Here Comes The Good Humour Man

There is a dismal comedy formula hardening in the studios of Hollywood whereby directors who are happy to cash a paycheck suddenly realize that they must somehow breathe life into an imbecilic script using an over-paid comedy hack. How to polish the turd? Go shopping for talent in Britain! It doesn’t work of course, the movies are still horrible. Some examples.

*Adam Sandler + Russell Brand = Bedtime Stories

How does Adam Sandler have a career? The clip he’s showing on the talk-show circuit shows him throwing french fries at Russell Brand’s head, which is presumably the funniest thing in the movie.

*Jim Carrey + Rhys Darby = Yes Man

Okay, not technically British, but I am including the Commonwealth, except Canada. If you can’t quite place the name, he plays the band manager in Flight of the Conchords. (New season starts January 18. Yay!)

*Ben Stiller + Ricky Gervais + Steve Coogan = A Night at the Museum

This may be the lump of cinematic sourdough that gave birth to this whole thing. In spite of being a twofer, it is still a movie so godawful I never got to the part with Ricky Gervais or Steve Coogan. Ben Stiller once appeared in a great episode of Extras, so he must know what comedy looks and sounds like.

*Jonah Hill/Jason Segal + Russell Brand = Forgetting Sarah Marshall

The lovely Mr. Brand was the only reason to see this one. Further, this movie is a perfect example of Movie Rule Number One: Never watch a movie with a gerund in the title.

So let’s just eliminate the middleman, let the English guys make the movies and leave the weird one-trick man-babies at home counting their money. Do yourself a favor and rent: The Office, Extras, I am Alan Partridge, Saxondale, Coffee and Cigarettes, 24-Hour Party People.