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Reviews
Waffle Street (2015)
Not a comedy, nor good enough to be a dramady
Not sure what this film is. The premise is that a hard-driving ethically challenged financial manager working for an ethically challenged firm is used as a scapegoat when things go wrong. With his career in ruins he begins to look for another job and winds up as an overdressed, under-prepared waiter in a chicken and waffles franchise. Cue all the possible clichés at this point... It is an interesting premise if not for how quickly he moves from the world of high-finance to applying for menial jobs. There were a few laughable moments, but in the end I felt robbed of any believable elements in the main characters transformation from scoundrel to an honest, hard-working Joe. From beginning to end this felt like community theater writing and acting with a strong undertone of false modesty. Even Danny Glover doesn't pull this up from the bottom - though his performance was clearly the best of what the movie has to offer - which was very little in terms of message, comedy or drama. Blech!
Diggity: A Home at Last (2001)
Great Film! Flawed however
I really enjoyed this film - Espectially Louise Lombard. Unfortunately Raymonds Georgia accent is contrived and horribly flawed - to the point that I became slightly embarrassed by it. Hint - a never-do-well southerner doesn't have the accent of southern aristocracy (even if he has a good heart)! Sad - because this is an absolutely charming film. It's a great story - extremely well written and not overly contrived. The setting is accurate and wonderful, though a bit narrow in scope, and the cinematography is top-notch. While it could have benefited from stronger directing - it still was charming and fun. Louise Lombard played the role with perfection The two things that save this film are Louise and the story-line. I certainly recommend this film - but you will have to concentrate on not laughing at Andrew McCarthy's poor interpretation of Raymonds character.
Nacho Libre (2006)
Argh!
The plot appears to have the promise of something funny - but outside of the fact that the Monk wants to be a wrestler none of it really develops into a memorable or particularly funny movie. There were so many sub-plots introduced that go nowhere that I have to believe there was some indiscriminate editing going on - like seeing Airport 77 edited by Delta Airlines. I like Jack Black - he strikes me as a comedian with the potential to emerge from a great script with a very popular following - but this was not a great script and the movie is only entertaining at a very superficial level. The ongoing tension with the nun just didn't work. This could have been written to be a girl from the village and it certainly would have worked better. I can not believe the writers never considered that - unless they never actually finished the script and let the filmmaker run out of film.