Laugh-free Kaufman-lite rubbish

Rating: 1/10 (2 August 2007)

I should have known; Dustin Hoffman hasn't been involved in anything approaching a great movie since 1988, Hollywood stopped making interesting films a long time ago, and yet I was persuaded by the overwhelmingly positive reviews for this. I guess there is so much rubbish hitting cinemas these days that Stranger Than Fiction gets pass marks. Well, I sat through this garbage and felt I'd been robbed. "This is a Charlie Kaufman movie for people too stupid to understand Charlie Kaufman" is a quote I've just read from Philadelphia Weekly and that is right on the money. If you want to watch a mindless so-called "existential comedy" then rent this out. Otherwise, get your hands on Eternal Sunshine, Adapation or Being John Malkovich. I've just endured two hours to see the work of a first-time screenwriter with a good hook, and I've had to apologise to my friends for making them sit through it.