Review of What Just Happened (2008) by Daniel A — 17 Nov 2010

So the satire lacks bite, but What Just Happened is a fun movie which thanks to one of DeNiro's better performances of recent years keeps the viewer engaged where the story may not.

For those who have ever wondered about the Hollywood process, and more specifically just how a terrible movie manages to make it to the big screen, then What Just Happened will likely hold your interest. Just as extended cameos from Sean Penn and Bruce Willis show that they can laugh at themselves, so too does this movie show that Hollywood is willing to hold up its hands and admit that its output is not always to the high standard that it would like us to believe. However rest assured that it does all this entirely on its own terms. It seems that while Hollywood loves to poke fun at itself, it never quite manages to take it far enough. Resultantly the self-debasing humour seems a little dumbed down, and is only just strong enough to maintain the entertainment value throughout.

Naturally the impressive cast are as good as you might hope. Even if they can't entirely rescue the scattered plot it's just nice to see these great actors on film together. Keener in particular makes the most of her small role, along with Tucci and even Stewart, who away from her irritating Twilight persona is fresh and watchable here. Of course it is DeNiro who impresses most, and it was a pleasure to see him back on form in a leading role.

If you're expecting an uproarious comedy filled with laughs, then don't look here. What Just Happened contains a more subtle humour delivered through a somewhat tame satire. It may not be hilarious but it certainly amuses, and should keep you interested right up to the closing credits.