"The Funny Farm" tells the tale of Mark Champlin (Miles Chapin, "Get Crazy"), a fresh-faced kid from Cleveland who comes to L. A. to find fame as a stand-up comic. He finds employment at the title comedy club, which is owned by Harvey (Derek McGrath, "Freaked") and run by Gail (Oscar nominee Eileen Brennan of "Private Benjamin" fame). He also finds a girlfriend in waitress / aspiring actress Amy (the adorable and sexy Tracey E. Bregman, "The Concrete Jungle").
Although set in the States, you can tell this was largely filmed in Montreal. However, despite a budget-conscious approach to the material, "The Funny Farm" does win you over through sheer likability. It's an engaging film that does a nice job of portraying the fickle nature of fame, and the struggle of young comics struggling to make a name for themselves.
Granted, a lot of the routines by the comedy talent here are basically decent at best, although sometimes they do generate some real laughter. Peter Aykroyd (Dans' younger brother) is a standout in terms of performance as Stephen; also turning up are a typically goofy Howie Mandel ('St. Elsewhere'), Jack Blum ("Meatballs"), Maurice LaMarche (who's had an extensive career in voice-over work), Mike MacDonald ("Loose Screws"), Eugene Clark ("Land of the Dead"), and Howard Busgang ("Terror Train"). Veteran comic Jack Carter ("Alligator") contributes a vivid guest star appearance as a comedy star who disrespects the new generation of comics; Steve Allen makes a fleeting, priceless appearance as well.
"The Funny Farm" is no great shakes as a movie; in fact, it doesn't really have much of a story. But it has enough going for it, especially for those thinking of making a living at comedy, to rate it as a reasonably engrossing picture.
Six out of 10.
