Lunch

I live for comedy. A good laugh gets me through the day and I love it how a funny guest can liven up any party. The documentary "Lunch" is like having a dinner party with some of the most lively, entertaining guests imaginable. "Lunch" follows a group of legendary comedy writers who meet for lunch every other week in Los Angeles. At easch lunch they discuss the old days, current events and what its like being old. Each subject is handles with wit and grace and each member is interviewed and their current situations are shared. The documentary breezes by and I was left wanting more. This documentary is a must for any fan of classic TV. You won;t regret it.

I'm a TV junkie, so I grew up on all these fabulous shows. All of my favorite TV writers are in this film, from Arthur Marx (Alice, Maude), to Hal Kantor (All in the Family). It was great listening to Ben Starr talk about the idea behind Mister Ed, how it was important to create a horse character that both adults and children could relate to. I love all the projects that Carl Reiner has been a part of (especially The Jerk) but I had no idea that he was also a writer of children's books. They've got to be awesome. These truly talented gentlemen understand, as long as your brain is kept active, there's plenty of living to be done. If you love TV as much as I do, this is a great film to watch.

For the last 40 years, a group of elderly comedy writers and entertainers have gathered to have lunch every other Wednesday. There are some legends and old-timers from various aspects of entertainment. They tell jokes, reminisce about old times, and remember fallen comrades. Monty Hall talks about his history starting from Winnipeg. Arthur Marx talks about his father Groucho. Arthur Hiller talks about his directing most memorably about Paddy Chayefsky. Sid Caesar is a bit frail but he's still very present and does do his foreign language bit. There are quite a few jokes, discussion about Jewish humor and some Irish humor. This is simply a great fly-on-the-wall documentary. Their speech may be a little bit halting now but they are still very sharp.

I really, really loved listening to all the classic Hollywood stories in "Lunch." It was like having a seat at the most exclusive table in town! Legend after legend tells stories about how the made in showbiz, and they also have some thoughts on modern comedy as well! I especially loved listing to Carl Reiner's stories. I have always been a fan of "The Jerk" and "The Dick Van Dyke Show" so it was really cool to listen to him share some insight. There were also some sad parts as well. Tales of lose and tales of trouble getting work are told, and even though it's sad seeing these legends struggle their work ethic is inspiring and mad me think that maybe I shouldn't complain so much!

It's almost impressive that a movie with such a simple premise (old Hollywood icons gather for a bi-weekly lunch) can end up this shockingly uneven. It's barely a movie; in fact it's more akin to listening to your great-grandpa tell a long-winded, aimless, repetitive story. I'm honestly not even sure how to approach it as a piece of media; it jumps between tones, themes, ideas and focuses with no concern for its audience.