Comedian Brooks tries hard, probably too hard, while the script makes a hash of Hollywood satire. Playing a moviemaker in the film, actor Brooks' promising idea is to document a year in the life of a typical American family. Trouble is that he's so full of himself and his ideas, he can't leave the family alone long enough to act out their own lives. Worse, he's got a battery of distracting psychologists analyzing the minutiae (coffee cups) of the family's daily life. So, what starts out as a promising docu idea, ends up a fiasco.
Actually, my little recap makes events sound more coherent than they are. All in all, the movie's really a mess, despite occasionally funny moments. No doubt about it, Brooks has an inventive flair (the space-helmet cameras, for one). But in this movie, too many of his ideas simply cascade forth, remaining ill-formed (the psychologists), or plain non-starters (the dead horse, the gynecology office). Still, the latter raise a thought-provoking question- that is, just how broad should a real life account be. Should it include bathroom trips, for example. And if a line is drawn, where should it be and why. The issue is raised somewhat in the movie, but stumbles around with neither depth nor laughs.
Looks to me like a critical eye was needed in addition to the three writers (Brooks & Co.). That is, someone who could weed out the losers and shape the winners. After all, the premise itself remains a promising one. Too bad that the humorous Grodin is wasted in a deadpan role that preempts his often subtle brand of comedy. I kept hoping I'd see some trace of his churlish shtick, but it's frozen deadpan all the way.
Anyway, I'm not usually an advocate of re-makes, but here, in more disciplined hands, the results could be both thought-provoking and knee-slapping. As things stand, the movie fails on both accounts.
