Review of For Your Consideration (2006) by Jane G — 17 Dec 2008

After hearing great things about Guest and company's previous collaberations, and being a cinephile who enjoys following the Oscars I was really looking forward to a film lampooning false Oscar-buzz.

Unfortunetly For Your Consideration isn't really funny. There are a few chuckles and maybe a laugh or two (mostly from Fred Willard who has at least two hilarious lines, the best parts of the film) but overall the jokes seem either tame and uninspired or far too off-key.

What I mean by off-key is that this film seems to take place in an alternate universe, where everyone is an idiot and will believe anything if they see it on TV or in print. Everything is so over the top too, from the movie-within-a-movie "Home For Purim" to the fake talk shows to most of the actors' performances (I did like Parker Posey, but that's probably just because she's gorgeous).

After trying to adjust to this dumbed-down ultra-silly, ultra-slick world, the film then turns on you and gets depressing. For Your Consideration is the kind of film you watch and are suprised at how unfunny it is when you know its supposed to be good so you keep watching it even though it never gets better.

If you do decide to watch it, as I said before, Fred Willard is the funniest thing in the film, although Ricky Gervais has a few funny moments in a all-too small bit-part (also look for John Krasinski in an even briefer cameo).