Solemplex
To me, this movie is perfection.
VividSimon
Simply Perfect
Unlimitedia
Sick Product of a Sick System
Arianna Moses
Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.
DarthVoorhees
'Lookwell' is the legendary cult pilot which offers a glimpse into the comedic writing of Conan O Brien and Robert Smigel as they are developing their genius. 'Lookwell' is a lot of good ideas that I think awkwardly are meshed into the generic sitcom formula. Everything I've read about 'Lookwell' shouts that it was a victim of being ahead of it's time. I'll agree with that assessment. The problem is though that I think the sitcom prevents 'Lookwell' from utilizing Smigel's and Conan's talents. Conan was always at his height when he created odd detached characters in a heightened frenzy showcased around a comparatively bland normal world on a slower speed. Adam West is perfect for this material. He is the true draw to 'Lookwell'. I think in order to have done this right, you had to have fleshed out the world more. Everything else here is just overwhelmed by West. We have no benchmark to compare the absurdity of this character to.The problem with 'Lookwell' is that they are infatuated with Adam West. There's a great reason because he is perfect for the part. Adam West was brilliant at self parody and probably did so more than any other actor. The problem is you can't just have West self monologue the entire time. He is funnier when he glaringly stands out. And so while West is fantastic there is nothing to compare him to. No one else is really given anything to do in 'Lookwell'. I think you really needed to develop the characters of the real police officers a little more for this to work. You needed some interplay between them to distinguish how fake Ty Lookwell really is. I may be projecting my own wishes on the project but 'Lookwell' should have definitely gone darker. I think Smigel and O'Brien where too much in awe of West to make fun of him enough. You see there's a difference between being mean to the character and being mean to West. Adam West is always going to have dignity. Wouldn't it have been so much funnier if Lookwell's delusions were actually capable of hurting people? Isn't it a little too much of a convenience for Lookwell's investigations to actually end like an episode of 'Bannigan' instead of only a delusion of ending like an episode of 'Bannigan?The crime is far too absurd and convoluted too. O'Brien and Smigel should have actually consulted with a crime or mystery writer. The whole story about cars being stolen and re purposed leaves too much exposition especially in a pilot where precious time is needed to develop your characters and world.'Lookwell' is a great seed of an idea. I think 90's television had no chance of making it work. It'd be an interesting movie or cable show now but you have lost so much of it's charm with the passing of Adam West.
Fluke_Skywalker
Plot; The star of a long cancelled detective show uses his ceremonial deputy status to help the police solve crimes.With the passing of Adam West yesterday, I had planned to watch a two-parter of his classic Batman in tribute. But in reading about West I stumbled across an unsold pilot he starred in that was written and produced by Conan O'Brien and Robert Smigel. Over the years it's gained a cult status and is frequently mentioned as one of the best failed pilots of all-time. The pilot is called Lookwell, and if it's the glove, Adam West is the hand.In the last 24 hours, much has been said about how deft West's portrayal of the Caped Crusader was. With material that plays on several levels, he gives a virtuoso performance that we're only now really beginning to appreciate. That touch is on full display in this consistently amusing and intermittently clever pilot with a premise that seems tailor made for a man of West's talents. Playing the loveably oblivious Ty Lookwell, he gets to don a variety of getups and is clearly enjoying himself.This would've been a tough premise to keep up on a weekly basis, but we were sadly denied the opportunity to see Adam West display his unique talents in this equally unique show.
Horst in Translation ([email protected])
"Lookwell" is a 23-minute live action short film that was initially intended as the pilot episode for a new series, but never got picked up. The star here is probably writer Conan O'Brien, even if the director and co-writer both also have a history with the Emmy. Lead actor is Adam West many years after starring as Batman in the cult television show. Here he plays a former television star who apparently learned a lot about being a detective and about crime while he acted in his series. However, now unemployed and not getting new work in front of the camera, he becomes an actual detective and starts solving cases with the knowledge he acquired. This is probably 75% comedy and 25% drama, but to me it did not really work so well for both areas. I cannot say that I really laughed while watching this. This is also why I am a bit baffled by the short film's rating here on IMDb. Not recommended.
tommovies
Having just watched this absolute GEM HOW COULD IT NOT BE PICKED UP !!!!!! It is exceptionally rare for me to find a program that is laugh out loud funny - but this is it!!! Adam West was born to play this role The sheer absurdity of the deductive process is fantastic. If only I had the capacity to commission the series myself!!!! This could have been family guy!!! Any chance Conan and friends could be persuaded to try and resurrect this one?Turning up to the audition dressed as the character was inspired. Could have cameo appearances from Burt ward, get teamed up with Leslie Nielsen.Definitely an opportunity missed by the networks here in my opinion