With one exception, Beasts of No Nation, Netflix have yet to replicate the enormous success they have with their series. Stuff like House of Cards and Daredevil are phenomenal. So, will their latest movie offering start turning things around? Alas, no.
Special Correspondents follows a radio producer (Ricky Gervais) and a hot shot radio presenter (Eric Bana) who find themselves in the middle of an international incident after faking an on the ground report from a war torn country. The premise isn't exactly clever, however with Bana and Gervais, they do share a decent chemistry. So while the cliches pile up, they do make things somewhat watchable.
Watchable is one thing, but humour is another. There is probably two or three moments where you may raise something resembling a smile, but other than that, you won't be doing much laughing.
It's not hard to figure out where Special Correspondents went wrong. Gervais wrote AND directed this. He's at fault here with an incredibly lacklustre story that just spits out boring cliche after boring cliche. In fact the two characters themselves are cliches. Gervais needs to move away from the down trodden, woe is me character at this stage. Like the movie itself, it's uninspired and boring. While not excelling in the director's chair, Gervais does keep things moving quite well. And while the dialogue and scenes are boring, the pacing is solid enough to keep you in your seat.
The chemistry however, between Gervais and Bana is likeable, although Bana just seems to have one level of acting here. In the beginning, it looks like he's having fun with the character, but it soon transcends into blandness.
I have no doubt Netflix will find a winning formula for it's movies. When that happens who knows. Maybe it'll be that Will Smith project? Maybe it'll be that Brad Pitt project. One thing is for sure though, it won't be Special Correspondents. This could have been something decent, but instead it's meandering boredom coupled with a very lazy and cliched story.
Special Correspondents follows a radio producer (Ricky Gervais) and a hot shot radio presenter (Eric Bana) who find themselves in the middle of an international incident after faking an on the ground report from a war torn country. The premise isn't exactly clever, however with Bana and Gervais, they do share a decent chemistry. So while the cliches pile up, they do make things somewhat watchable.
Watchable is one thing, but humour is another. There is probably two or three moments where you may raise something resembling a smile, but other than that, you won't be doing much laughing.
It's not hard to figure out where Special Correspondents went wrong. Gervais wrote AND directed this. He's at fault here with an incredibly lacklustre story that just spits out boring cliche after boring cliche. In fact the two characters themselves are cliches. Gervais needs to move away from the down trodden, woe is me character at this stage. Like the movie itself, it's uninspired and boring. While not excelling in the director's chair, Gervais does keep things moving quite well. And while the dialogue and scenes are boring, the pacing is solid enough to keep you in your seat.
The chemistry however, between Gervais and Bana is likeable, although Bana just seems to have one level of acting here. In the beginning, it looks like he's having fun with the character, but it soon transcends into blandness.
I have no doubt Netflix will find a winning formula for it's movies. When that happens who knows. Maybe it'll be that Will Smith project? Maybe it'll be that Brad Pitt project. One thing is for sure though, it won't be Special Correspondents. This could have been something decent, but instead it's meandering boredom coupled with a very lazy and cliched story.
