See This Movie

See This Movie is a 2004 independent comedy-drama film directed by David M. Rosenthal, and stars John Cho and Seth Meyers, along with Raymond O'Connor. The movie stands as a witty and poignantly funny commentary on the independent film industry, the art of filmmaking and its several inherent struggles.

The story focuses on Jake Barrymore, played by Seth Meyers, an ambitious, unconstrained, yet thoroughly confused character. Jake is an aspiring filmmaker, who despite having no proper or formal education or experience in the art of filmmaking, dreams of making a name for himself in the independent film world. He schemes to have his yet-to-be-created independent film entered into the prestigious Montreal World Film Festival.

Jake is accompanied by his unwitting, yet adventurous friend Larry Finkelstein, played by John Cho. The duo embarks on this significantly challenging pursuit of producing a movie without having a script, movie set, and a professional cast, infusing several bouts of humor and comic incidents. Their journey further intensifies, as they find themselves in Montreal and are oblivious to French.

Under the false pretense of being student filmmakers from the nonexistent "Yellow River Film School", they manage to convince esteemed film critic Robert Hawks, portrayed by Raymond O'Connor, to mentor them. Hawks, believing them to be naïve yet promising filmmakers, willingly becomes a pawn in their game, completely unaware of their lack of resources, experience, and the fact that their film is nonexistent.

The movie also introduces two sets of Hollywood sell-outs, Annie Nicole and Martin Hughes, who they bump into at the festival. They serve as contrasts to Jake and Larry, further amplifying the duo's incompetence and misfit in the film industry. Depictions of snobbish industry professionals and desperate wannabes attending these festivals, add an extra layer of authenticity to the plight of new filmmakers.

The comic goings-on in See This Movie are enhanced and abetted by a capable supporting cast, which includes Jim Piddock as Martin Hughes, a pompous, British indie-film director and Jessalyn Gilsig as his ego-stroking assistant. Patton Oswalt delivers as a film festival organizer, providing a window into the often chaotic behind-the-scenes madness of such events.

The script of See This Movie leans largely on improvisation, which delivers some individually brilliant moments of unpredictable hilarity. Meyers and Cho muster convincing performances, embodying the comic spark required for this ambitious yet hapless duo. The chemistry between the two leads is undeniable, making for a believable and endearing partnership as they navigate through their misadventures.

There is also a spotlight in the movie on how easy it is to pretend you belong in an industry, in this case, the film industry, that is awash with pretenses. The movie highlights how festivals can turn into arenas of ego-boosting, rather than a concourse of artistic expression and appreciation. The inherent comedy is derived cleverly from the tussle between reality and aspirations and how far people go to make their dreams come true.

See This Movie, while a comedy at its core, has an underlying realness and rawness, capturing the desperation, resilience, and absurdity that often defines the pursuit of artistic success. It is an entertaining exploration of determination and the chaotic and unpredictable nature of the film industry. The film serves an amusing perspective at the fascination and fetishism of glamourous film festivals, while maintaining a consistent tone of absurdity and humor throughout its narrative.

The independent nature of the production gives it a particular charm and a authentic insight into indie filmmaking. If you are a fan of quirky scripts, and enjoy seeing the film industry from a tongue-in-cheek perspective, See This Movie may just be the comedy drama you are looking for. Though it is a lighter take on the hardships of breaking into the industry, the movie is a reminder that there is plenty of room for humor in the face of adversity.