2016 * TV-MA * 1h 41m I have mixed feelings about Ricky Gervais. I know a lot of people can't stand him. I enjoy his "Spinal Tap" type characters where he plays the clueless idiot. I also just loved him as the downtrodden, sensitive guy in the brilliant series "After Life." But I just hate his stand-up comedy. Actually, I've never made it through a stand-up performance of his and had to bail early, every time I've tried.
But if you enjoy his dumb characters, you'll love him in this hilarious movie. He plays off perfectly with the cool, level-headed Eric Bana. Bana is a seasoned radio correspondent and Gervais plays his dim-witted sound man. The two of them get a choice assignment covering a Latin American country in the midst of a revolution. They're all set to head out on the last plane into the country, when by a ridiculous mishap, they lose all their papers, visas, and passports. Rather than confess their idiocy, they hole up in an apartment near their radio station in New York City and fake their "live" coverage of the events as they unfold.
It's a ridiculous situation, and that's the brilliance of the movie. There's simply one coverup after another. The movie takes a couple unexpected turns that just add to the hilarity of the story. Both actors turn in brilliant performances. I should warn you, if you don't like the dumber side of Gervais, you might want to take a pass. I thought it was laugh-out-loud funny. But then again, I'm an idiot.
4 out of 5 stars.
Currently streaming on Netflix.
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