What I’m watching: Two promising yet undercooked streaming titles

Date: 11/15/2022

New to Streaming: “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story” on Roku

Eccentric parody artist Al Yankovic, also known as Weird Al, receives the Hollywood biopic treatment in “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.” Fitting to Weird Al’s verbose history of bizarre yet creatively empowered parody songs, “Weird” presents itself as a clever subversion of the standard-issue biopic formula. The biopic genre is a treasured mainstay in the theatrical marketplace, often serving as a go-to staple during the competitive heat of Oscar season.

While the occasional inspired feature slips from the cracks, a majority of these films smugly vie for award consideration by embracing artificial histrionics and a general lack of understanding of their subject (don’t get me started on the horrible “Bohemian Rhapsody” Queen movie). “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story” is well-aware of the biopic genre’s long-entrenched tropes, utilizing the cliched formula as a basis for parody fitting to Weird Al’s colorful personality.

The results showcase some blips of vitality. As a feature-film adaptation of a Funny or Die short sketch, “Weird” showers viewers with an array of over-the-top gags that could only be conjured by Weird Al himself, who co-wrote the film alongside director Eric Appel. Fans of the musician’s eclectic catalog will feel at home with “Weird” as the film traverses through a series of fictionalized chapters ranging from a budding romance with Madonna to even a bizarre escapade with drug lord Pablo Escobar.

“Weird” finds its stride when leaning into the lunacy of its subversive comedic flourishes. The film presents a finite understanding of how Hollywood contorts a real-life subject into the type of fictionalized mythmaking often associated with celebrity culture. In addition, star Daniel Radcliffe offers some of his finest work to date onscreen, embodying Al’s singular presence with superb comedic timing. A slew of well-recognized star cameos also adds to the mania as the cast pops up in numerous creative ways.

“Weird” is constantly endearing, but the film eventually runs out of steam after a promising first act. The screenplay by Yankovic and Appel relies too heavily on their one-joke mockery of the biopic genre – an approach that already received imaginative exploration in the supremely underrated “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.” Whereas “Walk Hard” continued to find ways to subvert expectations and incorporate a surprisingly poignant emotional undercurrent, “Weird” can often feel like an uneven mishmash of skits and ideas that desperately lacks cohesion.

The jokes themselves are also wildly inconsistent in terms of impact. “Weird” throws several ludicrous darts at the screen to shock and engage viewers, although some of the bits ultimately succumb from their desperate attempts to seem clever. The third act, in particular, drives off the rails as the film unsuccessfully tries to culminate its satirical approach with a comedic crescendo. Instead, this section presents a slew of inventive yet ineffective gags that ultimately drive the movie away from its worthwhile aspirations.

Mileage will vary with viewers, but I found “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story” to be a frenzied roller coaster ride of concepts that don’t quite come together.

Also New to Streaming: “The Independent” on Peacock

Following a scandalous stint at another newspaper, dedicated journalist Elisha James teams up with veteran columnist Nick Booker as they pry into a controversy behind the upcoming election. The presidential bid divides voters between three candidates – an unpopular incumbent, a super-PAC-supported senator and a famed Olympian running as a political outsider. Elisha’s investigative deep dive uncovers shocking truths in the political thriller, “The Independent.”

Let’s be honest; journalism isn’t exactly the most dynamic occupation to capture onscreen, which often leads to many superficial inclusions to generate excitement. I can’t say I’ve ever been shadowed by a suspicious vehicle or hassled by a seedy organization while working on a groundbreaking story. In reality, pursuing uncovered truths is more of a marathon than a sprint. The quest for a great story can require hours of menial research, hustling for sources and tireless nights at the computer screen before unearthing any significant discoveries into a balanced article.

Following in the footsteps of pragmatic journalism features like “Spotlight” and “Good Night and Good Luck,” “The Independent” views the career field in a refreshingly semi-faithful light. Unfortunately, this tale of two journalists exposing an election-defining conspiracy sloppily plagiarizes from its superior contemporaries.

First-time screenwriter Evan Parter certainly has his pulse on worthwhile subject matter. Crafting a narrative yarn centered on a divisive political field marred by malpractice, a conflation of exterior influences and an oppressive lack of transparency couldn’t feel more timely given our chaotic national politics. Parter’s material is at its richest when analyzing conditions from its workmanlike portrayal of Elisha and Nick’s day-to-day efforts. The duo’s search for illusive truths poses thoughtful meditations on the evolving state of media and the blurred morality behind politics.

“The Independent” also provides an array of compelling performances. Jodie Turner-Smith imbues proper conviction and agency into Elisha’s coming-of-age journey in the industry, effectively carrying the film on her shoulders as the central protagonist. Veteran actors Brian Cox and Ann Dowd extract genuine gravitas from their robust supporting characters, while John Cena makes for a fittingly charismatic force as a political outsider who captures the national spotlight.

Certain aspects of “The Independent” radiate promise, but the film eventually adds up to less than the sum of its parts. The film’s cardinal sin is ultimately its lack of ambition, with Parter’s screenplay batting around concepts that are largely left unexplored in a grander sense. Instead, Parter creates a streamlined narrative that favors efficiency over grander sentiments. His writing preference ultimately limits the film to being a semi-engrossing yet toothless and thematically undercooked affair.

From a filmmaking standpoint, “The Independent” is far from a marvel. Director Amy Rice injects competence into her feature film debut, although she rarely commands the screen with actual authorship. Much of the film recycles bland stylistic choices and thoughtless framing techniques that don’t generate much interest. With journalism being a more cerebral subject matter for a movie, “The Independent” desperately lacks that presence behind the camera that can genuinely engage viewers.

I’d label “The Independent” as the ultimate mixed bag. It’s a proficient yet unimpressive feature that’s too ill-equipped to build upon its relevant zeitgeist.