COMEDY and Stuff. “Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice.” / “Maggie Moore(s).” / “Get Duked!” / “Burn.” / “Lemon.”

“Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice” (2026, Hulu) science fiction action comedy crime film. A mobster named Nick who, after discovering a time machine, attempts to fix the most fateful night of his life by bringing his future self back to the present.


 

       Rotten Tomatoes offered a positive consensus, saying the “daffy crime comedy uses its sci-fi elements in the service of character.” Well, the two Vince Vaughns are fine with me but the disjointed narrative and gungho sequences are simply scattered to keep a grip on. Some scenes are funny but there's only a few. Plus these two annoying, not funny dudes–Ben Schwartz and Arturo Castro (yes, the TV commercial guy)--are here. But it's good to see Dolph Lundgren again! 🎥💻📽


“Maggie Moore(s)” (2023, Amazon Prime) black comedy mystery. A beleaguered sandwich shop manager hires a hitman to intimidate his wife or stop her from exposing his illegal operations. After the hitman accidentally burns her to death, hubby hires him to murder a second woman, Etc etcetera. Stars Jon Hamm, Nick Mohammed, and Tina Fey. 



       One critic wrote: "Neither funny enough to recommend as a black comedy nor unpredictable enough to work as a mystery.” Which I agree with. And, you see, no matter how Tina Fey tries to be funny, she isn’t. 

        But I find the story by Paul Bernbaum interesting, though John Slattery's direction lacked imagination. 🎥💻📽


“Get Duked!” (2019, Amazon Prime) British black comedy adventure. Four city-bred boys go on a camping trip to the Scottish Highlands. However, the excursion goes horribly wrong when they are chased by a mysterious huntsman, with the police unable to help. 



       This wackadoo youngster comedy is odd in a smart-ass classy way and creatively inventive like a Film school thesis, full of promise. And that's what it is for first-time director Ninian Doff, who also wrote the screenplay.

       Silly, wild, irreverent, mischievous. Language is high school juvenile but that's because the 4 leads are. Rian Gordon (as Dean), Samuel Bottomley (as Ian), Lewis Gribben (as Duncan), and Viraj Juneja (as William a.k.a. DJ Beatroot) didn't really “act” in earnest and grip. They just goofed around for our entertainment. That's it. 🎥💻📽


“Burn” (2019, Tubi) comedy crime thriller. A lonely, unstable gas station attendant, who is overshadowed by her confident coworker. 



       Anchored on Tilda Cobham-Hervey's involved performance and first-time director (and writer) Mike Gan's deadpan minimalism, this movie engages us in an intriguing, absurdly baffling manner. Like, what's the deal with Tilda's Melinda's weird behavior? But all these fizzled out as we neared the end game. All the potential of smart-ass filmmaking, gone! 🎥💻📽


“Lemon” (2017, Fandango) comedy-drama. An absurd, cringe-comedy following Isaac, a failing middle-aged actor and acting coach. After his blind girlfriend of 10 years leaves him, Isaac's life spirals out of control as he navigates a disastrous Passover seder, awkward new romances, and the unraveling of his ego. 



       I get the satire bit and some scenes excised some laughs in me, but overall, this directorial debut of Janicza Bravo, is too obnoxiously juvenile to bite or swallow. Hey, she co-wrote the script with real-life husband, lead star Brett Gelman! I suspect those ugh! scenes (like the defecation silliness, sounds and all) were Brett's ideas. Uncalled for. But if this little lemon focused on the sociocultural satire aspect, this movie would be awesomely, really funny. Janicza has potential. 

       BTW, I dig all the performers, including the extras, but not the ever-annoying Michael Cera. And what's the deal with that bizarre hair-do? 🎥💻📽


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