The Extra

I had heard bad reviews for this gem (such as the comment prior to mine), so went into the cinema with low expectations. But, not only did this movie have me laughing out loud regularly throughout, I also found the "average bloke with stars in his eyes" romance quite charming.

Just goes to show how bi-polar opinions can be - because I didn't think much of Jimeon's other movie, The Craic, and yet from what I've heard, public opinion is the other way around.

I know that my 2 friends in the cinema with me liked it at least as much as me, if not more, and we weren't the only ones laughing in the audience that night.

I thought the supporting roles played by a variety of recognizable Australian faces were great, and no, Jimeon's acting isn't Oscar winning, but it was certainly believable enough that I didn't spend any time dwelling on it.

If you like Jimeon, you will definitely enjoy this movie. If you're not adverse to Australian comedy, you should see this movie. I considered my $15 money well spent.

Certainly didn't expect this sort great entertainment when I sat down to watch "The Extra". With only 200 votes on IMDb, you're just not expecting anything. This movie really had it's on heart, it's on soul. With the sort of Hawaiian wacky ambient music streaming and the stunningly cute girl starring as Claudia, it's definitely worth your time. Short summary: Some guy with silly Irish like accent comes to the big movie city, tries to make the big time. The beginning starts with the end, though it's not all that clear all the time where you stand in the chronology. Doesn't matter if you don't like this sort of film.

If it stands between this and "Troja" (or any big time Hollywood picture) go with the Extra!

Jimeoin is a nameless actor who finds himself as the eternal extra… never to play a principle role in a movie. He finds himself caught up with a group of would-be stars all trying to gain a break but none of them are able to do so.

I was ready for a good comedy, but was bitterly disappointed. Jimeoin is a great comedian but this smacked of 'try hard' and it just failed. There were a few moments where I laughed out aloud and I recognised several moments of clever humour, but it wasn't enough. I enjoyed spotting the good familiar Aussie actors and scenes around Melbourne. I think you should spend your money seeing something else...

This production was sued due to his plagiarism. He stole the idea from the Darren Ashton directed short film THE EXTRA. He was in fact encouraged by Village Roadshow at the time to collaborate with Ashton but he deftly just pinched an original idea and nicked it. Why would you watch a stand-up who plagiarises others' good work and denies the originator their dues ? All creative people work hard and to have some half unfunny twit think he can steal others' ideas is anathema. Skip this and skip all his work. Sneaky sneaky little Plagiarist. You'd do well to pass this on for perpetuity. Mind you he's not as bad as Gervais.

I'm a big Jimeoin fan. Huge. But I think i've realised I only like his stand-up work. His first movie "The Craic" was terrible, and this may be worse. I don't understand how he wrote this, the same guy who writes his stand-up routine, yet the movie is so poor. I didn't laugh once. I went "ha" in one scene. Bob Franklin, Colin Lane and Shaun Micallef were totally wasted.

The movie is about a movie extra who wants to get a starring role so he can become a big star, become famous and become important. Problem is is that he's a terrible actor and has lots of bad luck. Does he realise his dream? I'd say "you have to see the movie" but I don't want you to get mad at me for wasting a couple of bucks hiring the DVD.

I admire him for giving the comedy movie a go, history shows Aussie's have been terrible at making comedies ("The Castle" is excused), but maybe stick to the gags Jimeoin.

(I gave the movie a 1 for the fact it was shot in Melbourne and had some good shots)