” is a good, funny film. Not necessarily as AWESOME as it’s been touted, but good. Some might even call it “a romp,” if some are so inclined. It’s certainly easier to experience a film to be “a romp” when the filmmakers are present at the screening. It makes for a more receptive crowd. The film is, though – make no mistakes – worth the reception.

The biggest nutty treat in “Live Free or Die” is the actor Paul Schneider, playing the rather slow, hair-flipping (and well-meaning) Lagrand. Schneider also appears in “All the Real Girls,” which I’ve yet to see but am pretty sure I will, a Schneider kick certainly in order after “Live Free or Die.”

While I did love Schneider so much, props must be given (and hard) to the hardware store guy’s character, who throws the C-word around so flagrantly when he finds his porno stash has been looted (“Vintage sh--!”) that it is just ridiculously comical.

According to writers/directors Gregg Kavet and Andy Robin during the Q & A after the screening, an alternate ending for “Live Free or Die” was shot. And damn am I glad they chose the one they did. I don’t want to spoil anything, of course.

During the Q & A the writers explained, when questioned, that they chose New Hampshire because it, like the main character John Rudgate, has “an inferiority complex,” but is “trying really hard all the time.” An “inept state.”

“Be careful,” a man in the audience warned. “I’m a native.”

One lady in the audience – bless her heart – had no idea who Zooey Deschanel or Michael Rapaport were (or the other well-known actors). She probably also did not know that Kavet and Robin wrote for “Seinfeld.” She asked if the filmmakers trolled college campuses for actors, as if these guys suck so bad they couldn’t possibly have a real casting director. To be fair, her tone did not suggest condescension. It was just kind of a cringe-worthy moment. To Kavet and Robin’s credit, they were very gracious.

“What do you have to do to get it onto [inaudible] or PBS?” the same lady asked.

“I don’t know,” Kavet answered.

Some behind the scenes junk revealed by the Q & A:

The character John Rudgate was inspired by a guy who sold speakers out of a van and the filmmakers wondered what else he did with his life. Glad they pondered it.

During the beginning/final mini-mart/gas station scene are real New Hampshire police! Real police giving it their all and driving in, wildly, doing stunts crazier than anyone else in the film! Takin’ names. (Well, more than takin’ names). And it must have freaked out the assistant director during filming because he was so concerned with safety that he would not allow people onto roofs if they looked less than stellar.

The man who owned the gas station was also apparently a total annoyance while filming. But when those real police jammed their way in there, Mr. Owner Man had instant respect for the filmmakers and changed his tune, leaping to shake their hands.

I’ll shake ‘em too. Hopefully they’re not covered in raw sewage like John “Rugged” Rudgate (see it, enjoy, maybe you’ll be blown away, maybe not).