Odeon (& you) Takes a Look at 'Greg & Gentillon'. Plus a Review

jackie-chan
Contributor

If you've ever wanted to be a significant part of making a film's climb up the huge ladder we call success, nows your chance. (I'll get to the review in a sec)

What: Odeon Films has heard the buzz and is sitting down to take a close, hard look at 'Greg & Gentillon'. (mentioned on ScreenAnarchy here and here)
When - Thursday, December 15th
Time - 10:00am (change possible)
Where - Varsity Cinema (Bay & Bloor) in Toronto

It was set to be in a 28 seat theatre.
It's now 230.

And the actors, the director, everyone involved with the film, and even I want you there.

They need 230 people who want to laugh and help change the direction of a very strong up and coming film. Get there. Do it. Copy this article and paste it in places big and fancy.

Wanna read the review? On we go....

I'm in a unique position. I know Greg & Gentillon are not actual people. I've seen them out-of-character. I swear. Even then -EVEN THEN- during and after my view of Greg & Gentillon, I was consumed with trying to figure out what was real. And the easiest answer is: All of it. This is not a Mockumentary, because that would be fake characters in a proposed situation Improving like mad. This is a real act in real situations interacting with and dealing with real people and situations. Events that occur in the movie actually happen. But it's not a documentary either.. sort of.

Confused? Okay, let's straighten this out with a nice example. Watch this:

Example:
Let's take "Greg", a bumbling French-Canadian comedian who moved to Toronto from Aylmer, Quebec along with 'Gentillon' to make it big in the comedy circuit. At one point, Greg auditions for and discovers a 2nd calling as the frontman for a band called 'Maximum RnR' - much to Gentillon's dismay. Enough about that. Now, check this out:

Here's Maximum RnR's website.
And look at this... See the guy in the middle of this picture? That's him. Maximum RnR is real, 'Greg' -actually IS from Aylmer, Quebec- and currently, actually IS the vocalist. "G & G" is littered with these blurred reality issues all the way through. "Well, if it's real, then it's a documentary". Yeah, but 'Greg & Gentillon' aren't real, just everything they do. I'm getting confused just typing this.

Let's take a break.

Comedy is a mean business. Imagine someone saying: "You're not funny. Seriously. Go ahead, be funny. Go" That weird, expectant, 'un-humour' moment is where Greg & Gentillon are oblivious and wonderfully ignorant. Stemming from wild home-town success, they head for Toronto's comedy circuit completely flying in the face of tact and the typical process of "learning the ropes." To them, there are no ropes. What ropes? We're funny, what's the problem? But are they funny? Oh yes. Further, in their desperation to be funny, they're hilarious.

Living and breathing almost the entire duration of the film's shoot (measured in weeks and months, not days) in character, both on and off camera, the film's bulk does in fact document the lives and events that are actually happening to them. Knowing a few stand-up comics myself, I am familiar with a few of the venues where 'G & G' performed their live act in the film. Getting real feedback, real pointers, real invites and real performance dates from people who live, work and breathe in the comic circuit are completely sincere and ignorant to the fact that the film isn't real... of course.... even though it is. Dah! never mind.

As with life, things don't always pan out as smoothly as we'd hoped and G & G find many pratfalls and setbacks that make their lives extremely difficult in the oh-just-slightly-bigger-than-Aylmer city of Toronto. Places to live, visiting girlfriends, money shortages, commitment issues, the odd ill-timed alcohol related binge are just a few issues constantly plaguing the two Monsieurs like they're flies and Dismay, the swatter. And yet, the laughs keep coming and the reality issue keeps mounting until you're left with a show that demands a new genre name. I'm serious. The most truthful way to put it is: "It's almost-a-completely-real-documentary". But that takes way too long to spell.

Sharing words with the director, Matthiew Klinck, after the screening, he mentioned he was actually interested in what the take of the film would be from someone who had seen the act prior to viewing the film. Because the film isn't a feature length act like a Chris Rock or Eddie Murphy routine. It's a feature length film showcasing what makes 'G & G' stand out from every other film in it's "genre": that absurd, quasi-reality that people can't quite put their finger on. (Even at regular gigs, Greg & Gentillon arrive in costume and character and don't break it until they get home - even if they have drinks afterwards.) An interesting side issue I noticed during the screening was the absence of Louis ('Greg') during the screening (he was in the lobby). However, not having him in the screening room only made what I was watching on screen seem that much more real. Freaky stuff. You'll have to see it to understand that one.

So Christopher Guest, take note. 'Greg & Gentillon' is a crafted work that has developed an angle I've never quite seen on film. It'll play with your brain while you travel on this wee little paired trip based on comedy,.naivety, dreams and "aiming high"while that harsh mistress called "Reality" keeps slappin' them in the balls. Granted, I identify with their struggle, it's just that it's too much fun to watch...

So folks, next Thursday. Be there. We'll keep you posted on that potentially shifting time slot.

'Greg & Gentillon' Official Website

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