Hot Air

That the Coogan character's searing indictment of aspects of modern American life might not go down so well with some viewers and reviewers, regardless of their political persuasion, kinda proves his point.

Now I both love Steve Coogan and I tend to be easily-drawn to sentimental schmaltzy stuff I wasn't too agreived of the lack of any real political satire in this incredulous farce. I was charmed by the lovely characters wearing away at the hard heart of our comedian's comedian doing a questionable somewhere-in-the-USA accent. In fact the gutteral rasping was so indeterminate that it was both a bad American accent, but also a bad English one! There's nothing original in the political narrative of the Trump-era culture wars, but some great character driven comedy, a manic pace going nowhere, which gets all jumbled up with random action sequences, extended human interest and skin curdling cringe-inducing romantic bits... which both terrified me but also had me blubbering by the titles. So, in summary it was because of, not despite of its weird flawed hubris that really liked it.

The main character used to do a show in Britain were he was an old radio guy, and it was pretty darn funny. So now I'll watch anything with him in it.

Steve Coogan's conservative talk show character is portrayed as intelligent, clever, and witty. Yes, he's also an angry schmuck, but he's definitely not a "cartoon" or a two-dimensional character. Interestingly, the liberal protestor character who winds up on Coogan's talk radio show is portrayed as a genuine dolt; you would think the conservative folks with the one-star "reviews" would have loved that, but that would require some thinking on their part. They are here just to bash the film, no matter how nuanced it is. Is it a great film? No, the script is quite flawed in spots, not the least of which is a cringe-worthy cornball ending, but overall it is a decent film. Coogan is superb (no surprise there) and most of the other performances are excellent. The speech Coogan's character delivers at the end of his TV appearance is scathing and pretty much spot on about today's culture and society. Again, you would think the "conservatives" would love it, but they only love attacks presented in black and white; if they are included in the critique, then the entire thing must be some "liberal propaganda" garbage. That's the reactionary, oh excuse me, "conservative" way.

***Hot Air is really about a 6 star film, but I upped my rating to offset the bashing from the snowflake reactionaries.

Of course everyone is looking for another Alan Partridge character, but Mr Coogan wants to move on, and is trying different rôles and different locations (where better than a spell in New York?).

He has decorated the set with a interesting, challenging young woman (who he knows everyone will sympathise with), and gives one of the best summaries of our current circumstances too.