★ 4 / 10
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Manuel São Bento
MORE SPOILER-FREE MINI-REVIEWS @ www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/mini-reviews-2023-edition PAINT is... hum... I don't know. It's always entertaining to see…
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PAINT is... hum... I don't know. It's always entertaining to see Owen Wilson perform, and the actor shows he hasn't lost his iconic charm. Definitely a humorous flick, but it really didn't do anything for me. Overlong, aimless, and simply not engaging, at all. I'm not surprised it was overlooked by the vast majority of film lovers.
Shoutout to one VERY cool shot of a mountain painted in a barn!
Rating: C-
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★ 3 / 10
Paint is a film that unfortunately falls flat
Nathan
Paint is a film that unfortunately falls flat in many areas. The screenplay is extremely generic and lacks any originality, making it hard to stay engaged with…
Paint is a film that unfortunately falls flat in many areas. The screenplay is extremely generic and lacks any originality, making it hard to stay engaged with the story. The pacing is also strange and inconsistent, which detracts from any potential emotional moments. Furthermore, the comedic aspect of the film was terrible, with jokes that felt forced and never elicited any laughter. While the influence from Bob Ross is evident, the decision to paint him as a misogynistic womanizer just felt wrong and took away from the overall experience.
In terms of performances, there is nothing particularly special to note. Owen Wilson does his best to portray the Bob Ross character and his comedic timing is impressive, but unfortunately, the weak screenplay doesn't allow him to fully shine. It's a shame because Wilson has proved himself to be a talented actor in the past, but even he can't salvage this film.
The direction of the movie is absent, and it feels like there was little creativity put into the production. As mentioned earlier, the pacing is inconsistent and makes the film feel bland and tedious to watch. The 90-minute runtime is not particularly long, but I found myself counting down the seconds until it was over.
In conclusion, Paint is a movie that misses the mark in almost every aspect. The screenplay is generic and lacks originality, the comedic aspect falls flat, the performances are nothing special, and the direction is absent. With its weird pacing and lack of creativity, the film is hard to watch, and there is nothing to make up for the terrible experience it provides.
Score: 28%
Verdict: Bad
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★ 5 / 10
its no Joy of Painting
ferguson-6
Greetings again from the darkness. You might wonder how a low-key painter becomes ubiquitous, evolving into the source of pop culture references in everything…
Greetings again from the darkness. You might wonder how a low-key painter becomes ubiquitous, evolving into the source of pop culture references in everything from "Saturday Night Live" to "Family Guy" to recent horror film SMILE. Bob Ross hosted "The Joy of Painting" on public television from 1983 until 1994. His soft-spoken manner and ability to connect with the audience while finishing a painting in 30 minutes drew in many dedicated viewers and turned him into an unlikely celebrity (as did the internet). Writer-director Brit McAdams uses Bob Ross as inspiration for his first feature film.
Though it's certainly not a profile or biography of Ross, Owen Wilson's portrayal of Carl Nargle is part tribute and part caricature, and it seems that McAdams wanted to go the comedy route, despite most gags and punchlines landing as softly as Carl Nagle's signature sign-off, thanking viewers for finding that "special place.". Whereas Ross' whispery vocal seemed soothing, Wilson's is kinda creepy. The comedy never really lands for a few reasons, but mostly because we don't much care for Carl Nargle and his out-of-touch ego and misogyny ... although this isn't the fault of Wilson, who does his best with what he's given.
Carl Nargle's (a fictional character) painting show has been a long-time fixture on the Vermont PBS channel where he regularly creates landscapes featuring Mount Mansfield. His loyal audience ranges from the elderly at a senior citizen center to the frequenters of a local dive bar to the women drawn to Carl's calm nature and fold-out bed in the back of his custom van. The latter group includes his ex, Katherine (a criminally underutilized Michaela Watkins), who is also the program manager, and Carl's assistant Wendy (Wendi McLendon-Covey). His newest interest is the young intern Jenna (Lucy Freyer), who seeks to be the next to receive the gift of a painting, which Carl gives to each conquest. But times are changing for Carl. Station Manager Tony (Stephen Root) needs a ratings boost and seizes the opportunity by hiring Ambrosia (Ciara Renee) to bring in new painting blood. There is more to the competition between Carl and Ambrosia than painting and ratings and ego ... it extends to Katherine, generating an entirely new dynamic.
The film has a lackluster feel to it. While some would-be intriguing topics are broached, none of them are explored to the point of creating any real interest. As for the comedy, there is no energy or sharpness. It comes across as believing many punchlines and situations are funnier than they really are. Everything is just a little off ... doesn't quite work as comedy, satire, self-discovery, or drama. To top it off, the timeline is confusing. While no cell phones are present, it never gives off a strong enough vibe for us to place the era. There is simply no joy in this painting.
Opens in theaters on April 7, 2023.
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awful, just awful.