Reviews

For relativelylate in the TPB game, this is pretty durn good.... all the movies are either good or very good, the specials run from very good to great (not the live stuff, which is tough after the first 30 mins. usually; but the filmed "bookends" w/the live stuff are always very good)

but i digress.... nice to see the boys in a different environment; the production values/film quality are high, and the story moves along at a nice clip. it has a slight "toned down" feel compared w/other more manic TPB stuff, but that doesn't really hurt it. some of the things towards the end don't make perfect sense - is ricky lobbying to legalize pot cuz it's "good," or not to, cuz it'll hurt his business? - and they wrap things up quickly w/randy oddly back in their good graces, but these are minor quibbles

if you're a fan, you'll love it, of course. if you're new to TPB, you could do worse than to start w/one of their movies, including this one

Depending on how much live TPB tv you've seen already (specials, etc.), you should see this, or some of it, just to get a feel for what the live show is like, to add to your love of the TPB phenomenon. is the live stuff as good as the scripted/tight/series stuff? no. are there some amusing things? yes. are parts of it kind of boring/amateur'ish? yep.

but it's fun to see the audience shower our gang w/love when they first appear, and the filmed bookend stuff at the front and back of the special(s) is usually good, as is the case here. but the stage show is really just a chance for fans to come out and see their beloved TPBs in person. it's not gonna be rip-roaring, tight hilarity. it is an oppty to see the boys and get a few laughs

despite what some reviewers mention, i'm sure the audience enjoys themselves, as evidenced by the applause and laughter. some of these earlier specials are actually superior to the borderline-awful later specials, out of the park, etc.

there's no doubt the show is at its best in series form. but experience a little of the other stuff (the movies are generally quite good, as is the xmas special). it is what it is (and the fans usually approve)

An 8, but a very solid 8! meaning very good! production values are high, and the story drags just a little in a couple of spots, but overall, it is quite a ride! when was the last time you saw bubbles w/a "love interest"? (never!) lots to enjoy here. lahey (and randy) have never been better. great to see jim in such a non-TPB locale at the beginning and end-the movie is structured very cleverly, bookends and throughout. you'll be entertained from the moment it starts, and doubly when you read "(just) one week earlier..." ; )

Ignore the 2 negative reviews. how anyone could not find this 46 mins. of the best TPB ever, is beyond me. great fun to see the origins of some TPB staples/relationships. also fun to see the park in a different season, w/sonw, etc. poignant too! some of the best TPB ever!

Fairly good bio-pic/jukebox musical as these things go, but...

1) i'm sorry, i can't get past the screwed-up chronology of when songs appeared in real life, vs. where the movie used them

2) i don't understand all the praise for the star's singing--his voice is ok, but nothing special, and he only very occasionally evoked elton john's style/tones. they definitely should have lip synced EJ's vocals; would have been much more powerful

3) should have shoe-horned in a few more details from his life and career and music making; it would have taken maybe 10-15 mins. of screen time, but would hvae lended so much more authenticity to the project. they left so much important stuff out

4) the style employed of dramatic scenes breaking out into musical scenes was ok, but seemed somehow forced; especially w/the incorrect chronologies employed. seems like they were trying to repeat the oscar-winning approach used in La La Land (very overrated movie in my opinion). 1 or 2 scenes were more effective (swimming pool/under water), but most just seemed a little silly

on the plus side, the child actor who played EJ as a kid looked just like EJ looked as a kid!

I'm a big fan of his show and stand-up, but this movie just misses somehow... i know it seems ridiculous cuz it's his movie, but, even w/the glasses, he seems miscast. art is hit or miss, and this just doesn't click for me. scenes and dialogue seem a bit forced, performances are a bit odd/off. I love the subject matter but it's an homage to better (obviously woody allen, for instance) films, and does not measure up in comparison. manhattan, for instance, is 50 X better than this movie.

not sure why they filmed this; maybe mgr. vanya's ego decreed that he document his whole life? at any rate, the access provided is astonishing. an int'ing period in the history of the band, as they ride the wave of success of their 1st album. the gals are about 18 here. if you're a die-hard fan of this band, then this is must-see watching. touches on the key subjects for any die-hard fan, how do the gals feel about their (fake) lesbian image, lena's confessions to her priest, julia's not surprising wildness and willingness to try anything. i personally find their story fascinating; how young teens, in show biz all their lives, deal w/sudden international superstardom. their rise and (disbanding) is one of the more interesting stories in recent rock and roll history. btw, there are at least 2 other tatu behind- the-scenes series, that showed on Russian TV (and they're available to view on youtube, as might this one for that matter); anyway, they're all great. i only wish this one were longer!

very entertaining all the way through, and the girl you hope wins.... does win! (i won't say who, but it's clearly the right decision)

if you liked, 'my big fat obnoxious fiancé' or even 'windy city heat,' you will like this!

too bad more people didn't tune in to make it a success; they must've spent a gazillion dollars to make this!

ryan seacrest, if you're out there, this was GOOD! i have no idea why it flopped (then again, so did windy city heat)

my only suggestion would've been to have more staged interactions w/the public, cuz those were doubly fun! maybe have some gatecrasher evade security and start smooching him, or more scenes of normal UK women going nutz for him in public (staged)

i friggin love this show. followed the music industry 30+ yrs and find this look at the songwriting process fascinating. don't know why it is doing poorly in the ratings and review wise. it's got drama, talent, cleverness and more. i hate that there will be no season 2 (won't be, rt?) as my headline says, i find this more fun to watch that idol. the only black mark is that the producers appear to be in on who to send home. why they do this is obvious, but it does bring the integrity somewhat into question. but this show is great and will be missed when it's over. that's 2 strikes for kara on TV. wonder where she'll go next.

even taking into account the context of its time, this is incredibly dated, morals-wise. also, it strains credibility that the female protagonist (amy) would stay initially, stay later, stay longer, proclaim her love for (the wrong guy), and then leave w/o getting together w/who she wanted all along. just seems really dopily contrived. "she DIDN'T know what she wanted" would be a more apt title. also, the whole plot revolving about her pregnancy just comes from out of nowhere and dominates the proceedings as if it was 1750 in puritan new england. i really wanted to like this film; i'd heard it was good - - but it's really pretty hard to take. as for tony; he's similarly unbelievable, a 1-dimensional character, until he explodes, and then he becomes 2-dimensional (still 1 short). OK i'm done