In Rick Alverson’s unsettling and dark comedy/drama, “Entertainment,” we follow a struggling comedian (actor Gregg Turkington’s alter ego, Neil Hamburger as ‘The Comedian’) and his sorry -and frankly pathetic- attempts to reconcile a relationship he seems to know is beyond saving with his daughter. He begrudgingly shows up to rundown bar after rundown bar in a remote part of the country, where he performs his less-than accessible standup routine for audiences of less than 20, who are either too drunk to care, or just “don’t get” what he is offering. Constantly heckled by drunks, he’s forced to play bouncer and shout them out of the venue.
The only thing keeping him somewhat together as he’s falling apart is the fading hope of impressing his daughter with a perspective -and all too far away- private gig for a few celebrities and singers in Hollywood. “Entertainment” is a challenging film that leaves you wondering what is real, what is nightmarish dream, and whether or not you should have even been laughing at all. Much like the comedian’s stand-up, it isn’t for everyone, and I think that’s exactly how Alverson wants it be.
– by Kyle Mulligan
