Huge

This film has a couple notable firsts: first directing role for Ben Miller, first non "Noel Clarke" Noel Clarke role. The film delves deep into the underbelly of the stand up world. It's a sometimes brutal but touching depiction of two guys trying to make it in comedy and it holds no punches. I love Noel Clarke and thought this film was brilliant as it showed him doing an entirely new type of role--it's certainly nothing like I'd seen him in before. Johnny Harris is also terrific, it's nice to see him getting meaty roles (more please!). The rest of the cast (Thandie Newton, Michelle Ryan, Eddie Izzard, etc) are, of course, great and really round it out. Definitely enjoyable. Great film.

Another review stated that "Huge" is a film about comedians without any comedy. That's absolutely correct. Johnny Harris plays a stand-up comedian who wants to be part of a double act with Noel Clarke after Clarke heckles him during his stand-up routine.

The problem isn't that the characters in the film make jokes that don't connect or aren't funny. The problem is that the characters don't make ANY jokes. We see several stand-up performances from the two leads in the film but apart from one (that is only a background event), they ALL involve the two characters dying on their arse and getting no laughs.

There's one scene with a whole host of cameos from other real-life comedians, such as Frank Skinner and Eddie Izzard but they don't say anything. Basically, there are scenes in this film designed to make the audience feel uncomfortable or depressed but never amused. This isn't a comedy. To act like it's a comedy is misleading.

STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning

Warren (Johnny Harris) is an aspiring stand up comedian who has a slot booked at a grotty back street London club, where he is heckled by the drunken, rowdy Clark (Noel Clarke.) Rather than becoming scornful to his assailant's put downs, Warren sees a shining comic potential he wants to work with and tracks Clark down to the restaurant he works in, eager to form a double act with him. This sets the pair down a rickety and testing road where they lurch from one encounter to another in their bid to become big name stars.

Adapted from a stage play of the same name, Huge transforms into a small scale and short but quite successful movie adaptation. At a time when stand up comedy is regarded as 'the new rock and roll', where there's scores of fame and big bucks to be made in this field of entertainment, it's a relevant and perhaps even a little inspiring idea for a film. If nothing else, it's certainly a welcome break from the more downbeat, depressing 'kitchen sink' drama that once again tends to be doing the rounds a bit in independent British cinema, a nice, warm film with an unrelenting and undeniable air of the feel good factor to it.

If the film itself is a break away from the more grim cinematic output from Britain at the moment, it's also a break away for the two lead stars who are also associated with more gritty, raw Brit films. In a film where they moreorless are the cast, Harris and Clarke both open up and reveal different dimensions to themselves, as misguided but determined fools with something to prove and a dream to chase. Altogether, it's not enough to leave an impression of being brilliant, but it's certainly quite above average and surprising, and not in any way lost in translation. ***

Went to the Gala screening of Huge at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. The film itself started an hour after scheduled due to the fashionable late arrivals of the stars and an introduction by a stand up comedian. Little did we know that we were getting our comedy upfront before being subjected to 80 minutes of lack luster "comedy" (believe me - I could make these quotation marks big enough).

I can only assume Ben Miller had a great idea for a film, got a bunch of famous UK comedy legends interested in making cameo appearances, amassed the necessary funding and then... realised there wasn't actually a film in his idea. The film fails to satisfy throughout, with the potential highs never seen and the comedians in focus never actually performing on-screen.

Is satisfaction a requirement for good comedy? Of course not, but the potential for dark comedy is never realised nor explored, with Ben Miller instead opting for one-series-on-BBC-Three-aired-at-1am-on-a-Tuesday-night level of comedy.

If this wins the Gala prize at the EIFF, I'm moving to Glasgow!

this movie is just plain awful - everything about it is just poorly thought out and completed! the effort at editing is not to be believed and i find it difficult to believe a theatre actually showed it.

the acting is about as interesting as a tossed fast food container and the dialog adds up to high school level. there is no real story and then it ends. WHAT? and that chicken outfit - what did i miss? i realize the chicken suit happens after the 2 have split paths but it's not made clear what it's all about.

i notice i am the only state side reviewer here so maybe this British flick has more meaning in the UK but it adds up to zero here (at least for me).

steer clear of this movie. really i've seen better 'cheap' movies!