Humor Me Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Humor Me Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 29, 2018

Writer/director Sam Hoffman plays it safe with the plot of “Humor Me,” his directorial debut, making a movie about the arrested development of a man facing substantial responsibilities, moving in with his father for a free room and to find some clarity. However, formula is thinned out by personality, with Hoffman generating appealing characterizations, putting the players through amusing challenges as he hunts for significance in the dramedy. As the title suggests, there’s plenty of levity and passive-aggressive behavior to enjoy, and Hoffman secures success with the pairing of leads Jemaine Clement and Elliot Gould, who pull off an itchy family dynamic with terrific timing, bringing heart and laughs to “Humor Me,” which benefits greatly from their unique talents.

Nate (Jemaine Clement) was once a celebrated playwright, now struggling with writer’s block, losing backing for his latest work, which doesn’t have an ending. Nate comes home to find his wife, Nirit (Maria Dizzia), leaving him for a French billionaire, taking their young son with her for the summer. Without a source of income, Nate elects to move in with his father, Bob (Elliot Gould), for the season, unaware what life in the retirement community of Cranberry Bog is really like. Trying to focus on his writing, Nate instead goes on a journey of self, tasked with terrible jobs to make some money, also meeting the locals, hatching a plan to stage “The Mikado” with the community theater troupe. Dealing with creative issues, Nate tries to find some clarity with his dysfunctional family, learning more about Bob and his secrets, while his own romantic interests are enlivened by Allison (Ingrid Michaelson), another troubled offspring seeking sanctuary inside Cranberry Bog.

“Humor Me” deals directly with comedic storytelling, as Bob is a practiced joke-teller, using silliness to charm others, often detailing disaster stories featuring a character called Zimmerman (Joey Slotnick). The jokes are showcased as black and white vignettes, exploring Bob’s imagination and detail when trying to sell a punchline, also giving the effort a little room to breathe as it examines the tight confines of Bob’s apartment, which is home to the retiree and his specific interests and needs, including a fridge stocked with diet cream soda. As Nate’s world crumbles, he finds his way back to his father, forced to swallow his pride and fix his creative block, with Hoffman introducing a slight “Odd Couple” dynamic to the pairing, complicated by the presence of Bob’s girlfriend, Connie (Priscilla Lopez), and Nate’s anxiety around Randy (Erich Bergen), his younger, more successful brother.

“Humor Me” enjoys obvious misadventures for Nate, who’s the odd man out at Cranberry Bog, dealing with golf carts and hostile residents. He’s forced to accept menial labor to make a buck, dealing with Ellis (Willie C. Carpenter), an ex-military man now in charge of custodial services, ultimately finding inspiration in the Cranberry Bog theater troupe, who’s in need of a pro to help shape a stable production. The arc of Nate as the director of “The Mikado” is something out of a sitcom, complete with rascally seniors for stars (including Annie Potts), but Hoffman doesn’t remain with the obvious for very long, working to find strangeness in the situation, which includes sexual interest from Helen (Le Clanche du Rand), a forward 80-year-old, and warmth is introduced with Allison, who’s also stuck in the Bog, albeit for slightly more severe personal reasons. The pairing of Nate and Allison happens slowly, and it doesn’t consume “Humor Me,” taking it easy as two fried individuals connect through a shared interest in hope. Hoffman handles predictability with care, making sure personalities come through clearly, which helps to save scenes that would otherwise be insufferable.

Humor Me Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation supplies a fresh, inviting look at HD cinematography highlights, leading with crisp detail throughout, picking up on signs of aging and unrest, along with set decoration details around the retirement community. Outdoor adventures are dimensional. Touchable textures are maintained on clothing. Colors are buoyant, and while the palette is intentionally reserved with beige and gray to reflect the neutral atmosphere of Cranberry Bog, blasts of more active hues retain their energy, including the climatic reveal of the "Mikado," which carries deep reds. Greenery is inviting. Skintones are natural. Delineation is secure.

Humor Me Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix isn't an incredibly active listening event, but the essentials are crisply defined. Dialogue exchanges are full and expressive, comfortably measured as gentle conversations and argumentative exchanges sustain intent without distortion. Scoring handles well, offering sharp instrumentation and position. While surrounds aren't exploited in full, music pushes out on occasion, while fresh atmospherics and crowd response generate a circular feel.

Humor Me Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features writer/director Sam Hoffman and producer Courtney Potts.

• Deleted Scenes (5:16, HD) include Nate taking the ride to live with Bob, a disastrous cast meeting with the senior performers, a shower fantasy for Nate that ends abruptly, and his visit to his mother's grave (interestingly, the production uses a real headstone, which is blurred, as the canvas for future CGI work).

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:45, HD) is included.

Humor Me Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Offering a story about seniors, "Humor Me" goes exactly where most of these movies go, but medical issues are tempered by focus, with Hoffman remaining on Nate's maturation and self-inspection instead of teary confessions. The helmer doesn't go harsh, instead trying to bring Nate and Bob together, both dealing with the death of a wife and mother who inspired so much in their lives. As a journey of awakening, the picture gets far with sincerity, aided by Clement, who successfully expands his dramatic reach while selling the stuffing out of deadpan reactions to everyday humiliations, and Gould is appealing as a dad who's worried about his son, but also wrestling with hidden shame. "Humor Me" gets serious, but it earns the tonal change, never too far away from bits of quirk and behavioral comedy that keep the effort engaging, sensitive, and periodically hilarious.