Handsome: A Netflix Mystery Movie

3/15/18. Did finish watching the whole movie. Wouldn't say it was quality viewing. Story only average, as was the acting. If you have nothing better to do...

I would think you either really hate this movie, or enjoy it. I would imagine there is little in between. I love Jeff Garlin. He is a raunchy free form, stand up comedian, and best known for playing Larry David's manager on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm. This role is a slight variation of that persona. He is a bit of a loner and loser in this. Even the title is funny knowing Garlin is the star, and the Directory, writer etc. He plays a Detective on the hunt to uncover the murderer of his neighbor's babysitter. The characters are strong. The comedy is stupid, but that's the point. Not much of a mystery, at all. It is an enjoyable spoof.

From the trailer I thought this was going to be an ensemble type cop TV show where every member of the team had these wacky quirks. Happily surprised that it wasn't that, and that it wasn't a show but a movie. It was so hilariously slow and befitting the main character, every second was like a big sigh of "Is this really my life". The camera lingers on how uncomfortable he is in certain situations as everyone around him says things that are wrong, yet he's resigned to "this really is my life". It's not mean spirited at all but an observation of LA and "well it takes all types". When he asks Natasha Lyonne's character to "Do the thing" with the iPhone text?!! Now I DO want it be a show that comes on a few times a year and a new neighbor moves in next door and Natasha Lyonne meets some new witness and I sit back with some coffee and enjoy every second. I won't even get into the layers of murder mystery movie of the week spoofing that help propel the story, but knowing full well who did it is half the fun of watching everyone get there. As I'm writing this I want to watch it again right away to see one of the characters say "did you sign off on this" again and again. I don't write movie reviews ever but I wanted to help at least one person out there look past the other reviews, "take a breath" and enjoy a great movie.

Eighty minutes of amusing comedy drama, don't expect major laughs and don't hope for any great depth, what you have here is just an easy to watch nice movie. It has an almost old fashioned vibe about it, which I liked.

Jeff Garlin is very good in the role, he's amusing and likeable. I wonder if they were eyeing up a series from this?

How gorgeous is that dog! 6/10.

Boring in the middle... Didn't get all the way to the ending...