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Dreadful Review by: nycscribbler, Dec 3, 2011 |
Ethan Coen has co-written so many terrific films with his brother, Joel, yet he continually gets the green-light to write these cliche-ridden, chauvinistic, humorless one acts based primarily on his success as such a talented screenwriter. Well, someone has to say it, this guy is no playwright, even though the Atlantic theater provides him with a stage to indulge in yet another shallow vanity project on the heels of his last thuddish foray on ... read more the off-Broadway boards, the completely forgettable and horrible, "Offices". Furthermore, I would not pay one thin dime for what I am certain is his bomb contribution to "Relatively Speaking" -- but I will see whatever film he co-writes with Joel on opening weekend.
"Happy Hour", his latest dud, is packed from start to finish with self-centered male boors anchoring three equally trite one act plays about miserable people -- with most of the people being self-destructive, selfish, loser-guys rambling. In the first play, that zero-guy drinks and rambles pointlessly, in the second play, that zero-guy hates everyone that might care about him to a "so what" self-hating degree, and in the third play that zero-guy gets cut a pass when a near suicide is averted. Coen does not have the guts to go completely out on a limb when the transparently obvious set-up takes place, but again, there are no characters in any of these stories that the audience can possibly identify with so it all boils down to "Who cares?" Never in my life have I seen an alleged comedy where the audience sat in such a state of silence. If the author's name were Ethan Jones, never in a million years, would this pile of pointless drivel have been staged in New York City, much less Rabbit Hatch, Kentucky. Only if you want to make enemies out of friends or loved ones, then this is must-see theater. Otherwise, pop "Fargo" into the DVD and enjoy some top quality Ethan Coen-authored entertainment. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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I saw this show with:
Business Associate
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