"Brain Candy" is a great film... it's surpassed all my expectations, and I'm a huge fan of the Kids' TV show. However, many people - including others TV fans - didn't admire the approach the five took to their feature debut. First, it is not an out-and-out "wacky" comedy - the laughs are subtle and steady, relying more on character and atmosphere than punchlines (though there are some classic punchlines). Free of the constraints of TV, the film also indulges in some of the darkest humor the Kids ever deployed. All five turn in great performances, though David Foley, while appearing throughout, has a little less to do than the others (punishment for not contributing to the screenplay in lieu of work on "NewsRadio"... perhaps his cut scenes and characters will make it to a future "Deluxe Video" or DVD version). Plus, it is very brave for them to write a comedy which did not rely on using all their old, well-known TV characters... a lesson "Saturday Night Live" could stand to learn. As a side note, Mark McKinney's portrayl of pharmaceutical magnate Don Roritor is a not-at-all-disguised lampoon of "SNL" producer Lorne Michaels. A great, sadly underappreciated gem of a film. A must for those with a taste for bizarre humor!
Review of Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy
