Smartorhypo Highly Overrated But Still Good

StyleSk8r At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Ella-May O'Brien Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

Bob This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

maxrockpro Light hearted. Funny. Movitational. Smart. A Class movie. I was laughing throughout. Smiling at the end wanting more. Brilliant and realistic performance by Mathew, Woody and everyone. Very good script. Superb direction. No vulgarity. No special effects. No big stars. Some parts of the movie are even better than The Truman Show. "A nobody looser, accidentally chosen for a reality show becomes a superstar. Finds true love, respect of family and brother. Then has to choose between relationships and stardom." Best scenes are: when Ed's video is reviewed and selected; Ed gets up and a camera is on his face. When he and his brother are about to fight; The cameras following Ed's every move; Ed's final revelation and pulling the plug.

Framescourer Another doughty Ron Howard picture. Just like Peter Cattaneo (of The Full Monty/The Rocker) he takes an idea, a good script and a top-notch cast and makes an exhaustive, quick-fire comedy without pretension or fuss.It's a clever film. Ahead of the MTV-type show it's satirising it essays all the attractions and pitfalls of such a dead-end genre. Inbetween are any number of clever appropriations of current TV shows and celebrities, and all the practical quirks of getting such coverage on the TV - the crowds, crazies and camera moves.Matthew McConaughey gives a stand-out performance as the eponymous Ed. Jenna Elfman is a terrific Renée Zellweger-type for people who find Zellweger trying. Martin Landau isn't just there to bolster his pension either. Slick, knowing, but above all big hearted fun. 7.5/10

moonspinner55 A misfire from the writing team of Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel, an unfunny satire of reality television shows concerning a video store clerk picked by a lagging cable network to be the star of their new series. Matthew McConaughey gets followed around with cameras twenty-four hours a day, straining family relations and making dates with sexpots extremely difficult. Remake of the Canadian film "Louis XIX" has something to offend everybody, though the actors are well-cast (McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, in particular). Still, precious few of these slapstick jokes work, while Ron Howard directs in a smug, self-satisfied fashion. *1/2 from ****

grannie_annie When I saw this movie, I kept thinking it was very much like a book I read. Has anyone else ever heard of a book with a similar plot? I would be interested in finding the name/author of such a book, if so.I thought the movie had an interesting premise. It was a lot like the reality shows such as big brother. But the end was more in keeping with my own point of view. I do not watch reality shows, and would not want to be in one. I value my privacy too much to allow the whole world to be watching my every move, and commenting on my every decision and action. Overall, I would say the movie is worth a trip to the theater (whoops, I guess I mean the video store or library)