Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story (2006)

Ridiculously clever film about making a ridiculously difficult film.

There are some brilliant observations on actor pettiness, on-the-fly rewrites, and desperate attempts to get more budget. Coogan is certainly game -- playing himself as an insecure (and rather unlikable) prima donna. At one point, in efforts to beef up the scope of the picture, he pushes through the idea of adding in a romantic storyline from the book. Because he's unfamiliar with the source material and unwilling to admit it, he doesn't realize that the romance involves his supporting actor -- not him. The scene in which he realizes what he's done is brilliant because we WANT him to be taken down a couple of pegs -- even as we feel for him. It's all very Ricky Gervais in "The Office."

But cleverness is not depth. And while it's fun for a while, it eventually becomes tiresome -- far before the credits roll.

B-