Punching The Clown (2012) - DVD Review
Punching The Clown is hilarious. I watched this film three times in the span of a week and it held up each time. I still laughed hard and it lost nothing. It isn't a common thing when a comedy can hold up so well, especially upon multiple viewings in such a short span of time. I enjoyed this film so much, and I really hope it finds an audience here in Australia now that it is released here.
The film acts as a mockumentary about Henry (Henry Phillips), a musical stand-up comedian who tries to make it in LA, but finds himself hitting many stumbling blocks. A series of unfortunate events happen throughout the film, which hinders Henry's progress in 'making it', but provides us with lots of uncomfortable comedy. I always hate revealing too much of the plot, and trust me that this is a film that works better when you know little and dive in head first.
Posted by Marcey Papandrea - 19/4/2013
There is so much to love about this film, the awkward situations that Henry gets himself into are both hilarious and cringe-worthy. From the get go, it is apparent that this is a film made out of passion, and it speaks so many truths that it is easy to connect with Henry. I felt for him, I wanted the best for him and it hurts to see the unfortunate things happen to him, yet it's funny because we have all been there.
This a film where all the elements come together, they blend together perfectly and it's just a great watch from start to finish. I was a fan of how the film was shot, it was nicely directed by Gregori Viens, who co-wrote this with star Henry.
This brings me to the real gem of the piece - Henry himself. He's amazing to watch, and very easy to connect with – he plays every piece of this perfectly. There really is no other way to describe the magic that is Henry Phillips.
Do yourself a favour, pick this up and enjoy. You won't regret it. This might be one of the most truthful films about being a comedian that has ever been made!
The Australian DVD
Video/Audio: The video is presented in 16:9 widescreen, with the audio being presented in Dolby Digital.
Both the video and audio are really good, its very sharp and crisp and it certainly makes for a wonderful viewing experience.
Extras:
* Film Maker and Actor Commentary
* Bonus Songs
* Deleted Scenes & Outtakes
* Additional Info
There is a nice collection of extras here, I was very impressed with what was on offer. The commentary is a really great track and it’s very easy listening (I think it’s the smoothness of Henry’s voice), there’s great stories to listen to and some interesting insight.
I love the bonus songs, more great stuff that is an extension of what we got in the film. The deleted scenes are interesting, always a good watch to see what was left on the cutting room floor.
Available now from Via Vision / Madman Entertainment.
☆☆☆☆☆
