On P List of Movie Reviews
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Punchline (1988)
Rate:
2
Viewed:
4/05, 3/25
3/25:
When I think of an absolutely unfunny comedy, Punchline immediately comes to my mind.
There must have been 200...300...perhaps 400 jokes thrown at me, and I didn't laugh once. That has to be a
record. What I don't appreciate is the audience laughing so hard at them. I know funny, and this ain't it. As a
matter of fact, if Damon Wayans could use his own stuff, he would've blown away the competition. Just check out
In Living Color.
Forget that Tom Hanks and Sally Field are the lead stars or that they have four Oscars in total. He kissing
her in one scene is quite icky. She's obviously too old-looking for him and will play his mother in
Forrest Gump. The writing is constantly poor, and none of the drama
registers with me.
Playing a mentally ill character, Tom Hanks wrote his stand-up routine to try out on a real
audience, and it didn't work. He kept revising until giving up and enlisted the help of a friend to give him
new material. On the other hand, Sally Field does comedy? I don't think so, buddy. If there's anything positive
to say, Mark Rydell gives a standout performance as the comedy club owner.
All in all, Punchline has no pulse and should thus be retitled Flatline.