Dreadfully Boring

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

This film tries so hard to be humorously quirky it hurts itself in the process. From start to finish, nearly every character and event is portrayed as being unique and odd in a way that's supposed to make you fall in love with the whole mess. There are good actors in this, to be sure. Kevin Kline, for one. John C. Reilly is wasted by speaking in a painfully fake high-pitched voice that sounds like someone trying to voice a character for a cartoon (this could have worked with some voices, but in this case the director should have said "Well, worth a shot; let's try something else to make this character wacky").A teacher who gets fired for wearing a bra he finds in a teacher's lounge goes to Manhattan to find himself (his words). Although not yet reemployed, he rents a room in the apartment somehow afford by Kline's character (who acts as a male escort for society matrons, though he points out he receives no monetary compensation, which begs the question of how he affords a small but pricey Manhattan apartment). The rest of the film is devoted to showing that the characters are sophisticated but nonconforming.I actually looked away from the screen on several occasions I was so pained by the overacting and, much more, overwriting. I kept waiting for things to get better, even when Reilly started talking in his cartoon voice (with no particular point to it). I do like unusual comedies, even dark ones, but this film wasted some good talents, plus the money I paid to see it.

I've wasted time watching this and continue to waste time by posting about it, but I'm hoping to steer other normal people from this badly acted, piece of crap. If you're looking for a meandering tale of cross dressers and wanna be man whores then this is it. Kevin kiline trying to be over the top doesn't cut it and Paul Dano is flat as his chest is while in drag. John C Reilly is a fake voice is laughable. The story just doesn't pull you in, the characters aren't likable in the least and you leave not really caring about what you saw. Please don't waste your time. If you want good Kevin Kline go watch Dave or the January Man, find decent Paul Dano in The Girl Next Door and Reilly in Boogie Nights, but do yourself a favor, stay away from this one!!!

Henry Harrison (Kevin Kline) is "The Extra Man", but to him, he's an "essential man". He seems to live in a time and class that he doesn't physically occupy. Louis Ives (Paul Dano) would really just like to be a character in an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel. These characteristics were so intriguing at the beginning of the film because there are a lot of thoughtful and interesting directions to take it.They make a great pairing, except for the fact that Henry isn't just homophobic, but proudly and defiantly, extremely homophobic, and Louis is proudly and completely confused. And neither of them understand the nature of their friendship. When the film chooses to explore Louis' inner transvestite and getting deeper into Henry's obsession as the essential man, everything just gets weird."The Extra Man" is an extremely intelligent film. There was clearly a lot of effort put into the writing, the characters, the acting and the making of this film, but the weird directions it took were too much for me. I want to recommend it to those who like smart, philosophical, but weird, independent films. Just look out for some "sexually deviant behaviour".

I sought out this film as John C. Reilly and Kevin Kline were listed.The opening was fey, but with the star power, I discarded my feelings and waited.As it continued, I found myself taking breaks- making phone calls, a sandwich, even contemplated taking up smoking, before returning to see how this would end.Enter John C Reilly, an actor I admire, with falsetto- good grief! "Springtime for Hitler" immediately sprang to mind.So, in closing, my initial thought of 'insipid' carries my overall view.