Little Big Top

Although the idea of casting Sid Haig as a clown is intriguing, the character he plays is pathetic. Watching Haig chain smoke, and booze his way through 89 minutes becomes a downright tedious downer. The setting in Peru Indiana, amateur circus capital, is perfect. The acting by Haig, and always dependable Richard Riehle, is good. The problem is that there just isn't enough of a story. Such slight material of a washed up clown's attempted "recovery" from alcohol addiction might make a suitable short, but as a feature film it unacceptable. I wanted to like it, but for a film about clowns, there are minimal laughs, and the buildup to "Seymour Smiles" big performance actually goes nowhere. - MERK