A B-movie producer-director team decides to do a biblical epic when the studio gives them their first big break. What a premise for a comedy! Immediately one thinks of a multitude of possibilities for humor, none of which are fully realized in this brittle excuse for a comedy directed by Arthur Borman.
In a "mockumentary" format, Borman explores the tribulations of a pair of movie hacks, director Clive Walton (Michael Riley) and producer Marvin Handleman (Stephen Rappaport), as they try to deliver the goods on their project AND GOD SPOKE, yet another multi-million dollar adaptation of the bible.
Having flubbed from the very start, they are forced to make compromise after ridiculous compromise, as they go behind schedule, over-budget, and lose their studio backing. Hiring Soupy Sales (of 60's and 70's television fame) to play Moses, Eve Plumb of THE BRADY BUNCH for Mrs. Noah (a prominent character!), and Lou Ferrigno (THE HULK) to interpret Cain, they barrel on ahead, amidst such production problems as bad acting, an incompetent director of photography, failing special effects, the actress who plays Eve having full-length body tattoo, an Ark too big for the soundstage, mis-numbered Apostles, absent-minded production assistants, etc.
None of these problems are particularly funny, and some of the go-for-broke attempts at humor are downright pathetic and asinine.
ItÕs touted as being "perfect for fans of SPINAL TAP." Not nearly. This whisper thin pic has very little going for it apart from its marginally interesting foray into the behind-the-scenes of the Hollywood filmmaking process. For instance, some of the producer's hustling is shown, as well as the director's take (excuse the pun) on things. As well, we are finally introduced to what a Grip and a Foley Walker do. For those of us interested in filmmaking, this exposition isn't particularly insightful nor funny.
A strange brew, this one. It's basically a one joke movie, and not a very good joke at that. There are few fairly decent laughs near the beginning, such as Jay EdwardsÕ talented turn as the British production designer Peter Carbone, but that is soon forgotten in the porridge of everything else. Reading the Book of Revelation can be more fun!
In a "mockumentary" format, Borman explores the tribulations of a pair of movie hacks, director Clive Walton (Michael Riley) and producer Marvin Handleman (Stephen Rappaport), as they try to deliver the goods on their project AND GOD SPOKE, yet another multi-million dollar adaptation of the bible.
Having flubbed from the very start, they are forced to make compromise after ridiculous compromise, as they go behind schedule, over-budget, and lose their studio backing. Hiring Soupy Sales (of 60's and 70's television fame) to play Moses, Eve Plumb of THE BRADY BUNCH for Mrs. Noah (a prominent character!), and Lou Ferrigno (THE HULK) to interpret Cain, they barrel on ahead, amidst such production problems as bad acting, an incompetent director of photography, failing special effects, the actress who plays Eve having full-length body tattoo, an Ark too big for the soundstage, mis-numbered Apostles, absent-minded production assistants, etc.
None of these problems are particularly funny, and some of the go-for-broke attempts at humor are downright pathetic and asinine.
ItÕs touted as being "perfect for fans of SPINAL TAP." Not nearly. This whisper thin pic has very little going for it apart from its marginally interesting foray into the behind-the-scenes of the Hollywood filmmaking process. For instance, some of the producer's hustling is shown, as well as the director's take (excuse the pun) on things. As well, we are finally introduced to what a Grip and a Foley Walker do. For those of us interested in filmmaking, this exposition isn't particularly insightful nor funny.
A strange brew, this one. It's basically a one joke movie, and not a very good joke at that. There are few fairly decent laughs near the beginning, such as Jay EdwardsÕ talented turn as the British production designer Peter Carbone, but that is soon forgotten in the porridge of everything else. Reading the Book of Revelation can be more fun!