At first I blamed the writers for all the static dialogue, then I blamed the actors for all the forced, clumsy moments. But really it all comes down to the director who I'm guessing is figuring out his job as he goes. I'm binging it and so I'm not being tortured like the others who've written reviews, constantly waiting for something to come together to move the story along. I'm on S01E07 and it's actually reached the so-bad-it's laughable stage. That lesbian kiss was so forced the actresses were actually wincing, LOL! Luckily for me I can just leave it running on a second monitor wile I multi task. Doubtful I'll make it to S02 as I hear it only gets lamer. Also, like the other reviews I think the inflated rating is misleading and probably more of an industry favor than an honest assessment. Shame on the system for that.
Reviews
5 Reviews
The 15th Annual Young Comedians Special
(1992 TV Special)
Nice little Time Capsule
12 April 2012
I listen to a lot of internet radio and there are several 24hr, standup comedy channels. One or two of them play audio from stand up specials like this one. I've heard the audio for this special several times and aside from being funny every single time it's just a great little time capsule of the early work of several soon-to-be-great comedians who were just figuring out their signature styles at the time. All of them have very tight acts that accurately presage the niches within which they will achieve success. Strangely enough all of these future headliners - Bellamy, Garafalo, Romano, and comedic feature film producer, director, writer - Judd Apatow, all stand as lead acts for the big show closer and hottest comedy prospect at the time, Nick Dipaulo!!! (who?)
Tower Heist
(2011)
Don't pay for it and don't watch it sober...
10 February 2012
It's background noise. No wait, I take that back. Turn down the sound and just let the visuals move in your peripheral vision while playing video games or talking on the phone. It will be just as entertaining. Honestly, the one or two chuckles you'll get will only be weighed down by trying to follow a kindergarten plot. The big girl is good for wtf giggle and Murphy does the same tired gesticulating he did back in 1981 (48 hours is still a decent watch). If you want, you can turn on the subtitles, but they're basically just saying exactly what they look like they're saying and none of it's funny so... 3 out of ten for not actively annoying me.
A Little Help
(2010)
Revised opinion; re-release it after editing it so Fischer gets more close ups and the dialog moves faster.
2 February 2012
I like Jenna Fischer. Everybody likes Jenna Fischer. That said, she's like Rashida Jones, great in an ensemble, but nowhere near enough gravitas to pull off the lead. It's a question of intensity. Even in a light weight movie, the lead has to have some sort of inner tension that can be seen and heard. Fischer is just too easy to look past. You can't bring yourself to worry if she's going to be okay, because you know she will be. She radiates that innocent girlishness that makes men instinctively protective. In fact I'd wager that she's one of those women who hasn't gone more than a month without a steady boyfriend since high school, because 'good guys' won't leave her alone. Also, the directing was beyond lazy. I doubt he told anybody what do ever, including the editor. Frankly, I know a pretty talented guy who could recut this and make it a much better film. Honestly, that may be all it needs. Revised opinion, re-release it after cutting it so Fisher gets more close ups and the dialog moves faster. 6 out of 10
Revised, revised Opinion: Wrote review while watching movie (was in about 1:26). Now that it's over my advice is to avoid. Unless you're a hardcore Fischer fan, it's not worth the time investment. Everything that's set up basically just hangs there. The characters don't get smarter (except learning not to tell gigantic lies you can't support). In fact, the writing pretty much loses all direction and just becomes forgettable nonsense with no resolution, point or lesson. 4 out of 10
Revised, revised Opinion: Wrote review while watching movie (was in about 1:26). Now that it's over my advice is to avoid. Unless you're a hardcore Fischer fan, it's not worth the time investment. Everything that's set up basically just hangs there. The characters don't get smarter (except learning not to tell gigantic lies you can't support). In fact, the writing pretty much loses all direction and just becomes forgettable nonsense with no resolution, point or lesson. 4 out of 10
In Time
(2011)
I think High school aged me would have liked this...but for high school aged reasons...
24 December 2011
At some point in your early years the phrase 'time is money' begins to make real world sense. You've had your first job, you've been through your first romance, you've started to realize why adults take things so seriously. The concept is new, and, similar to how I assume a teenage girl feels when she first starts getting boob attention, you feel like it's a game changing realization. You feel wise beyond your years. For a while. Then you get over it because there's so much more to figure out. This film takes that simple cliché and all the time related clichés that go with it, tries to blow it up into a full fledged concept and then beats you over the head with it over and over, and over.... WE GET IT!! There isn't any thing deeper to your message. Don't keep referring to it, just move on with a decent storyline. But the movie doesn't move on, it doesn't build on the stated premise, it just tries again and again to repeat it from a different angle or point of view.
And to make matters worse, the editing drags and has no rhythm which makes the actors look like they're doing a terrible job. They deliver lines like amateurs because the beats don't match up. Most of the actresses with speaking lines seem like they got the job after a stint on the casting couch, and lastly, in no reality should a grown man's mom look that hot. The viewers mind is going to go someplace uncomfortable every time they kiss, and it's not because of a dirty mind it's because she's a ridiculously hot 25 year old! It seriously doesn't work.
Bottom line, it needed to be better written, better directed and obviously better produced. Next time, Nicol, let people help you because we definitely now know you can screw up a good idea all by yourself.
4 stars for simply getting decent stars to play the leads even though it was a wasted opportunity.
And to make matters worse, the editing drags and has no rhythm which makes the actors look like they're doing a terrible job. They deliver lines like amateurs because the beats don't match up. Most of the actresses with speaking lines seem like they got the job after a stint on the casting couch, and lastly, in no reality should a grown man's mom look that hot. The viewers mind is going to go someplace uncomfortable every time they kiss, and it's not because of a dirty mind it's because she's a ridiculously hot 25 year old! It seriously doesn't work.
Bottom line, it needed to be better written, better directed and obviously better produced. Next time, Nicol, let people help you because we definitely now know you can screw up a good idea all by yourself.
4 stars for simply getting decent stars to play the leads even though it was a wasted opportunity.
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