In my end of the year cram to watch as many movies as I possibly can in a run-up to grading all of them in a couple days, I watched two “cult” comedies I was only barely aware of when they hit theaters early in 2013. [Cult seems to growing into an operative word meaning “only 100 people on Earth will like this.”]
Somebody Up There Likes Me…Drowning in whimsy and hipster mannerisms is this non-sensical deadpan comedy that thinks all the actors delivering their lines with no affect is hilarious. [Maybe it is…for ten minutes.] The lead character is a dope that can’t age because of a magic suitcase…never explained. Nick Offerman shows up as his friend, and has some choice lines, but this movie is only 70 minutes long (any movie like that gets points deducted) but still feels overlong. It’s a half-hour sketch dragged out to unbearable lengths. Grade: D
John Dies at the End…This more successful fantasy comedy has a plot revolving around a meat monster, a drug called soy sauce, a Paul Giamatti cameo, and—-oh hell, if you’re an immature guy who really likes Josh Whedon, watch this movie. Grade: C+