Yep, 5 years since I last reviewed a movie on IMDB, but just thought I'd try to save everyone a wasted evening. But if you are going to watch it, be prepared -- the comedy starts IN the film, but ends up being the film itself.
It is such a fun premise (though implausible) and the acting was decent. I laughed my butt off during the first book signing in Mexico. But after that? The story lost a credible path to resolution.
Repeating the same gags over and over became very old. Using the same extras over and over seemed on the cheap. I thought that maybe the writer of this film was guilty of what he'd accused his main character of -- of having no life experience -- but, no, that's not the case. David Quantick is in his 60s, so I'm pretty sure he has some life experience, and he definitely has a lot of writing credits to his name.
I've thought about how one could script doctor this "gone awry" script, but not really sure it could be fixed. There were some missed moments that could have been taken advantage of to give the story a path. Maybe giving the main character and his original book (before translated) a little more respect could have helped give the characters and premise more credibility, thereby providing for a more credible direction and resolution. 1h 6 m was much too long for this film. Maybe a 94 minute edit would help? Not really sure what could be done to fix it.
Oh well. Two hours of water under the bridge.
P. S. Watching Veronica trying to get over the railing in the melodramatic ending was almost worth the watch. But again, you are not laughing with the film, but AT it.
It is such a fun premise (though implausible) and the acting was decent. I laughed my butt off during the first book signing in Mexico. But after that? The story lost a credible path to resolution.
Repeating the same gags over and over became very old. Using the same extras over and over seemed on the cheap. I thought that maybe the writer of this film was guilty of what he'd accused his main character of -- of having no life experience -- but, no, that's not the case. David Quantick is in his 60s, so I'm pretty sure he has some life experience, and he definitely has a lot of writing credits to his name.
I've thought about how one could script doctor this "gone awry" script, but not really sure it could be fixed. There were some missed moments that could have been taken advantage of to give the story a path. Maybe giving the main character and his original book (before translated) a little more respect could have helped give the characters and premise more credibility, thereby providing for a more credible direction and resolution. 1h 6 m was much too long for this film. Maybe a 94 minute edit would help? Not really sure what could be done to fix it.
Oh well. Two hours of water under the bridge.
P. S. Watching Veronica trying to get over the railing in the melodramatic ending was almost worth the watch. But again, you are not laughing with the film, but AT it.