Rose Byrne as an Elvis impersonator? Bobby Cannavale as a Neil Diamond impersonator? First of all: yes, please. But there’s more. This movie wiggles free from its own tropes. It’s weird – and I mean that as a compliment. There’s something unsettling about it and I am here for it. I reviewed for Ebert.
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//Apparently, this will not fly in a corporate environment…//
Loved that.
I hadn’t heard of this movie, I’ll definitely check it out.
She is literally assaulting people left and right – dressed as Dolly!!
I think you might dig it. Come back with observations after you’ve seen it. always enjoy hearing your thoughts.
Reading the poster a little more closely…. what’s up with “Only in Cinemas November 24?” Just the usual moving around of release dates?
probably just an outdated poster. I know friends who saw this last year at SXSW I think – so it’s been kicking around a while.
This was a lot of fun. Bobby Cannavale’s comment comparing how easy it was for “Kenny” to be Kenny Rodgers 24/7 as compared to Red’s challenges being Dolly was very perceptive – and not a slam on either of them.
The surgery scene was loopy and gaudy. Not quite as produced as the trippy the bowling dream in The Big Lebowski, which was set to Kenny’s Just Dropped In. A bit of an homage?
I’m a little skeptical that Red has a lot to teach people, at the end. To me it felt like Kenny just pushed things too far and she had to walk away from him – rather than she’d learned a deeper, more profound lesson to pass along. When she became a life coach, I was reminded of those PSAs you’d see on network TV in the 80’s where some twice-divorced, coke-addicted sitcom actor would gaze wisely out from the screen to tell us about the importance of reading to our kids.
I don’t think Red has anything like that cynicism in her. And her experiences, coupled with Dolly’s wisdom, could provide some meaningful uplift to folks. That’s what I’d hope for.
The movie also reminded me that I really liked Muriel’s Wedding and that it’s been a long time since I’ve seen that.
// how easy it was for “Kenny” to be Kenny Rodgers 24/7 as compared to Red’s challenges being Dolly //
Right doesn’t he say something about how Kenny Rogers was a blank slate – like, there was no “there there” as a personality so it was easier for him to just BE Kenny. For Red it wouldn’t be that easy!
I like how the story really avoided being uplifting. It wasn’t tragic – it wasn’t King of Comedy – but it wasn’t feel-good, imo. She definitely found something playing Dolly – but, to be honest, she already HAD it before. She loved Dolly and Dolly’s sayings and music helped her make her way through life – with or without impersonating her. So I’m sure that inspiration will still be there for her!
Very glad you saw! Always enjoy reading your thoughts.