Brigsby Bear (2017)

Jack and I liked a lot this story of James, a 20-something man living with his parents in a bunker and obsessed with a children's TV show starring a person in a cartoonish bear suit. This is a comedy, though there is a hint of drama, as James leaves the bunker and the plot thickens.

Star and co-writer Kyle Mooney (best known for acting in 84 episodes of Saturday Night Live) makes his feature writing debut, sharing screenplay credit with Kevin Costello in his debut, period, with a script owing more to The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt than Room, with a few hints of Blast from the Past (1999).

Also featured are Mark Hamill (after I mentioned him in Kingsmen: The Secret Service he came back as Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: The Force Awakens) and Jane Adams (last blogged for Restless) as James' parents. Outside the bunker we have Greg Kinnear (after Thin Ice I enjoyed his starring role in the now-cancelled series Rake), Matt Walsh (58 episodes of Veep as bumbling Mike McLintock), Michaela Watkins (since In a World... I've enjoyed her performances in nine episodes of Enlightened, Enough Said, 22 episodes of Trophy Wife, five of Transparent, and 36 of Casual), Ryan Simpkins (a teenage girl, she was in A Single Man and The House, though not mentioned by me in either), Claire Danes (after Temple Grandin she's best known for 74 episodes of Homeland--I really need to catch up on that one). Mooney's SNL colleague Beck Bennett has a small part and his former colleague Andy Samberg (last blogged for Celeste and Jesse Forever) is one of the producers and makes a cameo.

Director Dave McCary has written for 54 SNL episodes and directed nine and here makes his feature directing debut.

David Wingo's (he scored Loving) terrific soundtrack can be streamed in its entirety on spotify.

Pay no attention to the hating critics on Rotten Tomatoes who are averaging only 79%. Heed instead its audiences who come in at 91. We thought it was great. Sadly, it will be gone from this area's big screens tomorrow, but is available for pre-order on Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, and YouTube. Watch for it.