Director: Andre DeYoung
Cast: Tim Robinson, Kate Mara, Jack Dylan Grazer, Paul Rudd
Have I Seen it Before: Nope.
Did I Like It: If you haven’t watched Robinson’s superlative Netflix series I Think You Should Leave, I wonder why you’re coming to see this film, and I wonder if it would work for you. Robinson has a comedic voice unlike anyone now or before. It can take a second to calibrate to his perfect picture of the modern man dealing with the frustration of existing via expulsions of non sequitur and rage. You should really go watch that show. It’s great!
I write those preceding sentences and realize that there should be plenty of moments to get eased into Robinson’s style. It probably still wouldn’t work entirely. It didn’t for me, sadly.
It’s entirely possible that Robinson’s persona doesn’t work in a longer form. The bubbling up of his ire and confusion can’t sustain itself, or at least can’t do so with consistently being as funny as he clearly can be. He works better as a firecracker of comedy. He may have been built for sketch comedy.
Maybe it’s because Robinson only performs and didn’t write any of the material here. I tend to believe that assessment more than the long term versus short term of it all. His sitcom Detroiters managed to capture that same level of magic. The writers are imitating his style, and while Robinson can play this character, there isn’t much more than a journeymen’s effort on display.
The film isn’t without its charms. It does manage to depict—if not quite elevate—the quiet desperation of middle class life in the the 21st century. It also makes a valiant effort at deconstructing the forever-young myth of Paul Rudd. Even if he wears a bald cap*, he’s willing to make himself the butt of the joke, and that’s always something nice to see from a movie star.
*Is it possible that what Rudd might actually look like?