First off, let me say that I was never a fan of Pauly Shore. In fact, I could never understand how it was even possible that someone this unfunny was able to have a career as a comedian, but hey ... Despite my claims of hatred, though, I still managed to watch everything he'd done, in some kind of a masochistic, painful cycle, and my hatred for him continued to grow and grow.
So it was inevitable that I would eventually catch 'Pauly Shore Is Dead', but what was surprising is how truly funny the film turned out to be. It's not perfect, by any stretch, and has a few moments that seem a little forced and even sentimental (such as the guardian angel visits), but all in all, I have to say this is one hell of a funny movie, and whether you like him or not, I think it would be hard not to admit some kind of respect for a man who is so willing to make fun of himself.
It is his sense of humor about himself that ultimately makes the film work, and I must admit that between the self-effacing plot line and the surprising amount of work that went into making the film, Shore has really gone up in my book. I still think he might be in the wrong line of business, but at least he's grounded enough in reality to realize that possibility as well.
Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys watching any celebrity spoof themselves, as the film is loaded with numerous amusing cameos. Also check out the deleted scenes, a highlight being the rendition of the song 'It's Been A While'. Check it out, and you may be as pleasantly surprised as I was.
Good work, Wiez!
