Christopher Durang's brilliant play is almost a complete mess in the Robert Altman movie adaptation. Beyond Therapy is supposed to be a fast-paced farce where eccentric characters collide in a series of dinner dates and therapy sessions. The movie version fails to deliver.
The scenes from the movie are loosely strung together in a haphazard manner giving the overall movie a disjointed feeling with no ongoing throughline. The characters lack charm so you don't feel like you're rooting for them to overcome - I was just rooting for it to end. There are some memorable performances from supporting characters but Goldblum & Hagerty withered in their performances.
A much better example of the genre would be 1992's "Noises Off" from Peter Bogdanovich. Based on the play, it's a fast-paced farce with a stunning cast and timeless comedy. It's a much better way to spend your time.
The scenes from the movie are loosely strung together in a haphazard manner giving the overall movie a disjointed feeling with no ongoing throughline. The characters lack charm so you don't feel like you're rooting for them to overcome - I was just rooting for it to end. There are some memorable performances from supporting characters but Goldblum & Hagerty withered in their performances.
A much better example of the genre would be 1992's "Noises Off" from Peter Bogdanovich. Based on the play, it's a fast-paced farce with a stunning cast and timeless comedy. It's a much better way to spend your time.