Metacritic-Rezensionen

The result is a shaggy rise-and-fall story that is deceptively well-wrought, playing at times like an extremely hip, deep-access concert film.

See his movie now, brag about your discerning taste for undiscovered talent later.

Although its sendup of L.A.'s shallow, self-absorbed show business culture is not exactly revelatory, the film does deliver solid laughs, many of them thanks to Philips' wittily provocative, surprisingly hostile confessional ditties.

Punching the Clown mirrors Henry's act: a minor triumph whose cult following doesn't yet know it exists.

While never uproarious, Punching the Clown exudes the clever, warped sincerity of its star, eschewing uppercuts for a series of playful jabs.

Holding things together are Mr. Phillips's quiet charm and his songs, which really are funny.

Every aspiring performer will appreciate Gregori Viens' unassuming comedy, which cheerfully skewers industry pretensions and media-fueled trends.