And Punching the Clown

This is a thoroughly entertaining movie. The humor is fresh. If you like late 70s to late 80s Woody Allen, or if you miss the great Albert Brooks movies of way back when, or if you love Office Space, or maybe some British humor, you'll get this one. The cast is great, Henry Phillips, who plays himself is true to himself if you saw Punching The Clown. Tig Notaro sort of steals the show. JK Simmons is strong and charismatic. Doug Stanhope as the revengeful cab guy is fantastic. Great direction. Grade A movie. I'm giving it a strong 8.

Do you feel lately you are no longer in sync with movie ratings, and sadly not only those from the users, but from so called experts/critics? Shallow mediocrity is high while gems like this are low and obscured. Well, you are not alone...

This is a humble film, with no celebrity actors (well except J.K. Simmons God bless his hart) actually most of them comedians. Not even hysterically funny. But with a message, not diluted throughout the relatively random scenes from life of a regular guy, maybe like you and me, trying to do what he likes, and failing at it. Yet this is a great film, feeding my need for authenticity and sympathy.

Its a wonder its still possible to raise the people and the funds to do such a film nowadays, and even more, to make it, through the web of distorted value systems, to a consumer like me. My thanks to all involved in the process.

I haven't seen 'The Clown', but 'Henry' was so awesome. It was like only a better version of 'Inside Llewyn Davis'. A small film like this going un-noticed is common, but I want you to check it out. It's not just that, but it was totally underrated as well. Believe me, it will be one of the best B movie you would ever see.

Henry Phillips is a stand-up comedian-come-musician. He has lots of stage hits, but still not yet there as successful as one would consider. Suddenly he hits the chord, that he's been chosen to be in a television show of his own. If it all goes as they say, he will be a famous person in the nation. But this tale takes place in the meantime, telling us what is his usual life and how he manages it.

I did not like it straight away. The opening was average, but from the mid part to the rest of the film, it turned out better with every twist. It all went so fast and ended. Henry was really cool. Now I want to see the previous part too. JK Simmons, Sarah Silverman and other were also good in their small parts. Surely I highly recommend it!

8/10

This was a genuine surprise - Henry Phillips, a loser comedy musician and proud of it, plays himself in a film that has more going for it that most - firstly, it is actually funny, rather than just meh, it has some excellent sight gags, sharp one-liners, and a script that uses his road tales and converts them into something more. On top of this is an actual plot of LA life (and of the horrors of big commerce trying to seduce him into monetizing his life). Hey, we see what you did there Henry, clever...

All in all, this is a small, intimate film that captures its Garry Shandler, Larry David, Walter Matthau vibe and gets better as it goes along. With loads of cameos and a nice sensibility, this is an easy film to recommend - it's low down without being mean about it - and it actually gets its laughs right.

No pace.

No sex.

No action.

Just reality.

And honesty.

And a real good laugh.

Searing.

Ps Punching Henry 2016 is a 'sort of' sequel to Punching the Clown 2009.