One of the maxims of the original show was honesty. So that is what I owe you. This film could not decide what it wanted to be. The floundering is in the writing. It's like the writer tried to make a salad of everything they wanted it to be and just failed on most counts. #1 not enough backstop development. We want to see it, not hear about it. #2. Characters are rich and beautiful except for the main character who does not ring true and so when he becomes enamored of the town folk it is just not believable but hallow and fake. But throw in a ghost and that makes the story a gem? No .it doesn't. This is really poor writing that dies not do justice to the legacy. The acting is wonderful but the writing is poor quality. The story is formulaic and disappointingly fake. The objectives are just not there. So sad because the characters are spot on. But the original show was only anchored by characters, not driven by them. In this case, these beautiful characters are left adrift in open water and shamefully left to drown in stereotypical
buffoonery. They are to precious towaste in a performance like that. Andy's kindness and human qualities were the fulcrum and cornerstone that captained all the drama. You could have changed that any number of ways. Main character---> with likeable qualities; he had none. The love interest as someone FROM LA, also stuggling to understanding the value of country simplicity. This is a much bigger story than what you wrote. . And actually, it is REAL! -- a real stuggle of values. Small town can be a lovely setting, kind and heartfelt. It's worth examing and has a lot to write about but I think you squandered that expecting magic where there's none.
Review of Mayberry Man
