Indeed, if you like "Weird Al" Yankovic, you'll like UHF. There are plenty of goofy TV and movie parodies, as well as pleasing supporting bits from the likes of Michael Richards, Victoria Jackson, Anthony Geary (!), Gedde Watanabe, and Emo Philips. And plenty of Al's confident zaniness, which, admittedly, the world needs. I always enjoy watching UHF when it's on, though very little in it actually makes me laugh (only a scene in which a kid spits in Al's face evokes more than a bemused smile). I think I just like the general presence of UHF, as opposed to any of its specific content. Like any hastily-written, under-budgeted personality comedy (a David Spade movie, for example), UHF gets by mostly on self-aware shamelessness and leaves no easy punchline undelivered. Everything works out in the end. And while I can't say I love the film or even think it's all that good, I find myself wishing "Weird Al" would make more movies just like it. I would watch them all, not laughing very much, but enjoying myself, most modestly, nonetheless.
Review by |