Change Your Image
TheKingofDirk
Reviews
The Office: Andy's Play (2010)
Best Episode In Years
This show has had many peaks and valleys and while it remains to be seen how the 7th season will eventually play out, this episode is one of the best in years. If you are an old school Office fan and liked the show for it's more restrained and heart warming moments, this episode offers that. It still has the over the top broadness of recent history, however, those moments fit into this episode seamlessly.
Remember season 2/3 when the show had the ability to make you laugh so much you nearly choked to having sympathy/empathy for a character(s) in a devastating emotional moment to having you wipe tears out of your eyes to see the whole cast involved in something together whether it was silly or poignant (or both)? That's the kind of stuff this episode has. There isn't one false step in this episode; everything works. That's something I haven't been able to say for this show over the majority of the last 3 seasons. There have been great episodes scattered throughout those three seasons (sometimes even in stretches) but the consistency hasn't been there.
For this season while some episodes haven't been as funny as others the believability factor has been there early into this season. And for this episode everything came together again...not only is it believable but it is hilarious and emotionally compelling. And from what I know about what next weeks episode is about, things are looking good for the show to ride this wave of greatness.
The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard (2009)
A Prime Example Of How Important Writing Is To A Movie
From the cast this movie looks like it will be good. Watching the trailers would further enforce this illusion. Unfortunately, this is not the case. As much as I like Ed Helms, Ken Jeong, David Koechner etc. this movie produces more groans than laughs. When the antagonist (Ed Helms) is more appealing than the protagonist (Jeremy Piven), then clearly the writing has to be pointed at as to why this movie fails to achieve it's intended affect (which is meager at that, to make you laugh). Also, the fact that there are no extras on the DVD should clue you in to how everyone involved with this stinker would rather forget this movie than remember it.
There are some laughs in the movie, Ed Helms is a bright spot, Will Ferrell's cameo is memorable, and there are some hilarious politically incorrect lines that Charles Napier's character (Dick Lewiston) delivers but the main flaw in this movie stems from the fact that I didn't want to root for Don Ready (Jeremy Piven) and his team of mercenary auto sellers. I found them repulsive and with NO redeemable qualities. That would be fine if this was an edgy drama. But this film aims to be a fun comedy.
The handful of good performances by the aforementioned solid cast save this from being a total waste of time but, not so much that you don't realize you've been sold a lemon by a sleazy used car salesman at the end of the movie.