There is just so much movie here. For some it may be too much. But in the same secretly sarcastic way most telemarketers say the phrase, the title of this one is particularly apt.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

This is a comedic masterpiece, in the sense that I was coughing up phlegm throughout the film. The Village Voice called this the "funniest movie ever made about trying to hold on to one's artistic integrity in an image-obsessed world." That's one way to put it, but the writer should have added "...oh, and I was laughing so hard I crapped my pants".Henry Phillips is a great guitar picker and writes and sings like Roy Zimmerman, Bob Dylan, and Redd Foxx all rolled into one. OK, Loudon Wainwright too. The film depicts his plod through making a living as a...satiric folk singer-songwriter? That's exactly what he is, but the term has too many syllables for promoters and record company execs. Awkward encounters abound, some briefly tense, most hysterically funny. Ten stars.

I expected to like this, but my wife and I loved it. There are laughs from the opening scene all the way through the credits. There are also a lot of weird but believable characters and situations throughout the movie that I imagine accurately reflect the life of a struggling musician, comedian, or artist. We also met Mr. Phillips after the movie was shown and he is as laid back and funny off the cuff as he is in the movie. He handled some really oddball questions from the audience very smoothly and had us laughing as much then as during the movie. Seems like a nice guy. It appears that a creative bunch of friends made this movie, which may be why it seemed so unique and refreshing - it was not a typical Hollywood movie because you didn't see the humor or strange situations coming from a mile away. I can see why it won several awards. Highly recommended because it really adds up to a lot more than we expected going in.

This is the first review I'm writing on IMDb.That's because of the unreasonably low (6.6) rating this movie has on this website.This movie is easily one of the funniest movies I've ever seen.It contains a lot of good jokes and one liners in the songs as well as in the script. The atmosphere and character interactions are well thought out and authentic.But don't take my word for it.YouTube Henry Phillips (who plays himself in this movie) or Punching the Clown and you will see! Do not miss this clever and hilarious film!

Solidly made film about the trials and humiliations of a likable comedic troubadour's misadventures in L.A. benefits strongly from an immensely likable lead (playing himself which is of course not nearly as easy as a person would think it to be) and likable oddball supporting characters that help give the film a strong sense of place as well. Both of the actors who play the talent agent and Phillips's brother are very well used, and very well written as well.The film isn't perfect. The recurring plot line/joke of people in L.A. believing Phillips to be a neo nazi because of various misunderstandings and gossip spreading is spread awfully thin the longer it goes on (and i'm not sure how funny an idea it was to begin with quite honestly) and there are some jokes here and there that don't really land the way they should, (although there are plenty that do of course) Phillips himself gives such a strong sense of self--or more likely such a strong sense of insecurities facing a performer who can't seem to catch a break anywhere despite being really good on-stage...that none of the film's flaws really matter in the end--because they're mostly easy to overlook.The only two things about the movie is that i didn't find it so flat out hilarious so much as generally enjoyable. The movie didn't have me in stitches even though some of the songs Phillips performs are very well done and very funny when you stop and think about it---(and catchy too actually now that i think about it...maybe its just me then) but the movie works more as a drama then anything else anyways. In that sense the narrative works wonderfully throughout---will the talent agent manage to help book him a solid gig? will the record label actually sign him? well anything even remotely positive happen to him in a way that he can enjoy it? these questions are actually very elegantly posed and the search for those answers generate a lot more suspense then you'd think they would. Its a well oiled screenplay which brings me to the other flaw--which is the ending. Film doesn't seem to have a third act beyond Phillips gets humiliated without ever really getting to right the record. I know the work--Phillip's work itself is what sets the record straight once and for all--that it gets played and people get to hear and get to see it in a film version is the real triumph--but its kind of a delayed gratification that you don't get to see Phillips get to really go after the guy (or guys) who sort of set him up for a fall. Its ultimately all right though because again the film's likability helps you overlook that in general.That this film took a good decade (more or less) to create makes it even more of an achievement (the director who was a college friend of Phillios i believe raised the funds for production himself, and i know for a fact is distributing the movie himself from town to town as well--i know cause i saw him answering questions after the film at a regular screening of it as well--he literally just happened to be in the lobby because he is personally distributing the thing apparently.) In that sense its a true independent film and just the fact that it made it to a screen at all (especially in today's distribution climate) is miraculous all on its own.