This wasn't the worst thing I've ever seen. It was perfectly fine. I laughed once or twice but it wasn't bad or unfunny. The main thing that really dragged it down was the inclusion of non-actors in roles that should have been filled by actual actors. It was such a mixture of acting performances that it was jarring to watch. You put an actual actor like James Buckley next to someone who has never acted in their lives and it's like watching a bad audition. Then you have the fact that every American character is played by a British actor/comedian who just cannot do anything close to an American accent. It was all wrong and felt like there was a decent film buried in this mess of bad actors and bad accents. It was really let down by a good chunk of it's performances.
11 Reviews
The worst film ever made
crafferty-124996 December 2018
This is genuinely the worst film Ever made. I made it 18 minutes in so can't get a fair judgement I suppose. But that 18 minutes felt like a lifetime. Lead actor James whatever gives a worse performance than Melania trump acting as though she doesn't hate her husband. Honestly so bad
I would have rather pegged my b**loc*s to the washing line than watch this.
matthew-7238524 May 2017
Warning: Spoilers
"A comedy is a professional entertainment consisting of jokes and sketches, intended to make an audience laugh."
This is not a comedy because it is not funny. It should be renamed "Idiots survival guide to watching this film without dying of boredom", or 'Tragedy' as this most accurately summarizes everything about this film - tragic.
Aliens is more of a comedy. It certainly made me laugh more than this trash.
The lead character is okay. He is not funny which is the idea I guess.
The only positive thing I get from this film, is the concept that I could direct my local preschool to produce a better more entertaining show.
The lead female character is portrayed as homemaking and abusive. The strong female character is a narcissist. The supporting characters should go home. The manager is a complete moob. Character and acting.
There could have been some real moments of laugh out loud. But no. Every opportunity wasted.
I would have rather pegged my b**loc*s to the washing line than watch this.
This is not a comedy because it is not funny. It should be renamed "Idiots survival guide to watching this film without dying of boredom", or 'Tragedy' as this most accurately summarizes everything about this film - tragic.
Aliens is more of a comedy. It certainly made me laugh more than this trash.
The lead character is okay. He is not funny which is the idea I guess.
The only positive thing I get from this film, is the concept that I could direct my local preschool to produce a better more entertaining show.
The lead female character is portrayed as homemaking and abusive. The strong female character is a narcissist. The supporting characters should go home. The manager is a complete moob. Character and acting.
There could have been some real moments of laugh out loud. But no. Every opportunity wasted.
I would have rather pegged my b**loc*s to the washing line than watch this.
Funny as an antelope's elbow!
iantrader2 December 2017
It's difficult to know where to start with the list of things that are wrong with this movie.
As any comedian should know (but many don't!) simply splattering your act - or the script - with expletives is not necessarily funny. Maybe it was back in the early days of Billy Connolly but you hear this every day in the playground (alas) so it's lost any shock value (which it relied on rather than comedic value). And the rest of the (non-expletive) script just isn't funny.
The lead is as bland and as uninspiring a character as you can imagine and his persona doesn't change on stage. It's based on a book by said comedian so no wonder I haven't heard of him.
This might appeal to some comedians on an intellectual level (that is, they can see the truth in some of what happens) but if you're looking for proper laughs, guffaws or even advice you'll need to look elsewhere.
As any comedian should know (but many don't!) simply splattering your act - or the script - with expletives is not necessarily funny. Maybe it was back in the early days of Billy Connolly but you hear this every day in the playground (alas) so it's lost any shock value (which it relied on rather than comedic value). And the rest of the (non-expletive) script just isn't funny.
The lead is as bland and as uninspiring a character as you can imagine and his persona doesn't change on stage. It's based on a book by said comedian so no wonder I haven't heard of him.
This might appeal to some comedians on an intellectual level (that is, they can see the truth in some of what happens) but if you're looking for proper laughs, guffaws or even advice you'll need to look elsewhere.
Just doesn't work
Phil_Chester22 June 2019
The funniest thing about this film is how it just doesn't work, despite the presence of some of the best British comedy talent available. Clearly made very cheaply - the US material is obviously shot in the UK doubling for the US - the script misfires and the casting doesn't work, this is pretty much as disastrous a film as it can get. Avoid like the plague.
Never been so depressed watching a comedy before
marcuscengiz-8216914 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
All those big name comedy stars and this is the best they come up with? Some scenes honestly felt like an hour long with how stale and repetitive they were.
Like when your friend tells you a bad joke and they keep repeating it until you laugh but it just makes you hate them and their low tier joke even more.
The main character is clearly not funny and has no charisma or good enough jokes to be even a mediocre professional comedian so I struggled with being sympathetic towards him when he was forced to give up his "dream job" that he was clearly never good at in the first place. I don't even think Paul Kaye was acting in this, I think he was just genuinely disgusted with how bad the comedy was.
The main character is clearly not funny and has no charisma or good enough jokes to be even a mediocre professional comedian so I struggled with being sympathetic towards him when he was forced to give up his "dream job" that he was clearly never good at in the first place. I don't even think Paul Kaye was acting in this, I think he was just genuinely disgusted with how bad the comedy was.
Hilarious portrayal of a comedian's journey
jim-mackinley3 January 2017
The Comedian's Guide to Survival portrays a man struggling to succeed in one of the world's toughest industries, Stand-up Comedy. That man is James Mullinger, who is wonderfully played by James Buckley of The Inbetweeners. Buckley's comedic charm is complemented by a sense of vulnerability allowing the audience to join him on a seemingly empathetic (and hilarious) journey. Buckley delivers an excellent performance here.
The lead breaks the fourth wall in a very unique way, allowing the film to poke fun at the "breaking the fourth wall" technique. This film will surely appeal to more than just the aspiring stand-up audience as the core themes of persistence, hard work, and building strong relationships shine through.
The film's message is clear that stand-up comedy is not a profession you simply "fall into", rather an uphill battle of practice and timing that creates experiences you will not soon forget. You will certainly not forget The Comedian's Guide To Survival.
The lead breaks the fourth wall in a very unique way, allowing the film to poke fun at the "breaking the fourth wall" technique. This film will surely appeal to more than just the aspiring stand-up audience as the core themes of persistence, hard work, and building strong relationships shine through.
The film's message is clear that stand-up comedy is not a profession you simply "fall into", rather an uphill battle of practice and timing that creates experiences you will not soon forget. You will certainly not forget The Comedian's Guide To Survival.
The Comedian's Guide to Survival is absolutely hilarious! My favourite comedy of 2016 by far!
refuseliam-288-28667 December 2016
Where do I begin? The Comedian's Guide to Survival literally had me howling from start to finish, James Buckley puts in a tour de force performance as up and coming comedian James Mullinger, trying to find his footing in the world of stand up comedy, whilst balancing his day job from his demanding boss. Coming to a cross-roads, James must choose between his life long passion of stand up comedy, or losing his job entirely. This movie follows the life-affirming real life journey of comedian James Mullinger, and will have you smiling from ear to ear, with hilarious one liners, and a refreshing take on the "movie about comedians genre" Any movie that has the line "...Chowing down on a lot of producer dong!" is certainly worthy of your time. Highly recommended!
Funny stuff
acodmt19 February 2021
Well, whatever next!!
jpamullinger24 October 2021
Well I laughed and i cringed (and i wasn't too keen on some of the language), but it was illuminating - did my son really go through this? Whatever the 'clever' critics may say, he has gone on to build an amazing career with shows and in public life. Find him on Youtube, Facebook and insta.
A Survival Guide that Leads to Demise
Cem_Topuz3 March 2019
I'm a victim of "25 movies bla. bla." list on this one. The list have some other movies that are actually good and i had the idea, this one also needs a chance, but it fails spectacularly.
Not funny at all. It gives the impression that whoever made this movie tries to create a cult film with all it's characters and dialogue. That boss. Are you serious?? What a bad caricature!
The lead character had interviews with "famous" -i guess- comedians that I don't know if they are real or fabricated. And movie is so miserably portrays them that it didn't engage you to look out for them. If they really exist or what's their material sounds like. They represented pretty boring.
So, nothing to see here, just turn around and forget about this guide which if watched completely could eventually kill you by boredom.
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