How can this be a Christopher Guest film without Levy? Anyone known why he's not in this?
shareI assume because Levy and Catherine Ohara were filming their Amazon series "Schitts Creek"
shareStill -- this is Hollywood... Film casting experts, professionals, and more: They could have made it work if they really tried. Must not have been a high priority.
Seeing as it's a Netflix film, a little "lesser" of sorts, maybe they are gauging that market before attempting a return to big screen down the road.
"what's this? A doorknob? Good show!" -- the easily impressed Dr. Bartley
Actually no they couldn't. This is the number one reason actors are or aren't chosen for a show. If they 'made it work,' it could have delayed the movie who knows how long.
It's why they killed Harrison Ford.
Ever once look at an IMDB actor's page? See how they have like 3 or 4 movies that haven't even come out yet? Yeah, they're busy. Filming a movie takes A LOT more time than the general public seem to think, and a lot more than just standing in front of a camera.
So yeah, contractual conflicts are impossible to work around and are literally the main reason the 'perfect' actor isn't used for a role or a staple is missing...conflicts. People sign up for a movie 1-2 years in advance, not knowing what role will be presented to them in 1 year when they're already booked up. All the other actors have schedules too, you know. 'Making it work' could mean another 5 years.
I do agree this movie could have had a second intention of gauging audiences. I think this was the bottom priority, but I don't doubt for a second they were taking notes.
No Eugene levy, no Catherine Ohara, no Michael Mckean? Booooo i say!! This is like episode vii without Han Luke Leia and chewbacca
shareMichael mckeon was barely in FYC as well; had a rare backseat part....but he will be missed. He, like Harry Shearer, always seemed to be part of the main group and of course the long time connection with Guest and doing back to Spinal Tap
"what's this? A doorknob? Good show!" -- the easily impressed Dr. Bartley
Shearer can be heard as the announcer at the mascot competition.
Please don't call someone a _____tard.
Yeah, I was just watching the 2nd Season of "Schitt's Creek" a few weeks back with Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara and I was *really* hoping that they'd be in this new movie, when I first read that a new Christopher Guest movie was coming to Netflix.
Ever since they did Mitch and Mickey for "A Mighty Wind", I keep hoping that Christopher Guest will write another memorable, hilarious, yet at the same time poignant pair of characters for the duo to play some day - they have undeniably wonderful chemistry together!
But alas, they weren't in it.
Probably for the best though, as it wasn't his best effort.
I'd place it slightly above "For Your Consideration" but only very marginally.
I laughed a few times watching the film, but overall it was a bit of a let down, especially after a 10 year gap between his films.
I really liked the British family (Sid the Hedgehog) and it was great to see Corky again (though it was a criminally short part - basically a cameo!) and the subtle animosity between the judges (Jane Lynch - always great!).
But the sister storyline with Parker Posey never really went anywhere and the dysfunctional married mascot couple were just awful...very unlikeable (which would have been forgiveable if they were at least funny, but they weren't)
I was kinda expecting more laughs for Chris O'Dowd's "bad boy" mascot character "The Fist" too, but he was woefully underused and again...his story didn't really go anywhere.
They should have taken time away from the Plumber guy's little side story about trying to reconnect with an old high school crush and had some more outlandish behaviour from "The Fist" instead.
A lot of the characters felt kind of just thrown in for no reason. Like Jennifer Coolidge's escort to Bob Balaban's rich guy who, I can't even remember now...I guess he was a big sponsor of the awards show? Yeah, see I've already forgotten and I literally just finished watching the movie not even a half hour ago.
Like Guest was just trying to quickly make up 1-note characters for his ever growing list of "players" that have to be squeezed in to every film he does.
I love that they're ensemble films with lots of characters - I've always loved that.
But he needs to cut out a lot of the supporting side characters that we only see for like 1 or 2 scenes and focus on the better characters.
Like back in the early days when he did "Waiting for Guffman" (still my all-time fav. movie of his!)
Light a fire, a fire, a sparkshare
Light a fire, a flame in my heart