5 reviews
Upon Watching this show for the first time I had not heard of Marc Wootton nor seen any prior advertising about it. However this show proved to be a masterclass in clever, witty, improvised comedy.
La La Land has a simple premise with Wootton letting loose his three comedy creations (all of which are seeking fame and fortune) on the unsuspecting residents of L.A. Of course Sacha Baron Cohen has already covered similar ground with both 'Borat' and 'Bruno', so it could be suggested that this show lacks in originality and that is partially true. However, do not let that put you off as Wootton really does bring something new to the table with three very funny characters and a brilliant mocking of the L.A culture.
As for the characters, this is where this show really delivers. Gary Garner, Shirley Ghostman and Brendan Allen have some similarities with each being Brits, completely inept, utterly deluded and importantly very funny.
Gary Garner is a former East London Cabbie turned wannabe actor, who claims to be 'the next big thing you haven't heard of yet' and models himself on Hardman 'Jason Stratham'. He is living with Hollywood legend Ruta Lee while in L.A and the exchanges between the two are particularly funny with Lee becoming ever more exasperated. Garner without doubt proves to be the most amusing creation with Wootton playing the Brash, ignorant but still earnest cabbie to perfection.
Shirley Ghostman is a rogue Physcic trying to become 'America's new Physcic superstar'. He has been banned from the U.K due to making false claims about a missing girl and being caught out in a Newspaper sting. Ghostman appears to be in denial about his sexuality despite being particularly camp and often being caught in compromising situations such as viewing gay pornography or suggesting a meeting to take place at a Public Toilets. Wootton plays Ghostman almost worryingly well and the characters real nasty/bitchy streak works great.
Brendan Allen is a 'documentary film maker' who is clearly passionate but idea's often seemed flawed. His bizarre idea's provide the main source of comedy, such as, his insistence on filming a documentary in a single take or his view that cages have never been used to help film sharks underwater and his attempt to become the 'right wing Michael Moore'. Allen is the epitome of ineptitude and provides the audience with many laughs.
Many have commented that Wootton is the 'new Sacha Baron Cohen', others have suggested he's a pale imitation, but it is entirely unfair to compare the two with Wootton a relative newcomer and both undoubtedly doing a brilliant job of improvisational comedy. If you enjoyed either 'Borat' or 'Bruno' or just like clever, innovative comedy then this show is for you.
La La Land has a simple premise with Wootton letting loose his three comedy creations (all of which are seeking fame and fortune) on the unsuspecting residents of L.A. Of course Sacha Baron Cohen has already covered similar ground with both 'Borat' and 'Bruno', so it could be suggested that this show lacks in originality and that is partially true. However, do not let that put you off as Wootton really does bring something new to the table with three very funny characters and a brilliant mocking of the L.A culture.
As for the characters, this is where this show really delivers. Gary Garner, Shirley Ghostman and Brendan Allen have some similarities with each being Brits, completely inept, utterly deluded and importantly very funny.
Gary Garner is a former East London Cabbie turned wannabe actor, who claims to be 'the next big thing you haven't heard of yet' and models himself on Hardman 'Jason Stratham'. He is living with Hollywood legend Ruta Lee while in L.A and the exchanges between the two are particularly funny with Lee becoming ever more exasperated. Garner without doubt proves to be the most amusing creation with Wootton playing the Brash, ignorant but still earnest cabbie to perfection.
Shirley Ghostman is a rogue Physcic trying to become 'America's new Physcic superstar'. He has been banned from the U.K due to making false claims about a missing girl and being caught out in a Newspaper sting. Ghostman appears to be in denial about his sexuality despite being particularly camp and often being caught in compromising situations such as viewing gay pornography or suggesting a meeting to take place at a Public Toilets. Wootton plays Ghostman almost worryingly well and the characters real nasty/bitchy streak works great.
Brendan Allen is a 'documentary film maker' who is clearly passionate but idea's often seemed flawed. His bizarre idea's provide the main source of comedy, such as, his insistence on filming a documentary in a single take or his view that cages have never been used to help film sharks underwater and his attempt to become the 'right wing Michael Moore'. Allen is the epitome of ineptitude and provides the audience with many laughs.
Many have commented that Wootton is the 'new Sacha Baron Cohen', others have suggested he's a pale imitation, but it is entirely unfair to compare the two with Wootton a relative newcomer and both undoubtedly doing a brilliant job of improvisational comedy. If you enjoyed either 'Borat' or 'Bruno' or just like clever, innovative comedy then this show is for you.
To the reviewer above who says its a knock off of Sasha Baron Cohen...
You don't know what you are talking about. If you bothered doing any research you will know that Marc Wootton was doing this AGES ago with the even better Cyderdelic, My Best Friend and Shirley Ghostman. Don't get me wrong....Cohen is very good but Marc Wootton is better. Check out his other stuff and tell me I'm wrong - you wont regret it.
La La Land isn't quite as good as his previous stuff but its still absolutely hilarious. Just far too many bits to mention here!
You don't know what you are talking about. If you bothered doing any research you will know that Marc Wootton was doing this AGES ago with the even better Cyderdelic, My Best Friend and Shirley Ghostman. Don't get me wrong....Cohen is very good but Marc Wootton is better. Check out his other stuff and tell me I'm wrong - you wont regret it.
La La Land isn't quite as good as his previous stuff but its still absolutely hilarious. Just far too many bits to mention here!
- NickDeckard
- Jan 5, 2018
- Permalink
Writing another quick review here because...one of the episodes features (by accident) a certain Tommy Wiseau of The Room fame and more lately The Disaster Artist.
Just buy this and see! "I am an American!"
Just buy this and see! "I am an American!"
- NickDeckard
- Aug 18, 2018
- Permalink
Marc Wooton is a genius. From My New Best friend to High Spirits with Shirley Ghostman to La La Land. Wooton is fearless and comedy gold. GET IT WATCHED !
- LordOfTheThundercats
- Nov 24, 2019
- Permalink
First off, it's true that this show is more or less a knock off of Sasha Baron Cohen's routine, playing characters in real situations with real people. It shouldn't be held against the show that 'it's been done before', because in fairness, it's a schtick that can only be pulled off by any one person for so long before the non-anonymity of the characters makes it impossible; so seeing La La Land as a continuation of a genre, rather than a rip-off, is the show worth watching? I'd say yes. It's got a much darker humor than SBC's routine, and this show actually presents something quite different than Ali G. or Borat or Bruno did--- rather than 'shocking people', Wooten instead shows more nuanced reaction slowly rising up to full unease. And unlike some of SBC's routines, where the ignorance or stupidity of the American public is exposed, we see the good side of a lot of people, and it's actually quite nice to see Wooten's characters confronted (rather than simply bamboozled) by his 'victims'.
The show seems quite short; it's best to watch a bunch of episodes at once (it takes an episode or two for me to ease into the humor of it). This isn't the greatest comedy in the world, but it's pretty funny if you like your humor dark and quite varied, from subtle uneasy to brashly overstated.
The show seems quite short; it's best to watch a bunch of episodes at once (it takes an episode or two for me to ease into the humor of it). This isn't the greatest comedy in the world, but it's pretty funny if you like your humor dark and quite varied, from subtle uneasy to brashly overstated.
- I_saw_it_happen
- Jun 12, 2010
- Permalink