Did you ever wonder what the people on Mr. Show were like when they were in their twenties? TV the Movie might give you a pretty good idea. The film revolves around a couple of producers who are trying to score some cash to avoid foreclosure on their house. The two guys work for a cable access show called The Adam Bomb Show, a Tom Green-like talk show… that actually exists. Their solution to their cash flow problem? Make a movie about the TV show… hence TV the Movie.

The film is done in a stunning, faux documentary style that will have your head spinning and keep you wondering what’s real and what isn’t. The cast assembled are all actual crew members of The Adam Bomb Show and the chemistry exhibited by the public access cadre is exceptional and their familiarity with each other works quite well for the fake doc style affected by the film.

The film plays out like a combination documentary, sketch comedy show, and bizarre reality show. The effect is rough around the edges, but chock full of a surprising amount of charismatic people and performances. The story is a little off track and clunky, but if you have the ability to sit back and enjoy the film, its sarcastic and at times tongue in cheek flavor is well worth a watch.
Low-budget films like this hardly ever work, but TV the Movie has something special about it. Frankly, it feels as if it was made by real people with some actual heart, instead of hack fucking writers and producers who are just trying to cash in on some perceived trend. The movie isn’t made to appeal to any particular demographic… it’s just made.

The humor in the film is State-esque, for those of you that remember MTV’s short-lived and more complex than it appeared, sketch comedy show. Some of the humor is surreal and ridiculous, such as one scene involving a dude following a guide to eating an apple. Then there are your more traditional moments, such as the hilariously awesome Sasquatch P.I. skit.

The biggest problem with the film is the relative inexperience of the writing. The writing doesn’t take into account typical things like the audience’s knowledge of the background of the film, which is simply taken for granted. It also doesn’t smooth any of the edges of the film or provide transitions that are effective. Each moment simply bleeds into the next, with about as much coherency as Keith Richards after an all night bender. Some would argue that it’s part of the film’s charm, but the film would be even more charming if the kinks in the writing were worked out.

The end product isn’t nearly as polished as it could be, but the film shows a hell of a lot of potential. For a first foray into movie making the film is quite impressive, humor-wise and regarding the technical aspects of filmmaking. There are some truly hilarious moments found here and there as well as some intriguing, head scratching moments. There’s no doubt that if these guys stick together and keep working at their craft that they will produce something that will scar the consciousness of pop culture eventually.

Final Synopsis: TV the Movie is a pleasure to watch. The film flies by in a blur of nonsensical and hilarious moments. With a little more polish and some better transitions, it could be even better.

Points Lost: -1 for weak transitions, -1 for some weak writing in a few areas, -1 for assuming prior knowledge of the film’s background, which is quite disorienting at the beginning of the film

Lesson Learned: Title cards are not always the best way to move your story along.

Burning Question: Can you skip without laughing?

TV the Movie
7/10

Check out TV the Movie's Myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/tvthemovie08