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"Don't Ever Make
Judy Greer Mad...
EVER!!!" |
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Directed by Jake Kasdan
- Written by Jake Kasdan
Starring David Duchovny,
Sigourney Weaver, Ioan
Gruffudd
Justine Bateman, Willie
Garson and Judy Greer
Distributed by THINKFilm -
2007 - 89m - Rated R |
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Richard Propes'
Review
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B- |
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Have you ever sat down between old friends and felt lost while
listening to their inside conversation and jokes? |
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"The TV Set," the
latest film from writer/director Jake Kasdan ("Freaks and Geeks"),
feels much like such a conversation between old friends. In the
film, Mike Klein (David Duchovny) plays an experienced writer whose
semi-autobiographical dramedy is picked up for a pilot by aggressive
studio exec Lenny (Sigourney Weaver). "The TV Set" is a
punch-by-punch accounting of the journey from being green-lighted to
hitting the small-screen.
Much like the television show it skewers, "The TV Set" can't quite
seem to decide what it really wants to be. Is Kasdan going for a
broad comedy? A serious, biting social commentary? A human drama?
It's difficult to tell what Kasdan is shooting for here and,
ultimately, he ends up falling short in each case.
The biggest problem with the "TV Set" is that it feels an awful lot
like "Project Greenlight" for television. While "Project Greenlight"
may have noble intentions, it makes for only modestly interesting
cable television and has yet to produce a truly decent film. Such is
the case with "The TV Set." "Network" and "The Player" have both
covered similar material before, and they've done so with more
personality, bite, drama and, well, personality. "The TV Set,"
especially with the melodramatic tones of the television show in
question, "The Wechsler Chronicles" (which because "Call Me Crazy"),
may have actually made more sense as a soap opera pilot than a
primetime series.
In a sense, "The TV Set" feels, seemingly unintentionally, like it's
a product of the very industry it skewers. While Mike is repeatedly
touted as a brilliant writer, the dialogue presented onscreen is
stilted, awkward and worse than I've ever heard even considering the
sorry state of contemporary television. Was Kasdan oblivious to the
idea that it may have actually been funnier to have a TRULY
brilliant script ruined by tne network? In this case, it almost
seems like the power-hungry, self-centered and blindly
ratings-driven Lenny may actually be right about most of the things
she says and, most assured, Mike is wrong.
While "The TV Set" is, indeed, occasionally funny, more often than
not it lacks the balls of, say, a network decision to cast Lucy
Lawless in a sitcom or to put together another reality series, this
one called "Slut Wars," a couple of Lenny's more successful ideas.
I found myself reflecting upon recent films "Saved" and "Thank You
For Smoking," films that achieved a certain degree of success in
both skewering and, on a certain level, celebrating their respective
targets. Unfortunately, with the "TV Set" the attacks aren't
particularly pointed and the characters are a pale comparison even
to what's regularly seen on the HBO series "Entourage."
Duchovny can be quite wonderful in the right role, however, he's
never quite been recognized as either a brilliant comic actor nor a
particularly sensitive one. Thus, casting him in a role that
requires both skills seems a bit of an odd decision.
The supporting cast is equally perplexing. Sigourney Weaver goes a
bit histrionic as Lenny and occasionally crosses the line into
caricature, while Fran Kranz is a touch too inconsistent as the
network's broadly comic pick for the lead male. Lindsay Sloane, as
Kranz's comic cohort, is modestly more successful, however, her
character completely peters out by the film's end and the early
promise offered is one of the film's major failings. While Judy
Greer, usually quite brilliant, flounders here in an underwritten
role as Mike's agent she does manage a few wonderful scenes...most
notably, a scene where it is revealed that she hasn't seen the movie
"Taxi Driver." Likewise, Ioan Gruffud is a breath of fresh air as a
British TV executive struggling to family, business and dignity on a
network where "Slut Wars" is the powerful statement.
"The TV Set" feels much like a network casting session. It's hard
not to watch the film without thinking to yourself "You know who
would have been really good in that role?" I found myself pondering
a variety of performers for the lead role and, ultimately, wondering
if a Robin Williams/Jim Carrey type role wasn't simply produced on a
David Duchovny budget.
"The TV Set" is, when it comes down to it, a "coast" film. Whereas
"Network" and "The Player" offered enough variety to appeal to a
wider audience, "The TV Set" appears almost exclusively targeted at
those who can appreciate its mild barbs at studios and insider jokes
about the television industry. If you work in television, "The TV
Set" may very well satisfy you, however, if you simply love David
Duchovny it may be time to rent "The X-Files" Season One on DVD once
again.
"The TV Set" was screened during the Indianapolis International Film
Festival. It remains on the film festival circuit, while also being
available in very limited release on the arthouse circuit. |
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© Written by Richard Propes -
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