The Stand Up

Last updated
The Stand Up
The Stand Up poster.png
Directed by David Wexler
Written byDavid Wexler
Produced by
  • David Wexler
  • Eli Wolstan
  • Shane Tilston
Starring
CinematographyBart Grieb
Edited byAlex Ricciardi
Music by
Production
company
Cinema 59 Productions
Distributed by FilmBuff/Cinetic Media (2012 theatrical)
Release date
Running time
82 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Stand Up is a 2011 American comedy/drama film written and directed by David Wexler and starring Jonathan Sollis, Margarita Levieva, Arija Bareikis, and Aidan Quinn. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Plot

Stand-up comic Zoe Hardwick is desperately in love with his beautiful girlfriend, Miranda (Julia Dennis). When she dies tragically, Zoe is devastated and drops his budding career, moves back home, and pines after his departed love for a year. His father, the principal of an elementary school, decides that one year of moping around the house is enough and forces Zoe to take a job teaching kindergarten, Zoe finds himself standing before a very different demographic. The innocent insights of the children help Zoe in finally healing. He meets fellow kindergarten teacher, Veronica (Margarita Levieva) and a new love is kindled. [2]

Cast

Release

The film debuted October 22, 2011 at the Austin Film Festival [4] [5] and began a limited theatrical release September 14, 2012. [2] [6]

Critical reception

The film received generally negative reviews: The Village Voice offered "for a film about a stand-up comedian to be mirthless is dispiriting" and expanded that The Stand Up did not compensate for its absence of humor with use of any legitimate drama. [3] While the premise of a bereaved comedian dealing with the tragic death of a loved one had potential for drama and angst, the protagonist's "path to healing, though, is made Easy-Bake simple" by director David Wexler, whose use of father-finding-unhappy-son the perfect job where he then meets "perfect-match Veronica (Margarita Levieva)", then allows the protagonist of Zoe to become a "passive participant in his own healing, which Wexler leaves so uncomplicated that the story simply coasts along on a smooth path to happily ever after." [3] It was concluded, "regrettably, it’s impossible for the film or its star to do little more than recall other recent comedies and performers: the superior School of Rock for one and, via the portly Sollis’s eerily similar voice, Jonah Hill." [3]

The Hollywood Reporter felt it was an "unconvincing indie effort" whose premise and role were more suitable as vehicles for Jack Black or Seth Rogen. [2] In a project where a "depressed comedian becomes an unlikely kindergarten teacher", it was felt that despite its potential, "the film never manages to find a consistent footing, shifting uneasily in tone and haltingly proceeding with its formulaic plotting." [2] Further, for a stand-up comic, the character of Zoe Hardwick "proves to be remarkably unfunny, and Sollis lacks the necessary charisma to make us fully care about his undeveloped character." [2] And while praising Margarita Levieva as a highly appealing love interest, "she’s unable to overcome the sheer implausibility of her character’s falling in love with the charmless Zoe." [2] Praise went to Aidan Quinn's role as Zoe's father for giving "a drolly humorous performance that enlivens every scene in which he appears. While it’s hard to imagine how exactly this talented veteran actor wound up appearing in this low-budget affair, moviegoers are not likely to look a gift horse in the mouth." [2]

The New York Times wrote that writer/director David Wexler was to be commended for taking viewers where might be expected in an "oaf-in-kiddieland story", but also offered it was "too bad that he didn’t bring a little more creativity to the predictable tale he does fashion". [1] Granting that the film had Kindergarten Cop and School of Rock moments" and Jonathan Sollis having a physique similar to Jack Black, rather than being a comedy, "the focus soon shifts to finding Zoe a rebound romance. Conveniently, a good-looking fellow teacher (Margarita Levieva) is available. (For those keeping score, that’s two hot women inexplicably attracted to a moping schlump.)" [1] It was offered that Levieva shows her range and "is quite watchable" but "Sollis can’t always handle the naturalistic acting style Mr. Wexler demands". [1] It was concluded that "the main shortcoming of this film is that the story Mr. Wexler finally decides to tell is utterly ordinary." [1]

Conversely, CultureMap Austin spoke toward the film's debut at the Austin Film Festival and offered that it might have been better named "The Kindergarten Teacher", as "stand up comedy bookends the film but doesn't really play an important symbolic or therapeutic role". [5] It was felt that while the premise of a stand-up comic dealing with the death of a girlfriend by taking a job as a kindergarten teacher "sounds like something from a wacky Jonah Hill comedy," the film managed to execute it "with restraint and complexity in a surprising way". [5] It was also offered that Margarita Levieva's role of a fellow teacher and sympathetic new love interest allowed her to "elevate the character well out of Manic Pixie Dream Girl Territory". [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stand-up comedy</span> Comedy style where the performer addresses the audience directly

Stand-up comedy is a performance directed to a live audience, where the performer stands on a stage and delivers humorous and satirical monologues sometimes incorporating physical acts. These performances are typically composed of rehearsed scripts but often include varying degrees of live crowd interaction. Stand-up comedy consists of one-liners, stories, observations, or shticks that can employ props, music, impressions, magic tricks, or ventriloquism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colin Quinn</span> American comedian and actor

Colin Edward Quinn is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and writer. He first gained widespread attention for his work as a cast member and writer on Saturday Night Live from 1995 to 2000, and he became known for anchoring Weekend Update, the show's news parody segment. Prior to SNL, he was best known as the announcer/sidekick on MTV's 1980s game show Remote Control. Following his departure from SNL, Quinn went on to host Comedy Central's late-night panel show Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, where he and a panel of New York's big names in stand-up comedy discussed and debated news stories of the day. Notable film work includes his role as Dooey in A Night at the Roxbury, Dickey Bailey in the Grown Ups films, and playing Amy Schumer's father in the film Trainwreck. Comedians such as Jerry Seinfeld, Tina Fey, Chris Rock, and Dave Attell have cited Quinn as the quintessential "comic's comic" and New York comedian.

<i>Melinda and Melinda</i> 2004 film by Woody Allen

Melinda and Melinda is a 2004 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Woody Allen. The film is set in Manhattan and stars Radha Mitchell as the protagonist Melinda, in two storylines; one tragic and the other comic. It premiered at the 2004 San Sebastián International Film Festival and was given a limited theatrical release in the United States on March 18, 2005, by Fox Searchlight Pictures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Hardwick</span> American voice actor (1958–2023)

John Michael Hardwick was an American voice actor, comedian, writer, producer and YouTuber. He was best known as the voice of Dale Gribble in the animated American television series King of the Hill. He also served as a staff writer, story editor, and producer on the show. He was nominated for Primetime Emmy Awards three times, winning once in 1999 with the rest of King of the Hill's production team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mitch Hedberg</span> American stand-up comedian (1968–2005)

Mitchell Lee Hedberg was an American stand-up comedian known for his surreal humor and deadpan delivery. His comedy typically featured short, sometimes one-line jokes mixed with absurd elements and non sequiturs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aidan Quinn</span> American actor (b. 1959)

Aidan Quinn is an American actor. He made his film debut in Reckless (1984), and has starred in over 80 feature films, including Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), The Mission (1986), Stakeout (1987), Avalon (1990), Benny & Joon (1993), Legends of the Fall (1994), Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994), Michael Collins (1996), Practical Magic (1998), Song for a Raggy Boy (2003), Wild Child (2008) and Unknown (2011). He also played Captain Thomas "Tommy" Gregson on the CBS television series Elementary (2012–19).

<i>The Myth of Fingerprints</i> 1997 American film

The Myth of Fingerprints is a 1997 American drama film written and directed by Bart Freundlich. It stars Blythe Danner, Roy Scheider, Noah Wyle, and Julianne Moore. The story follows the gathering of a dysfunctional family during Thanksgiving in New England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Hardwick</span> American comedian and actor (born 1971)

Christopher Ryan Hardwick is an American comedian, actor, television and podcast host, writer, and producer. He hosts Talking Dead, an hourlong aftershow on AMC affiliated with the network's zombie drama series The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead, as well as Talking with Chris Hardwick, a show in which Hardwick interviews prominent pop culture figures, and The Wall, a plinko-inspired gameshow on NBC, Hardwick created Nerdist Industries, operator of the Nerdist Podcast Network and home of his podcast The Nerdist Podcast, which later left the network and was renamed to ID10T with Chris Hardwick. His podcast has broadcast 1,000 episodes as of December 2019.

<i>No Reservations</i> (film) 2007 film by Scott Hicks

No Reservations is a 2007 romantic comedy-drama film directed by Scott Hicks and starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, Aaron Eckhart, and Abigail Breslin. The screenplay by Carol Fuchs is an adaptation of an original script by Sandra Nettelbeck, which served as the basis for the 2001 German film Mostly Martha, and revolves around a hard-edged chef whose life is turned upside down when she decides to take in her young niece following a tragic accident that killed her sister. Patricia Clarkson, Bob Balaban, and Jenny Wade co-star, with Brían F. O'Byrne, Lily Rabe, and Zoë Kravitz—appearing in her first feature film—playing supporting roles.

Jonathan Paul Harvey is an English screenwriter, actor, playwright and author.

<i>Blood Car</i> 2007 film

Blood Car is a 2007 black comedy film directed by Alex Orr and starring Anna Chlumsky, Katie Rowlett, and Mike Brune. It is set in a not-too-distant future where gasoline prices have become exorbitant. Things take a turn for the worse when a kindergarten teacher invents a car that runs on a different fuel source: blood.

30 Days is a 1999 American romantic comedy film written and directed by Aaron Harnick in his directorial debut. It stars Ben Shenkman, Arija Bareikis, Alexander Chaplin, Bradley White, Thomas McCarthy, and Catherine Kellner. It follows a neurotic young New York Jew, whose best friend is getting married in 30 days, as he goes out on a blind date with a girl and asks her to marry him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Wexler (director)</span> American film director

David Wexler is an American film director, screenwriter, and film producer. Wexler is a New York City native and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he majored in communication arts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rory Scovel</span> American comedian and actor

Rory J. Scovel is an American comedian, actor, and writer. He released his first stand-up comedy album Dilation in 2011. He has since released the stand-up specials The Charleston Special (2015), Rory Scovel Tries Stand-Up for the First Time (2017), Live Without Fear (2021), and Religion, Sex, and a Few Things in Between (2024).

<i>The Diary of a Teenage Girl</i> 2015 American film

The Diary of a Teenage Girl is a 2015 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Marielle Heller, based on the hybrid novel of the same name by Phoebe Gloeckner. It stars Bel Powley as a 15-year-old girl who becomes sexually active by starting a relationship with her mother's boyfriend. It also stars Kristen Wiig, Alexander Skarsgård, Christopher Meloni, Quinn Nagle, and Austin Lyon. It premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival and had a limited release on August 7, 2015, by Sony Pictures Classics.

<i>The Big Sick</i> 2017 film by Michael Showalter

The Big Sick is a 2017 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Michael Showalter and written by Emily V. Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani. It stars Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter, Ray Romano, Adeel Akhtar, and Anupam Kher. Gordon and Nanjiani wrote the film based on their relationship; it follows an interracial couple who must deal with cultural differences after Emily (Kazan) becomes ill.

<i>Future World</i> (film) 2018 American film

Future World is a 2018 American direct-to-video science fiction action Western film, directed by James Franco and Bruce Thierry Cheung, from a screenplay by Cheung and Jay Davis. It stars James Franco, Suki Waterhouse, Jeffrey Wahlberg, Margarita Levieva, Snoop Dogg, Twin Shadow, Method Man, Lucy Liu and Milla Jovovich.

<i>Harley & Ivy Meet Betty & Veronica</i> 2017–18 US comic book miniseries

Harley & Ivy Meet Betty & Veronica is a six-issue American comic book miniseries co-written by Marc Andreyko and Paul Dini, illustrated by Laura Braga. The intercompany crossover was published by DC Comics and Archie Comics from October 2017 to March 2018. A hardcover edition collecting the series was released on August 29, 2018.

<i>The Banana Splits Movie</i> 2019 film directed by Danishka Esterhazy

The Banana Splits Movie is a 2019 American comedy horror film directed by Danishka Esterhazy from a screenplay written by Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas. It serves as a horror reimagining of Hanna-Barbera's 1968 children's television series The Banana Splits, and stars Dani Kind, Steve Lund, Celina Martin, Finlay Wotjak-Hissong, Sara Canning, Romeo Carere, and Maria Nash, with Eric Bauza as the voice of the Banana Splits. It follows a family who try to survive during a live-on-tape of the series when the titular characters start a killing spree around the filming studio upon learning of the show's upcoming cancellation.

<i>How It Ends</i> (2021 film) 2021 American apocalyptic comedy-drama film

How It Ends is a 2021 American apocalyptic comedy-drama film written, directed, and produced by Daryl Wein and Zoe Lister-Jones. It stars Lister-Jones and Cailee Spaeny, with cameo appearances by 23 others in a series of vignettes, facilitating the reality of 2020 COVID-19 protocols while serving the underlying plot device of walking through the deserted streets of Los Angeles.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Genzlinger, Neil (September 14, 2012). "To Overcome Depression, Go to Kindergarten 'The Stand Up'". The New York Times . Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Scheck, Frank (September 13, 2012). "The Stand Up: Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Schager, Nick (September 12, 2012). "The Stand Up". The Village Voice . Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  4. staff. "2011 Austin Film Festival". Austin Film Festival . Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Carson, Duncan (October 21, 2011). "Four under-the-radar offerings at this week's Austin Film Festival". CultureMap Austin . Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  6. staff. "Covering Media: The Stand Up". FilmBuff/Cinetic Media . Retrieved October 16, 2013.