Review of What Just Happened (2008) by Steven N — 21 Mar 2009

"What Just Happened" features Robert Deniro as a well known Hollywood producer, with two ex-wives, a teenage daughter that seems to favor older men, a director that is refusing to sacrifice his "vision," and a star that just doesn't want to play ball and part with his beard.

I am usually a fan of Barry Levinson's work, but this film just isn't very successful. While some of the behind the scenes stuff is interesting in a weird sort of way, it's all a bit too over-the-top to every really strike any sort of emotional chord, while not quite over-the-top enough to be funny.

The entire film is stuck in this weird, goofy, awkward, annoying, totally boring and uninteresting middle, and like an evening discussing spent discussing politics with Britney Spears, you're going to leave it feeling a bit empty.

Deniro has some good moments, and honestly is the only thing keeping the film from being completely unwatchable. the things that have worked in Levinson's other films, fall flat here. Sloppy script, ho-hum acting, some oddball editing choices.

..my advice is to skip this one. Everyone involved missed the mark.