What should be a BIG movie, feels small.

Rating: 6/10 (30 June 2016)

This movie seems like the Coen brothers had a fun idea for a movie, some good actors on board and decided to go ahead and make it.
The movie lacks compelling plot points and the story seems too fast paced for it's own good. This fast paced story led to a lot of undeveloped characters. We barely get to know the main protagonist, Eddie Mannix, before a truck load of more characters are thrown our way. This is surprising looking at other Coen brothers films. For example, I felt more connected to John Goodman's character in the movie Inside Llewyn Davis and he had about 10 minutes of screen time.
The movie is about Eddie Mannix trying to keep all of his actors in control with the main story following the kidnapping of the studio's biggest star played by George Clooney. This story, being the focal point of the movie, never really takes off and the mystery shown in the movie's trailer does not match what is shown on screen. I can't say this story takes a back seat but others seem to take it's place at points throughout the movie so it never fully peaked my interest.
Although there are some bad points, this is a Coen brothers movie so the elegance and magic is still there. It is thoughtfully shot like any Coen brothers movie and their style never gets lost. There are movies being shot inside movies here which seems like a difficult task for the directors. But obviously, the two handled it brilliantly and that is why I gave the movie a 6 opposed to a lower rating because I am I fan of how a movie is filmed.
The movie seems like a test or experiment for the two brothers. It feels like they put more effort into the shoot rather than the writing of the story and plot. I believe it is called a comedy simply because it is light hearted and no real issues are dealt with throughout the movie. The jokes aren't laugh out loud but I don't think they fall short, they are the same jokes you'll see in any Coen brothers movie, there's just more of them.
Overall, I think the movie shouldn't have had as many side stories that take the spotlight away from the main story. I think there should have been more build up to the eventual twist. I think there should have been more of the actors from the studio that we see, helping find the kidnapped actor so they could have a purpose.
The side stories are fine when they're told but there's very little shown, like in Inside Llewyn Davis. You have a lot of side stories in this movie that we are told all of the relevant information for and shown just enough. For example, Llewyn's unknown baby, Jean's abortion, Llewyn's dad and even the cat story that seamlessly flows in and out of the main story.
I think the trailer shows what the Coen brothers wanted the movie to be like, a comedy/mystery with all of the studio's stars coming together to find the studio's biggest star while the main studio executive hides the story from the press. This movie would have felt a lot more compelling with a plot more focused and a story more intimate.