Review of What Just Happened (2008) by Martin G — 05 Feb 2009

Art Linson, a longtime film producer, wrote the script for "What Just Happened" from his novel "What Just Happened?: Bitter Hollywood Tales From the Front Line", which served as a tell-all tale about the absurdities of Hollywood. Here, the story centers around Ben (Robert De Niro), a successful movie producer. His newest film stars Sean Penn (playing himself), and it's director is an eccentric British auteur (Michael Wincott) who refuses to have executives constrict his artistic merit. The first test screening of the film is met with horrendous reviews due to the last tragic scene that involves both the hero and his dog being shot. Head executive Lou Tarnow (Catherine Keener) says she'll recut the film herself if it's not done before it's premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.

Bruce Willis (playing himself) also causes a ruckus when he shows up on set with a large beard that obscures his iconic face. Ben's career is on the line due to worries that Bruce's unrecognizable mug significantly hurts the film's drawing power. Bruce's agent is played by John Turturro, who is horrified of his own client. In another supporting role, Robin Wright Penn plays Ben's ex-wife. Despite having been separated for over a year, Ben still can't get over the jealousy of her seeing other men. Their daughter is played by "Twilight"'s Kristen Stewart.

The cast is unusually star-studded for a film that largely went by under the radar, and just about everyone is adequately entertaining. Robert De Niro seems to be trying for the first time in years, and the film is almost worth seeing only for his motivation. Bruce Willis has a blast with his scenes, as does John Turturro, who spends much of the film in a speedo.

The problem with the film is that it's so elementary and inconsequential. As a biting satire, it doesn't offer anything more than "that Hollywood sure is silly!". The film is ridden with egomaniacal characters, however it perhaps goes a little too lenient on it's subjects. Because Bruce Willis is nothing more than a comic character, we get a humorous look at a primadonna actor rather than a critical one. It's also hard to root for the director trying to preserve his film's integrity when he's literally having tantrums and showing up to the editing room with wacky earrings. The film comes off as more of a love-letter to the absurd nature of Hollywood rather than a biting look at it.

Both the directing and editing are extraordinarily choppy and distracting throughout, with fast-forwarded car rides and the like sticking out like sore thumbs in the middle of what is otherwise a very low-key picture. Beyond that, the film's only fault is how little it says. A satire like this needs to be more edgy to leave any mark on it's viewer as this was ultimately too lightweight. You won't regret seeing this if you happen to watch it, but don't be surprised if you forget all about it a week later.