Let me start off by saying I love Jay Pharoah and Kat Williams, but this film fell flat as a pancake. I really was hoping that it would be a doubled-over, side hurting, laughing out loud, crying tears comedy. But it was such a let down because given the cast my expectations were set high. I just feel as though this film was made just so we could see Sinbad, George Wallace, Lunell all in one film. Being from Birmingham, AL myself I have to admit I was a bit insulted and confused. It just felt like it was only where he (Jay Pharoah) was from for the purpose of being a punchline. But on the contrary Birmingham is where many black comics get their start i.e. Ricky Smiley, Roy Wood Jr. to name a couple. I really like Jay Pharoah but I am past his impressions at this point. They're good but not as funny anymore. All in all this was a mediocre film at best and I wish they (all the comics) could have been seen in a better movie.

The Sky Movies alphabetical lists gods again chose for me this weekend, this time decreeing that I should watch "2 Minutes of Fame", a film from only a few months ago that was (I'd assume) denied a wider release by the Covid and snapped up by Sky Movies in search of content. Whilst certain performances in the film are decent, overall, it's swamped by a boring and indecisive story.

Deandre (Jay Pharoah) is a supermarket employee struggling to provide for his family, but whose passions lie in making Youtube videos of his comedy stylings, particularly him taking shots at sell out comedian Marques (Katt Williams). When his videos get some traction, he's invited to L.A to participate in a Stand-up competition but this exposure results in Marques seeing an opportunity for revenge.

I liked Jay Pharoah in this, Deandre is a likable character (despite the fact he's prepared to cheat on his girlfriend) and his standup and impressions are really good. I also liked Andy Allo, who was in "Upload" earlier this year and Keke Palmer who I eventually realised I recognised from "Scream Queens". Both their roles have an element of Cliché about them, but again they manage to remain likable. I have to be honest and say that I didn't know who Katt Williams was, prior to looking up the film online, so subsequently understanding that there's probably some close-to-home elements in his character does add another level.

The trouble with the film is that it flirts with having a plot, without ever really committing to one. Deandre isn't a wild success on the competition, the stumbling block that befalls him in the final is overcome within minutes, he doesn't get to fire back at Marques after he embarrasses him during a show, he doesn't fully cheat on his family or struggle that much to win them back. It's not a story of redemption, or betrayal, or cream rising to the top - it's not a story at all, it's just a few days in Deandre's life - and whilst it made me laugh a couple of times, it never made me care.