Review of Noises Off... (1992) by Dave C — 10 Aug 2011

Noises Off is what is is, and what it is is an absolutely absurd stage play put to film. It's not an adaptation so much as it is LITERALLY a stage play being filmed with expensive equipment. Surprisingly, for most of the film this works.

By the time the third act rolled around, I got a little tired of things since it requires paying complete attention to how the play is supposed to go (which you see in act 1), and by then I was so worn out by the *non-stop* jokes and silliness that I didn't really appreciate how fucked up the final act was. Not a fault of the film, really, but still something worth noting.

I was honestly surprised by how much I enjoyed this little flick, but your enjoyment of it may waver depending on how much you like seeing comedies on stage. Me, I could go either way, but this was extremely enjoyable. I'd relish a chance to see it on stage some day, but for now, I'll enjoy this pitch-perfect-to-a-fault adaptation.