UnpretentiousNormie

The team of Farrell and Reilly is hit or miss for me, but I enjoyed this movie. It helps that I have loved England and Sherlock Holmes stories from childhood. If I was expecting to see impeccable writing and execution, I'd have watched Gatiss/Cumberbatch/Freeman et alii, but I knew what I was in for with this. It delivered what you'd think - references to Holmes, Watson and Mycroft's relationships, the grime of that period of time in England, tongue-in-cheek performances from renowned actors, and slapstick humor from Farrell and Reilly. I think too many reviews here are either clutching their pearls because they disagree with some political statements in the film, or don't know enough about the Holmes stories to appreciate the silliness. Give it a chance, it is a light silly comedy.

I was a teen when I first saw this movie, but I was never into metal so a number of the jokes and situations completely whooshed over my head. Now that I've had more life experience, read up on bands, known rock band-adjacent people, lifestyles and groupies, learned about the comedy stars that make subtle cameos in the movie, and actually got to see the Tap in concert, the movie's formerly hidden comedic observations have been exposed to me and I appreciate them thoroughly. If someone doesn't find this movie funny, it is possible they just don't understand the rock world or need a more rounded out world view. Not saying that as an insult, just saying some humor needs more life/fan experience to be fully appreciated. A lot of the humor can be appreciated at face value, but the genius in this is the fact that it has so many layers to it that everyone can find at least some humor in it and the more you understand that world, the more you will plumb its depths and laugh yourself silly. If you watched it once and didn't fully get it, try it after some years and see if your understanding has grown. You might thank me later.

The best thing about this film was its soundtrack. The sex scenes weren't sexy, the other scenes dragged on far too long (hire an editor next time please), and it had some infatuation with strobish lights every so often, so if you have problems with flashing lights making you sick, be prepared to look away a few times.

This is basically a version of the story of every failed Los Angeles wannabe lead guitarist crashing on the gullible girlfriend's couch until she gets sick of him being abusive, neglectful and sponging off of her until she finally kicks him out, but set in France and told reallllllly sloooooowly.

Not a mystery, not a horror (except to women who live through these bad choices in men), not entertaining. Save yourself before Simon kills your free time which is better spent on a different film.