FEATURE FILM REVIEW
THE SHOW CAN'T GO ON!
Iffy Actors. Conveyor-belt Crew and One Burned-Out Sketch Comedy Director. The Show Can't Go On!
A BURNED OUT SKETCH comedy writer/director attempts to create a comedic stage show with potentially disastrous results. Scratch the word "potentially" from that last sentence because this production really is a shit show, and we viewers get to see the brown gooey magic as it happens in this hilarious fake documentary. But just how fake is it because I can easily imagine that a lot of the content has been gleaned from personal experience. No matter, because all that matters are the results - and the results are good.
The Show Can't Go On, most importantly, is funny. The film is treated like a true-life documentary and starts with a troupe of actors running lines with their director... and then another group of actors... and so on. Eventually, Cherie Kerr (the film version of herself) finds and sticks with a group of people more because they were all that was left than because of any actual talent. From this point on, things only get crazier as the film moves towards its... climax? The first half of the movie fleshes out the rehearsals of the show, with the second half following the actual show dates - and the happenings between shows. MORE THAN A FEW TIMES I LAUGHED OUT LOUD - BUT WAS RARELY EVER WITHOUT AT LEAST A SMILE.
I'm not scared to admit that both halves of the movie are equally funny, and more than a few times, I laughed out loud - but was rarely ever without at least a smile on my face. I also couldn't help but constantly wonder just how much of the film actually was written from experience. If I were to guess? A good chunk. However, I also realize that most of the true experiences have probably been greatly exaggerated. At least ... I sure hope so. It may just be that The Show Can't Go On will get a few more laughs from anyone who happens to be in "the industry," but don't think for a second that the rest of us have been left out. There's plenty to laugh at across the board, and yes, in this case, the fake documentary works wonders for the overall experience.
THE CHARACTERS ARE ALL INSANE, WHICH PRETTY MUCH SUMS UP THE CLICHE ACTOR.
Another thought I had when watching this film came from watching the countless script readings within the movie. How hard was it to act as a terrible actor and make it believable? I know first-hand that acting is a lot harder than it looks. Worlds harder, as a matter of fact. But how do you act like you can't act... without coming across as either a great actor or as the novice the script requires? It's a crazy thing to think about, but in this film, everything just works the way it's meant to work. I wonder how much of this film is actually improv?
I also have to say that watching Cherie Kerr, as herself, was as funny as it was interesting to think about. I can easily imagine most of what she says in this film she must have wanted to say in real life, at some point or another. Hell, maybe she did! But the one thing I did take away from this film is that it was fun—fun to watch and maybe even fun to think about a little afterward. The characters are all insane, which pretty much sums up the cliche actor/crew. THIS IS A FILM MEANT TO BE ENJOYED SIMPLY FOR THE SAKE OF ENJOYING IT.
Many of us have seen a fake documentary (mockumentary) at some point, and hell, many of us have probably wanted to make one. But this film, The Show Can't Go On, is an excellent example of one of these odd movies actually working on nearly every level. There's no need to overthink what you are watching and no underlying divine message. This is a film meant to be enjoyed simply for the sake of enjoying it. For those who enjoy watching odd, crazy characters or for those simply wanting to laugh a little during these crazy/scary times - this is a title you are sure to enjoy. Four stars.
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