Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

I'm sure I'm in the minority, but I'd never heard of Martin Short's character "Jiminy Glick", nor of the Comedy Central show called "Primetime Glick". So, I was completely unprepared for the movie Jiminy Glick in LaLaWood. Frankly, I chose to view it based purely upon the impressive list of cameo appearances. But, I'm not sorry I watched it - in fact it was one of the funniest movies I've enjoyed, in a long time!

So who is Jiminy Glick? Well, he's Martin Short's face in Jackie Gleason's body. He's obviously in a fat suit, including a huge fat face (think Monica on Friends in those episodes where they showed what she looked like before losing all the weight), with a very high-pitched, nerdy voice. He's clutzy, and completely clueless. He works as a celebrity interviewer in Butte Montana (you can imagine the caliber of celebrity he's had the pleasure of interviewing there!). And he's married to Dixie (Jan Hooks), with four fat, nerdy sons (although only two of the sons, Matthew and Modine were featured in the movie).

The movie opens with writer/director David Lynch narrating what's about to happen: There's going to be a murder mystery at the Toronto Film Festival - where Jiminy Glick is headed. Oh - but wait - did they really get David Lynch to narrate this movie? No! It's impressionist Martin Short! Looking unbelievably like David Lynch, right down to his weird hairdo, and every mannerism.

After a brief narration, the story gets started.

Jiminy and his family arrive in Toronto. Jiminy's hanging out on the red carpet pleading with the stars to notice him and give him a sound bite. That's where all the fun begins. You just have to picture this hugely overweight, completely unknown, nerdy-voiced guy trying to grab the attention of Kiefer Sutherland, Kevin Kline, Forrest Whitaker (whom he mistakenly calls Forrest Gump), Whoopie Goldberg, Susan Sarandon and many others. The stars practically step over themselves to get away from him! Later, he's assigned to view a screening of Growing Up Ghandi, an absolutely horrible film by reclusive Ben DiCarlo. Glick falls asleep the minute the movie starts, and wakes up as the ending credits roll. But he still has to write his review. Clueless, he gives it a glowing review, the only one to do so. No surprise, since all the other reviewers actually watched the film. DiCarlo's thrilled too see a good review, and grants Jiminy an exclusive interview, sending Jiminy's popularity soaring.

The rest of the movie is, basically, one silly gag after another. Oh, there's a murder mystery, but it's almost an afterthought. This movie is not about solving a mystery; it's simply a way to showcase the Jiminy character. We watch him mingle with the big stars, now that he's popular, but still flubbing every interview. Without meaning to, he manages to insult or embarrass every interviewee, just by virtue of his own cluelessness. He ascribes all the wrong credits, calls them by the wrong names… The interview with Rob Lowe had me in tears laughing so hard.

Some of the humor is a bit "potty-like". And some is "adult" in nature. And there's some bad language. Especially by the character of Andre Devine (John Michael Higgins). He's an agent, with a heavy accent (French???) who manages to mangle the English language in nearly every sentence. Only the curse words are clear. At times, I think the actor simply improvised - putting random words together that make no sense whatsoever. Yet, somehow, it manages to be funny.


Martin Short wrote and produced this movie, as well as starring as two characters. Therefore, if you're a Martin Short fan, you're sure to enjoy this one. Of course, if you're a fan of the Jiminy Glick character, you'll also enjoy it. I'm not at all a Martin Short fan, and had never heard of Jiminy Glick, yet I still enjoyed the movie. Plain and simple, it's just fun. See it, when you're in a silly mood, and feel like laughing.


Recommended: Yes