What an absolute joy of a film! Someone showed this in movie club at an old job a few years back and I was instantly charmed.
It's so funny, romantic and full of catchy jams while being absolutely fekkin' Irish. To be clear I also mean romantic beyond the rom-com angle: so much of it is about opening yourself up to ridicule by pursuing your dreams and about being someone who starts things instead of stopping them. Lots of heart-on-sleeve…
+ Took some genre turns I was not expecting that really, really worked for me
+ Some really charming long form discussions between the two leads who are just buzzing with chemistry
+ A very high concept narrative buoyed by some great practical effects
- Some of the CGI definitely showed the budget constraints
- Spends perhaps a bit too much time idling about which leads to some kinda rushed exposition dumps late in the game
- Makes me pine desperately for a vacation to Bari, Italy
+ The despiciable horror world underbelly displayed in the film is done so remarkably well
+ I always love a good The King in Yellow-style riff of art so wild as to break minds
+ Udo Kier and his pet moviestar both absolutely bring it
- Norman Reedus really has some Tommy Wiseau energy going on in this one
- For as much hyped as the film-within-a-film is there's nothing too crazy shown
- The wrapper story of the lost wife and vengeful stepfather is a bit undercooked
