Fool's Paradise

Fool's Paradise

A down-on-his-luck publicist discovers a recently released mental health patient who looks just like a misbehaving movie star. The publicist subs him into a film, creating a new star. But fame and fortune are not all they are cracked up to be.

  • Released: 2023-05-12
  • Runtime: 97 minutes
  • Genre: Comedy
  • Stars: Kate Beckinsale, John Malkovich, Jason Sudeikis, Edie Falco, Jillian Bell, Adrien Brody, Ray Liotta, Ken Jeong, Dean Norris, Katherine McNamara, Jason Bateman, Common, Jimmi Simpson, Glenn Howerton, Charlie Day, Steve Coulter, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Artemis Pebdani, Drew Droege
  • Director: Charlie Day
 Comments
  • nerrdrage - 6 April 2024
    good idea, terrrrrible execution
    I got maybe 30 minutes into this movie before I couldn't take it anyone. I love It's Always Sunny and Charlie Day, and I see what he was going for - a revival of the childlike Charlie Chaplin/Monsieur Hulot naif who stumbles through an insane world - but this just didn't work.

    Maybe the Hollywood satire needed to be sharper. The Western they were filming for example looked like something that wouldn't even work on TV nowadays. A modern Western would be dark, angsty and self-important, not a silly farce.

    How about making it a TV series along the lines of Yellowstone instead, which would be self-important and ripe for satire in another way, with Sir Whoever slumming it and ruining everything? Whatever the solution was, I didn't want to slog through the rest of it.
  • voutasaurus - 5 February 2024
    Deeply cynical playtime
    The central thesis of this movie is that everybody sucks. They're all cruel, indifferent, judgemental, insane, useless grifters. The movie makes clear immediately that this thesis is not limited to Hollywood. The inciting incident is doctors taking a man who needs help and kicking him onto the street.

    And is this thesis not correct? Do we not do these horrible things? Do we not treat each other like garbage?

    This movie isn't funny. It's deeply sad. Even finding friendship at the end feels like a broken hallelujah.

    It's not a great movie. I think if you're expecting to see a fun goofy movie full of gags and bits and wit you're probably going to think this movie is terrible.

    But if you're expecting to come away thinking "oh yeah I guess everybody really *is* completely up their own ass and we just have to deal with that" then it's watchable, and even a bit cathartic.
  • hrqgskms - 13 January 2024
    Watch it in black and white
    Fool's Paradise is a satirical comedy that pays homage to the silent film era and the genius of Charlie Chaplin. The film follows the misadventures of Latte Pronto (Charlie Day), a mute man who is mistaken for a method actor and becomes a Hollywood star. Along the way, he encounters a variety of eccentric characters, such as a scheming publicist (Ken Jeong), a glamorous actress (Kate Beckinsale), and a ruthless producer (Ray Liotta).

    The film is a hilarious and heartfelt tribute to Chaplin's filmmaking style, featuring physical comedy, social commentary, visual storytelling, and sentimentality. Day's performance as Pronto is reminiscent of Chaplin's iconic character, the Tramp, as he portrays innocence, resilience, and a touch of pathos. The film also makes clever use of black and white cinematography, which enhances the nostalgic and artistic appeal of the story.

    Fool's Paradise is a must-watch for fans of Charlie Chaplin and silent film comedy. It is a rare gem that combines laughter and emotion, while celebrating the legacy of one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. Watch it in black and white and with subtitles on. It's amazing!