Review of What Just Happened (2008) by Craig T — 16 Jan 2011

One would assume that ANYTHING with these stars together in one film is going to be a knockout. Unfortunately, it isn't even much of a jab. What we see here is a short journey through the life of a movie producer and the chaos that comes along with the job.

Ex wives, bone head actors, and the pursuit of finances. What's tragic is that DeNiro was good in this role. I wanted to like this film very badly but just couldn't be completely submerged in it.

It is too shallow. I would have loved if the life or death for the dog portions could have served up some kind of lasting impression. The creative balance vs the rules for release involved some enticing crumbs but this opportunity was not seized.

Lately, DeNiro is in bad movies and he seems to know it. Therefore, not much comes from his presence in those movies. Not true here, it is his best role in a long time (too long). Willis is completely unbearable, Penn is too distant to even appreciate, and it was unnecessary to keep being posted on the current time scene to scene.

Levinson veered off course in what could have been something but turned out to be not much of anything other than a few laughs and a decent performance by one of the great actors. (D).