Review of Joe Somebody (2001) by Eylem E — 08 May 2011

I still make the argument that Tim Allen is incredibly underappreciated as a talented director (and actor). People have a vision of him that I think is grounded in his Home Improvement days, but Allen actually has a knack for well drawn characters and directing. His humor is actually very understated and intelligent.

Joe Somebody is not his best work. I admit. But it has elements that made a film like Crazy on the Outside an underground success. He explores certain layers with characters which when peeled back give one a sense of his dedication to his field. He is passionate about what he does which lends itself to a certain sense of importance with the films he makes. Here he plays Joe, a nobody looking to be a somebody. And when he finds himself in a situation where he is thrown in the lime light he has a choice to make. Either make the wrong choice and become that person he thinks he wants to be while also losing his true self, or make the right choice amidst the allure of the sudden popularity and discover what his true self had to offer that he had been missing in his own sense of self pity.

It carries similarities to "World's Greatest Dad" actually in themes, although not in the type of film. And while it treads ground with some formulaic nuances, it grounds itself with Allen's penchant for smart, self reflective humor and some genuine charisma between Bowen and Allen. And again, it's not the greatest film, but it has moments that showcase why Allen is a talent behind the screen.