The TV Set (2007)

Wonderful character development!

Simply A Masterpiece

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

I did not want to cancel and turn off "The TV Set" as I was watching this brawny satirical comedy about the television industry's ongoing ratings war. David Duchovny bring his sex game (oops, sorry David) I mean his "A" game as Mike Klein, a television series screenwriter who pilots up his latest script to the network. His initiated script loosely based on the aftermath of his brother's suicide is gradually converted into a completely different television tale due to network politics and external pressures. Writer-Director Jake Kasdan gets a good share of my high ratings points by brilliantly depicting the intrapersonal politics and nuances of the television industry via an effective comedic channel delivery. The supporting acting of "The TV Set" was of high auteur definition clarity also: Sigourney Weaver was wickedly delicious as the high- strung television executive, Ioann Gruffudd was executively effective as the transplanted British television producer, Judy Greer wonderfully played her part as Alice the "smiley on all accounts" assistant, and Justine Bateman renewed her acting skills by staying strongly tied to her devoted but firm pregnant wife character. So my end credits to this review inform you to make sure you lock in your cinematic channel to "The TV Set". **** Good

Its a simple, true story that pulls everybody in, who wants to see the reality of that business and who wants to take for the leading character. When this tragicomedy touches you, you are on the right way, leaving the standard comedy besides you and heading towards the easy listening of truthfulness moments. David Duchovni is much better than I thought and well, you haven't to complain about Sigourney Weaver and Ioan Gruffudd. Also Fran Kranz comes to grips with his role, sometimes more than you can take:). He and Duchovni stands for the best laughters and the most embarrassing moments. Go out and see that movie.

7 out of ten.Why? Because it works as a send up of TV and because, the ice sculpture looked like the alien Sigorny Weaver once did battle with. (I think it was supposed to be a polar bear but the shooting angle was carefully chosen to make the joke. Then the Hollywood machine -- rating us all with zero intelligence as they like to do sooo often -- got Sigorney to virtually tell us the joke in the dialogue. Ho Hum). Now, I am a fierce critic of movies, as anyone who had read most of my "reviews" on here will know. (If I hate it I don't review it I just stone it to death). This however, was a delightful change and a pleasantly funny movie.Apart from some of the background characters going over the top, everyone played a great part. David Duchovny as Mike, was superb as the suffering writer having his entire script stolen from him and re- written in dumb down mode (Something Hollywood would never do, of course!) played his role to perfection. No, that it is not a spoiler! Sigourney Weave as Lenny, a sort of, emotionally dead, pseudo-logical, ratings obsessed monster, played the role of her human version of the Alien perfectly. If she had dribbled some slime she could have been that very monster.Everyone did their part and everyone did it well (Except for the O.T.T. background characters on the TV sitcom set).This is not a movie to tax your brain and not one to kill it off like many Amercian "comidies" (sic)are today. It is exactly the kind of thing to watch when you are too exhausted to think too much and way too bored to want to. It will deliver just the right amount of pick me up.Watch it! It is worth the money and the time.

Not living in the US, I know little of how the selection process goes for TV series and in which way this shapes up the yearly crop, but even so, I dare my imagination to go in all those places and the stories it tells me are not truly exciting.Moving on from Orange County, a nice comedy which is nothing more than that, director Jake Kasdan achieves a film that is - like the pilot it portrays - not so much a comedy in its essence, but a comedy out of necessity. The plot is uncomplicated, as it revolves around a writer, his pilot and all ensuing experiences. Often enough, it is themed as a clash between idealism and realism, without being very subtle about it. I don't see it as an "insider" movie so much as it is a movie about TV addiction and the standards this imposes, and while it doesn't go to the level of The Player, it still remains a thoroughly enjoyable watch.There isn't really much to say, except that it's always nice to see familiar faces again , especially if they're in as good of a shape as Sigourney Weaver or David Duchovny. While Weaver has been taking up roles that still seem to feed off some of that Alien nastiness everyone liked so much, Duchovny has been trying to shape up with small comedies and the sort - of late, his new series Californication has him exploring a more familiar runway. Ironically enough, the film works exactly because it has this star power behind it to compensate for the lack of edge the script "provides". As is well said, "Original scares me a little. You don't wanna be too original.".Give it a shot!