Review: ‘What Just Happened?’

Melissa:

What just happened? Not enough to leave audiences talking about it! The story follows Ben (Robert De Niro), a Hollywood producer who is having a rather difficult time getting his new movie rolling. His new movie is not doing well at screenings, and he is forced to talk to the writer into editing it. This isn’t an easy task since the writer is a crude, ex-druggie who seems to hate everyone. Meanwhile his ex wife, whom he is still in love with, is messing around with a Hollywood associate of his. Not really much more of a storyline to it.

There are some great lines, and the cast is fantastic! I enjoyed the camera angles, the music… really everything but how the script played out. There was something missing, but I can’t quite tell you what that something is. It has all the elements to be AWAZING (that’s not a typo… that’s a combo of awesome and amazing!). With such an amazing cast including De Niro, Bruce Willis, Sean Penn, and John Turturro, I really expected a WOW factor! The actors all played their parts well… but I I still wasn’t impressed.   It’s not that I wouldn’t see this movie again, but I would much rather watch the controversial film that angered audiences that was featured in this film.

There was one funny part in the film where Ben and some other Hollywood hotshots are discussing how to get Bruce Willis to shave his beard for the film. One of the men point out that no one wants to see an overweight, bearded Bruce Willis in a film. Now, I enjoy a good Bruce Willis movie, and I think he is a fantastic actor… but it’s true! I like my super buff, scruffy yet trimmed facial hair, bad boy Bruce. I could take him looking a little attractively challenged in a serious role, but I also really like to geek out and daydream about candlelit dinners and licking his face!

Overall, it was OK, but there really was no oomph! I would write more about this film, but it would leave you as bored as I was!

[rating:2.5/5]