A Loving Look At A Comic Genius... "A Futile And Stupid Gesture"

A Futile and Stupid Gesture (2018)

TV-MA

Starring Will Forte, Martin Mull, Joel McHale, Domhnall Gleeson,

Directed by David Wain

The Story:

With the success of the Harvard Lampoon and their impending graduations coinciding with one another, Doug Kenney (Forte) persuades Henry Beard (Gleeson) that instead of moving on with their lives as expected, they go National with the Lampoon brand. It wasn't easy, but it sure was funny.

When paired with the amazing documentary National Lampoon: Drunk, Stoned, Brilliant, Dead (Review:  http://talesfromthequeue.blogspot.com/2016/05/their-impact-on-pop-culture-cannot-be.html  )

The two pieces compliment each other very well. Both streaming on Netflix, this Netflix Original fictionalizes a lot of what (and who!) will be found in the documentary on the life and troubled times of Doug Kenney.

In this version, an older, wiser Doug (Mull) laments on what happened to him in his life.

The cast gets the daunting task of retelling the story as comedy legends of the 70s and 80s as they try and channel the styles and mannerisms of those they attempt to portray.

Joel McHale? He nails it. :)

The big revelation, at least to me, is Domhnall Gleeson in a comedy.

I'm racking my brain, but I don't think I've ever seen that yet, and he's got really good timing.

Anyway, it's a bittersweet tale of the man who helped shape generations of comedians and actors and helped redefine what was funny for the latter half of the 20th Century.

Final Grade:  B+

Here Kitty Kitty..."Keanu"

Keanu (2016)

Rated R

Starring Jordan Peele, Keegan-Michael Key, Tiffany Haddish, Method Man, Darrell Britt-Gibson, Jason Mitchell, Jamar Malachi Neighbors, Luis Guzman, Will Forte, Nia Long,

Directed by Peter Atencio

The Story:

Rell (Peele) is having a rough time when a wonderful kitten that he names Keanu winds up on his doorstep. Rell is smitten, and begins enjoying life again. However, when he comes back home with his cousin Clarence (Key), someone has broken into the house and kidnapped Keanu. The duo pretend to be a pair of notorious drug dealing hitmen in order to infiltrate a local gang and free Keanu!

Yep, that's it.

It's a tale of two guy pretending to be two guys they aren't, all to rescue a cute little kitten.

It shouldn't work as a feature length movie, yet it does.

The main reason, of course, is the comedy duo of Key & Peele.

Full disclosure, I've never seen their show, so I've got nothing with which to compare their comedic antics.

I'll assume their show was this much fun, which means I'll probably be watching it down the road.

But their chemistry is one of a well-honed comedy duo and their antics serve both short-term laughs and long-term comedy payoffs.

Plus, they recognize the musical genius of George Michael, and that's always a plus!
:)

Final Grade: B+

It's Fairly Easy To Resort To A "Life Of Crime"

Life of Crime (2013)

Rated R

Starring Jennifer Aniston, Mos Def, Tim Robbins, Isla Fisher, Will Forte, John Hawkes

Directed by Daniel Schechter

The Story:

2 Detroit hoods (Def & Hawkes) hatch a scheme to kidnap the wife (Aniston) of a local businessman (Robbins) and ransom her for a million dollars. However, he was planning on divorcing her anyway, and enjoying the company of another woman (Fisher). As he has no intention of paying...things just got complicated.

So basically, this is Ruthless People, as penned by the late, great Elmore Leonard.

It's not as funny, though there are some funny bits.

It's actually more ruthless, but only a bit.

Not up to the excellent standards of Get Shorty or Justified, but a watchable caper that builds slowly as several characters are caught up in the tangled threads of the story.

Loyalties and alliances shift throughout the film until it all comes to an end.

They got the look and feel of the 70s down pat with the cars, houses and clothing.

The problem with Elmore Leonard adaptations with great casts, you come to expect more than just a typical movie.

Sadly, at the end of the day, this winds up being just an average tale that will become forgettable.


Final Grade: C

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Nah, I think this was a one-hit wonder. Now I feel like watching Get Shorty again though. :)