Everyone loves homage, but, not to the point of homogenization. If you can’t be yourself, who can you be? Two more directors left the competition: Kenny and Matteen had the fewest votes, but it was close.
This week On The Lot fields funny films. Who delivered? Tonight featured sparks both literally and figuratively, along with flying themes. But where did it leave the viewer — pining for The Wizard of Oz and Some Like It Hot?
First up, Zach's The Bonus Feature, set in a car. Woman presses a button in the car. They go back in time to the 1950s for a game of chicken. She presses button again and instant star wars — well shot and “incredible visually” from Carrie, who got feisty during the show with Garry. Everyone thinks that Zack has the potential to be a great filmmaker. But he was in over his head. What was he thinking? He must have read too much into other blogs. K.I.S.S., Zach. Trying to convey quantum physics in a few minutes is a stretch even for someone as talented as this developing director.
Next up, Adam's Girl Trouble. This was closer to containing elements of a funny film. Garry got it right: it was more like a skit than an original film. Not a bad film, but difficult for me to be objective about. It’s about two guys discussing their roommates, but both men obviously sleeping with “real men.” The premise was funny, but not my cup of tea. Subtlety lacking in this “skit.”
Unplugged by Will was an office romance where the desk lamps come alive, file cabinets descend into drawers. One of the lamps gets unplugged, and they create havoc in the dark of the office. Where does this leave the two co-workers introduced briefly in the opening shot? Will did not get it right. The set-up was too short. It did not make me laugh. Will made us care about silent lamps though, and overall, the filmmaking was solid and expressive. He got some props from the other directors. The judges found it “original and charming.” His opening character setup was not adequate though.
Jason's film was Keep Off Grass and was set in a backyard. In this film a meteor makes an appearance and with it a man appears in a superhero suit, with a female co-superhero. The two are arguing while the main character is pruning flowers and never sees all the sexy action, now starting to take place just behind his back — cute, funny. They almost take it off, but fly off instead — he turns around. They have completely trashed the yard in the meantime. Why didn’t they destroy the whole town? It had good pace, good story. But Carrie thought it was “too ambitious, problems with the execution,” and she was right. Too many storylines to juggle into a seamless fit, in the end he did not tailor the story to the characters. The ending fizzled after all the sparking and flying.
American Hoe, Sam's film, takes place in one room. That’s a problem. A couple getting married — no glamour there. Good opening shot, and setting, but it was also the only setting. Gary, fiancé, gives fiancée the stamps for use on wedding invitations. She looks more closely at the stamps and after seeing a man milking a cow declares: “I don’t want nipples on my wedding invitation!” That made me laugh. Come on guys, make me laugh. Then one of the stamps reads “American Hoe.” He says “They are just stamps,” another funny line. She wanted love stamps and he did not deliver. Did Gary do it on purpose? That was unclear. This would have made it just right. Garry could not stamp approval. I agree. The cute guest director, Brad Silberling, thought the woman in the film was “shrewish” and he could not get into the film for that reason. Nowhere for it to go… good point.
Old Home Boyz was where Jason took a role in his own film. Did he bring it for the b-boys? The story begins with Jason seeing himself in a high school year book, then moves right along to develop conflict at a party that the “old boys” attend. He sees an old flame. Sudden competition from another old guy. They dance it off — good moves. The old Jason gets the girl in the end. The best film of the night by far goes to Jason. It left you wanting more. Comedy is difficult but first flaunt what you know, and you will bring it each time.
