Standing on Fishes

What an excellent film this is. Directed by and starring two up and coming talents that will be hitting the big screens with a fury. Bradford and Merideth have a chemistry that mesh very well. The film is tongue in cheek and is amazingly hilarious. Jason Priestly and Kelsey Grammer are GREAT! Jason's performance is outstanding and Kelsey is drop dead FUNNY!

What a horrid vanity piece! Went to a sneak preview (in other words it didn't cost me a red cent) and squirmed right from the start. This movie is proof that not everyone can act OR direct (or write). Apparently the stars went to the ACT WITH YOUR HANDS Drama School. And they are awfully proud of their rather average bodies. One hilarious scene had the main character NOT remembering that his grandmother gave him a book of poetry. (Please....what grandmother gives a paperback copy of some little known poet's works to her grandson to whom she is not the least bit close?!) But he did just so happen to recall she had marked a certain poem from which the movie derived its title. Okay....cut them some slack. And the gaffe of seeing the modesty panel in one nude scene when they are discussing moviestar shyness almost seemed to be intentional but after seeing the rest of the movie I would never give this crowd that much credit. I felt bad for Kelsey, Pamela and Jason. How did they get stuck in this pile of doodoo?! And the rubber "private parts"!!! Boy were my sides aching from that over-extended gag! HO HO HO....no wait. I'm lying and trying to search for something positive to say about this movie. Too late. I've already dug its grave. STAY FAR AWAY FROM THIS FILM!

I'm so disappointed. A decent concept with a mildly original situation was ruined by horrible acting, screenwriting, and directing.

So, all caps indicates screaming? Okay: NOBODY TALKS LIKE THAT!!!!!

For the first two thirds of the movie, the dialog was just not believable. Kelsey Grammer and Pamela Reed played their roles as film producers credibly, only slightly over the top for effect, as intended. But most other characters speak in hushed, breathy voices nearly the entire time -- I kept expecting the ghost of Marilyn Monroe to report for her close-up. Best friend Jason spouted lengthy speeches, too long and too floral to feel like human communication, more like a space alien trying to "pass" and not really fooling anyone.

Usually I just go with the flow when a film shows people making horribly stupid choices, or bad decisions, or acting like jerks: yep, that's part of humanity, who can argue with that? Meridith Scott Lynn's insufferably analytical Erika I could accept. But that Erika and Bradford Tatum's Caleb stayed together more than a weekend, let alone for years? Nyet! It's more credible that you've taken a free ride on the Khaleesi's dragons.

In the Laughing Out Loud category, from the IMDB Storyline: "a lot of nudity." No, not even in 1999. That must have been a producer-supplied marketing ploy to compensate for the MPAA's Puritan dogma, which stamped an "R" on this film's mild content. It doesn't matter: more nudity, flying monkeys, musical interludes, almost nothing could have saved this film.

Better writing and directing might have.

Standing on Fishes is a great film which nicely reflects how real life relationships and a fabulously gorgeous piece of art (so to speak!) can be funny as well as heart wrenching. The writing is witty and fresh and the acting is just as good. Kelsey Grammar provides the perfect comic relief from the early on tension in the film. It was also nice to Jason Priestly pull of a stellar job his difficult role. It is all around a great film which shows how we all look on the same thing in totally different and abstract ways.

I was very pleased when I saw this film at the "SideWalk Moving Picture Festival" in Birmingham, AL. The movie was very funny and fresh. I was able to meet the directors and stars, Meredith Scott Lynn and Bradford Tatum and they were wonderful. If you ever get a chance to see this film I recommend it completely!