The Opening Act

IMDb RATING

6.0/10

1.2K

YOUR RATING

Cedric The Entertainer and Jimmy O. Yang in The Opening Act (2020)

In Theaters, On Demand and Digital HD October 16

Starring Jimmy O. Yang, Alex Moffat, Cedric The Entertainer, Neal Brennan, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Jermaine Fowler, Ken Jeong, Russell Peters, Debby Ryan, Tom Segura, Iliza Shlesinger

Written and Directed by Steve Byrne

Produced by Vince Vaughn, Peter Billingsley and Sefton Fincham

Will Chu has it all - the job, the girl - but what is missing is his true passion in life, to become a stand-up comedian. When he gets the opportunity he is been waiting for, the emcee slot on the road opening for his hero Billy G., the realities of life on the stage come crashing in. Between relentless hecklers, drunk comedy groupies and hard-to-impress morning radio DJs, things get off to a rough start. Even if he can take the opportunity to learn from his idols and overcome the challenges, Will still needs to decide if he should continue with the life he has, or pursue the one he has always dreamt of: the life of a comedian.

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Comedy

Will's true life passion is to become a stand-up comedian. When given the opportunity to emcee a comedy show opening for his hero Billy G., he must decide if he wants to continue the life he... Read allWill's true life passion is to become a stand-up comedian. When given the opportunity to emcee a comedy show opening for his hero Billy G., he must decide if he wants to continue the life he has set up, or pursue his dream.Will's true life passion is to become a stand-up comedian. When given the opportunity to emcee a comedy show opening for his hero Billy G., he must decide if he wants to continue the life he has set up, or pursue his dream.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.0/10

1.2K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
Radio Station scene was filmed at Cal State Fullerton's campus radio station.

Goofs
As Jimmy Chu is walking into the comedy club in "Pittsburgh". There is a palm tree visible in the sky line.

Connections
References The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962)

User reviews40

Review

Featured review

7/10

Heartwarming and half decent

Some of the stand up bits are funny but there's no major laugh out loud moments for me. I don't know the fella this is based on, I just saw him on Bill Burr's podcast so I gave the film a watch. It does make it cooler knowing that the stories are all semi-true, especially the whole cop thing.

Some great guest stars (as an Englishman I didn't know all of them though) and it is a nice story. But, now I don't know how far the fella this is based on is in his career (I probably should of looked that up before writing a review) but I assume it's further than where the film ends which I'll get to...

It's a very nicey nicey film and I was never bored, but it seemed like this should of been a TV series to me. The closer and closer I got to the end, I worked out what the finish would be and that disappointed me a little as I feel it should of gone further into this blokes career. Which would of been totally possible in, as I said, a TV series.

Worth a watch especially if you like stand up and if you know some of the guest stars in it.