And Punching the Clown

When I first heard about 'Punching Henry' I did not know quite what to expect.

The theme of a 'can't-get-anything-right-everyman' has been tried, and not all attempts have been successful.

Then I saw 'Punching Henry.'

In the context of a guy's attempt at fame and art, everything he did, except for one thing, somehow worked against him (I will leave out the 'one thing' so as not to spoil it for those on the fence.)

The timing was right; the pace was spot on; the humor was there; and the inevitability of it all, from the two cabs to the wrong turn off the elevator, and everything in between, worked.

I'd recommend this for anyone who has wondered 'What does it take to make it in the entertainment industry?' and, more importantly, 'Just how many wrong turns can my career take?'

Punching Henry is an intelligent comedy. Unlike most comedies out there that rely on cursing, disgust, or slapstick, this movie has a brain. I won't get into any plot details but it is clear that many of the scenes are inspired by real-world events. The film has plausibility and never seems contrived. Punching Henry also manages to be both funny and sad at the same time, which is quite rare and difficult to carry off for even the best scriptwriters. Finally, the film makes a comment on culture and human nature. Popularity it seems, has little to do with talent or integrity. Maybe you knew that already, but this is well worth watching. It will have you consistently laughing, thinking and sympathizing with the protagonist. It gets my highest recommendation.

Full of comedians and familiar faces. Punching Henry is the sequel to the 2010 film "Punching The Clown" following Henry Philips' good will and innate awkwardness. The films prequel is summarized near the start of the film to lay proper ground work for its sequel without expecting or requiring the audience to have seen its 2010 beginning. Understated comedy punctuated by laugh out loud moments. Surprisingly endearing and hilarious throughout. Couldn't recommend enough.

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.

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.