WHAT JUST HAPPENED
RYAN: We’ve been hearing such fantastic, like, “Must-See of the Fall” things about the new Barry Levinson movie, “What Just Happened.” How ever was it?
CAROLINE: Honestly, it was so disappointing. I was really looking forward to this movie and it just about bored me to tears.
RYAN: OMG! Why have we been hearing such great things about it?
CAROLINE: I have no idea. It was supposed to be this great Hollywood satire about the movie biz, but all it is is Robert De Niro, who looks great by the way, living his LA life as a producer. It should be funny and interesting but it’s the opposite.
RYAN: So it’s not a comedy?
CAROLINE: I think it might be trying to be, but it’s not funny at all. I may have tittered once, but that’s it. I was expecting a real send-up of the movie business, which I assumed would be hilarious. But I don’t think that’s the goal here. Maybe they were going for realism; but if so, I guess reality is just dull.
RYAN: How’s the acting? Are there any great cameos at least?
CAROLINE: Not really. I knew from the ads that Bruce Willis and Sean Penn were in it playing themselves. They’re fine. Robin Wright Penn looks gorge. She’s aging very well. But I was expecting other fun cameos, and there were none. And doesn’t this seem like the kind of movie that would be rife with cameos?
RYAN: Totally! The whole thing seems very strange.
CAROLINE: De Niro is great, of course. I enjoyed seeing him play a regular Hollywood guy as opposed to a cop or something.
RYAN: How’s Catherine Keener?
CAROLINE: Fabulous, as always. She looks great and she plays a bitchy studio head, which is perfect for her. And that Kristen Stewart who you love is in it too.
RYAN: OMG I might have to run out and see it just for her! How is she?
CAROLINE: She’s fine, but honestly she’s in the movie for about five minutes. It’s not worth seeing the movie just for her.
RYAN: She’s in the upcoming vampire movie “Twilight.”
CAROLINE: Don’t get me wrong – there are definitely funny Hollywood references like going to the Cannes Film Festival, working with difficult actors and drugged out directors and such. And De Niro has two ex-wives who live in fancier houses than he does, which is funny. But I just kept it expecting more humor or biting satire, and it never delivered.
RYAN: So disappointing.
CAROLINE: Maybe I had the wrong idea of what the movie was. But when I hear “send-up” or “satire,” I tend to think it’ll be a comedy. This one sorely lacks the funny. It could have been so much better.
RYAN: And the length?
CAROLINE: It would have fine if the movie were funnier; but given that it wasn’t, it was too long by 15 minutes. I was squirming in my seat waiting for it to end.
RYAN: The worst. Bottom line?
CAROLINE: I really can’t recommend this movie unless you’re a big De Niro fan. He’s great and he even appears in his boxer briefs in one scene.
RYAN: How’s the physique?
CAROLINE: Not too shabby given his age.