The Jimmy Show (2002)

for directing this unusual film, having read the other reviews, I agree that, while this is not a "feel-good" movie, it is more of a character study, and as long as you don't picture yourself living his life, you won't get depressed.But isn't that the point of a good film?. It could be, or has been something similar to our own life. We all relate to a loser boss, and co-employee Ethan Hawke is excellent. When Whaley gets in trouble at work, Hawke has mentioned to the boss that beer was missing. Whaley says ..."did you also mention that you smoke an ounce of pot a day before coming to work?"... Hawke: "No, it didn't come up"!. They work at a Tops/Costco supermarket, and it is certainly believable that people working there would need mind-altering substances!.We see Whaley's general sense of alienation; Whaley also takes care of his grandmother, played by Lynn Cohen. His creative release, and hope for a better life, is at the Laughing Stock, where he tries to do stand up comedy. I was reminded of the film "Punchline", (circa 1989), which was of a similar vein, Tom Hanks as the tragic-comic protagonist. Carla Gugino plays the wife, and is realistic.While it is not a "feel-good" movie it is a realistic portrayal of an average guy, there are some funny scenes like where he works at an Indian fast-food restaurant, and also selling fireplaces (very funny)... it is an original character study worth watching. You will especially relate to this film if you are from the metro NJ/NY area.

I found it more depressing than funny. I was looking for more humor than sadness. It's it turns out to be very very sad. Everything turns for the worst for Jimmy. Everything that happens to Jimmy gets more and more depressing. He gets fired from the grocery job. He doesn't get any laughs at the comedy clubs. He keeps getting fired from his jobs. His wife leaves him. His grandma can't move on her own. His insurance is canceled. He is unable to buy his grandma's pills. It's all so sad. I only laughed twice and that's when his friend was moving boxes on the cart and they fall over twice. It's sad to see what happens to him and how he reacts to everything.

I think "depressing" is definitely the best word for this movie. After seeing it once, I was not only saddened, but downright angry that anyone would make a movie that made me feel this way.After masochistically making myself see it again, I grew to appreciate it somewhat more. The fact is, the movie does what it does very well; unfortunately, what it does is show us the story of a man whose life just outright sucks. He's a terrible comedian who can't say anything funny, he's a slightly alcoholic husband who can't support his family, and he's a lousy worker in a lousy job who can't make ends meet. The only person Jimmy sticks by is his grandmother, who ironically is the source of many of the disasters in his life.In summary, I have to say it's a well made movie, but if you watch it, be prepared to be uncomfortable with life for a while.

... Must admit well acted, but "dark" & depressing film portraying a wannabe stand-up "comic" .... with no clue toward humour. Viewed this film at The Stony Brook Film Festival. One of a "book-end" weekend topping off another Frank Whaley vehicle ... "The Pursuit of Happiness". Frank (and his brother Robert, as his Tops boss Mr. Slocum) & his buddy Ethan Hawke stand out in this film as hopeless "common men" ... stuck in a rut of Life's problems and of no seeing any chance of rising above it. Frank (Jimmy O'Brien) sees a calling as a stand up comic, but a mix of stage fright and overwhelming domestic problems, put him in a trance, undermining a "true" escape from his downward spiraling Life. See it for the acting (which is top notch), but as with earlier comments, if U need a feel good and less tragic movie see Frank Whaley in "The Pursuit of Happiness" .