I need to begin by confessing that I haven't followed Martin Short's career since SCTV and SNL in the 80s (outside of a couple of films). This movie was my introduction to Jiminy Glick, and was a major disappointment, for two primary reasons.
1. Short is too good a writer/comedian to have to rely on vulgarity as a main ingredient in one of his projects. Crude language and coarse humor pervades this movie from start to finish.
2. Comedians need to realize that their "annoying" characters cannot carry a film. A short skit, perhaps, but not 90 minutes' worth. Glick is one of the least likable, grating characters I've ever encountered. Remember that great comic characters (the Tramp, M. Hulot, Ralph Kramden, Mr. Bean) could be very annoying - but they also had heart and could get the audience cheering on their side. Glick is one-dimensional (well, outside of the fact that he's fat).
So...big disappointment for those who liked the kind of humor that put Martin Short on the map back in the 80s.
1. Short is too good a writer/comedian to have to rely on vulgarity as a main ingredient in one of his projects. Crude language and coarse humor pervades this movie from start to finish.
2. Comedians need to realize that their "annoying" characters cannot carry a film. A short skit, perhaps, but not 90 minutes' worth. Glick is one of the least likable, grating characters I've ever encountered. Remember that great comic characters (the Tramp, M. Hulot, Ralph Kramden, Mr. Bean) could be very annoying - but they also had heart and could get the audience cheering on their side. Glick is one-dimensional (well, outside of the fact that he's fat).
So...big disappointment for those who liked the kind of humor that put Martin Short on the map back in the 80s.