ChanBot
i must have seen a different film!!
Glucedee
It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.
Mathilde the Guild
Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.
Guy Lanoue
This little gem is structured and unfolds like an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel (complete with continual Gatsby-esque references to Hamptons-like settings), which we are informed at the very beginning when the two principal characters, Kline and Dano, are introduced as lovers of and teachers of Gatsby period literature. I don't quite understand some of the negative comments in other reviews, since this offbeat character study is well-scripted and certainly well executed with Dano, Kline, and Riley. The only problem I can see is the lack of a back story at the beginning that explains the many quirks upon which rest the narration and the character development. SPOILER: Are we so jaded by Hollywood banality that we can't wait till the end of the film to see that Kline's character Henry has been telling the truth about himself all along, that he is a Rosenkavalier (the theme is underscored by the subplot whether or not the young Louis will marry the old rich woman's niece)? The end, in fact, cleverly establishes the ambiguity that seems to dominate the movie, but in fact is a precise and well-targeted resolution. In fact, it is the contrast between the apparently shallow lifestyle to which he aspires with all his parasitical schemes and his brutal honesty throughout (for example, admitting that he is manoeuvring his roommate Dano/Louis Ives merely to get a ride) is what carries the psychological mechanics of the movie. This is made clear at the end by several scenes and twists, which I won't reveal here. In the end, we see that the socialite salon society to which the Extra Man aspires (extra, as in making up the balance in the boy-girl equilibrium of dinner parties) is not really lampooned nor the subject of parody, but is in fact a viable space where people can be just as real as anyone else who wears jeans and baseball caps – vain and narcissistic, yes, but also generous, honest, self-sacrificing and especially capable of living according to a strict code that obliges self-honesty in the midst of meaningless rituals of chivalric obligation and politeness. This film can also been seen as a kind of Bildungssroman, a voyage of exploration of a young acolyte at the hands of an older mentor, with a twist of course, since the young man in this case explores sexual paths not sanctioned by the older Kline. Yet in the end we are not sure if the older mentor or the younger disciple or even the court jester (Riley) is the motivating force for self-awareness. The film works on many levels, obviously, and this in large because the minimalist script is very efficient and in part because the actors are great. Worth the time and intellectual investment (helps to watch at least partly aware and awake). Kline should be applauded for an intelligent performance that transforms quirks, weirdness, and eccentricity into a believable portrait of warped but very real idealism.
Tony Rome
I have not seen Kevin Kline as funny as he is here in "The Extra Man," since his Oscar winning "A Fish Called Wanda," I thought he would be hysterical as Artemus Gordon in "The Wild Wild West," but I was terribly mistaken. Kline redeems his comic traits in "The Extra Man," the character is zany, and eccentric, fully of mystery, and entertaining stories. His young protégé is also entertaining, with humor, and drama. I thought John C. Riley's performance was quite hilarious, even if it is a small role. The 3 mens antics as a team are funny as well as touching. I would definitely recommend this film be seen. *****
sprimeau
I have never written a review because there are usually enough to give a somewhat fair representation of what a film is like. But today, I am making an exception because after viewing 20 minutes of this God awful trash, I took a peek at the reviews here and I am convinced they were written by shills. There is absolutely no way, NO WAY, a sane human being can give this more than 4 stars. I say 4 even though I gave it 1 because I am allowing for individual preferences.This is seriously the worst trash I have seen in a long time. The reviews here, the 8s and 9s and 10s... Are you kidding me? Watch this movie at your own risk. Do your self a favor before you do and make sure that there are no sharp objects around, no rope and absolutely no gun. Oh, and be sure to watch it from a 1-storey bungalow... in a house that has an electric oven, not gas. The temptation to off yourself will be much too great.
drawsroundankles
I feel it to be my civic duty to express my opinion to spare the innocent people the agony of enduring this very forgettable train-wreck. The fact that this film was ever classified as a comedy, I will never understand, I didn't see so much as even a chuckle. It took a while , but finally Paul Glaser, Christian Ford, and Roger Soffer can pick their heads back up. This box office flop makes Kazaam look like CaddyShack. What were Sheri Springer Bernan and Robert Pulcini thinking? The entire plot of the Jonathan Ames novel is absent of any true substance. How they thought that it would ever transfer to big screen well is beyond my comprehension. The only good that may ever come from this film would be if president Obama implemented it as a prescription for insomnia sufferers, that would cut the national deficit for sure. Anyone who voluntarily associated themselves with the production of this garbage owes a sincere public apology. Redbox owes me a dollar for stocking the flop! You owe it to yourself to skip this extreme waste of time!
