The Story of Our Times

The Story of Our Times is a clever hybrid of a comedy special and a musical that finds the height of its hilarity in the middle of modern-day absurdity. The 42-minute movie, which premiered on Comedy Central in 2018, features Trevor Moore in the lead role while also boasting notable performances by Esther Povitsky and Alana Johnston.

Developed as a series of high-concept sketches, this film seamlessly interweaves music, comedy, and social commentary, creating a hilariously absurd examination of the Zeitgeist and uses it as a foundation for showcasing the comedic range and prowess of Moore and his fellow comedians. Trevor Moore, one of the founding members of the comedy troupe ‘The Whitest Kids U Know’, is known for his unique brand of high-energy comedic antics and music, both of which shine throughout this movie.

In The Story of Our Times, Moore plays the central character, a man lost in the throes of an existential hangover, attempting to find a solution to his woes. The quest propels him into a surreal odyssey populated with absurdist scenarios presented as infomercials, mockumentaries, and music videos. The comedic vignettes borrow from and poke fun at many of the most pressing contemporary issues, such as technology, social media, politics, gender issues, and more, presenting them in their most exaggerated and ludicrous form.

The movie capitalizes on Esther Povitsky's delightful comedic timing, who is well known for her work on TV series, Dollface, and the podcast, Weird Adults With Little Esther. Also, we cannot overlook the delightful Alana Johnston - her excellent comedic acting brings an added layer of humor to the movie. The chemistry between Moore, Povitsky, and Johnston is compelling, and their performances collectively produce moments that will surely tickle your funny bone.

The genius of The Story of Our Times lies in its ability to blend comedy and music to shine a light on social and political issues in a manner that neither ridicules nor overly simplifies them. Trevor Moore's charming interpretation of the modern age and its overwhelming complexities comes forward as he takes the audience on a journey through various hilarious scenarios, each accompanied by original songs that perfectly suit the mood of the scene. In fact, one of the movie’s defining features is the parody songs Moore performs, which add a layer of depth to the screenplay, further propelling the narrative forward. These songs manage to ingrain themselves in the mind of the viewer due to their catchy tunes merged with witty lyrics.

The Story of Our Times stands as an effective satire of contemporary society. It incites laughter while simultaneously provoking reflection on the state of the world. The film’s genuine charm lies in its blending of the profound and the frivolous, creating humor that is both thoughtful and laugh-out-loud funny. Moore, Povitsky, and Johnston all push beyond typical comic boundaries, effortlessly pivoting from physical humor to sophisticated wit, creating a truly novel comedic experience.

The Story of Our Times is best described as a refreshingly insightful roasting of our technology-obsessed, politically divisive, meme-saturated era. The narratives offer a humorously biting perspective on our social fabric, liberally sprinkled with self-deprecating humor, puns, and slapstick garnished with a comedic flair that Trevor Moore fans would undoubtedly recognize and appreciate.

To sum it up, The Story of Our Times is more than just a comedic piece– it's an exploration of the modern human experience from a sardonic, albeit affectionate, stand-point. It's a laugh-riot from start to finish, offering viewers a chance to take an entertaining step back from the fast-paced digital age and observe it through a more humorous lens. Be it the younger generation that lives and breathes the digital era or the one that remembers the pre-Instagram, pre-Tinder world, everyone will find a chuckle or two in this comedic spectacle, and perhaps even a sprinkling of understanding of these frequently puzzling times.