Me & Michael [DVD] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

--Groucho Marx

Me & Michael has its limitations, but it does use a clever take on movies made by Michael Moore. In Michael Moore's films, he usually spends a great deal of time and effort (including confrontations between himself and security staff) trying to seek out some V.I.P. for an interview; but in Willard Morgan's film Michael is being followed by Willard for mentoring advice. Willard also wants Michael Moore to watch his short film with the hope that Michael will love it and give Willard a much needed jumpstart for a career in Hollywood. The action moves along well and the cinematography was actually better than I expected given what some of the other reviewers stated about this film.

I can't say that Willard Morgan is without talent; but then again I don't see truly exceptional talent, either. Willard's one hour film entitled Me & Michael just plain looks like a glossy, self-educated quasi-amateur filmmaker's best effort to strike it big and make some money. Yes, the characters that Willard plays throughout the film show his creativity; but I know others who can do the same although of course Willard was fortunate enough to get funding for this film.

I don't want to give too much more away for fear of spoiling it for you. There are some laughs along the way but other jokes fall flat.

The DVD comes with extras. We get Willard Morgan's short film entitled "Festival Fever;" the short featurette "Misguided Tours;" "Touch of Velvet" and "Confessions of a Filmaholic."

One thing I do like about this film is that it clearly illustrates just how hard it can be to become successful in Hollywood. My best advice is to go into this without high expectations and just enjoy it for some light comedy relief; that way you won't be disappointed.

Last year the right wing, syndicated radio talk show host, Larry Elder came out with "Michael & Me" about his 2 years quest to interview Michael Moore about Iraq, George Bush, the state of the economy and the so-called "class-wars." This year we have standup comic Willard Morgan's "Me & Michael" who also spent two years trying to interview Michael Moore-- this time about, well...Willard Morgan. Morgan motives are a lot more interesting and the results are much, much funnier. All Morgan wanted was a chance to show Moore a 10 minute film he'd made called "Festival Fever" and find out from Moore how he, Morgan, could "make it' in show business. I asked Morgan why he chose to call his documentary "Me & Michael" as there could be some confusion with Michael Moore's first hit, "Roger & Me," or Elder's "Michael & Me. Morgan confessed he now regrets the choice, and should have gone with his original title, "Titanic." As he explained, "Given Michael Moore's enormous size, I think I could have gotten away with it."

PS: In the interest of full disclosure I have known Willard Morgan since before he was unsuccessful

Well, I love independent film and I love little guy directors but Me & Michael has to be one of the worst movies I've ever seen. When contemplating the reason why it is so awful one can only conclude that this fellow has very, very little talent. This account of his career as a videographer in LA reeks of perpetual illegitimacy. A lot of what is supposed to be live footage is obviously staged and his impersonation of foreigners is totally cheesy. As a matter of fact, everything about the movie is totally cheesy. You almost feel sorry for the guy, but can't because the venture is so misguided that it's hard not to wonder how he missed all the glaring indicators that he will never be a success in the glitterati business. Oh well, at least it is short. Yet this hour drags by painfully. I can't believe anyone, and I mean anyone, could give it a decent rating.