With single-camera television comedies having gotten so slick and hilarious in the last few years, it’s no insult to say Frankie Go Boom feels like an exceptionally funny pilot to a fan-favorite sit-com. That’s not to say the film doesn’t work perfectly well as a film, but the tone and efficiently developed characters feel like they’d be just as at home in weekly episodes as in a feature film.

An independent comedy from Jordan Roberts, Frankie Go Boom follows Frank’s quest to track back down an unflattering sex tape that his recently-sober brother (who has delusions of directorial grandeur) has made available to the world. While partly based on the quaint idea that an uploaded movie could ever be recovered, the comedic scale and character range is quite admirable. Lizzy Caplan is adorable, Ron Perlman is superb, and Charlie Hunnam is a strong lead, even if the laughs are a touch inconsistent overall.

USA really ought to offer Roberts a development deal- yank out a few “fucks” and Frankie would feel right at home following another Monk marathon. As a film though, it’s a slight, colorful little comedy that earns your hour and a half.

And hey, no commercials!

–Renn Brown

frankie go boom detail:

Director(s): Jordan Roberts

Screenwriter(s): Jordan Roberts

Principal Cast: Charlie Hunnam, Chris O’Dowd, Lizzy Caplan, Ron Perlman, Chris Noth, Whitney Cummings, Nora Dunn, Sam Anderson, Jordan Black, Adam Pally

A comedy about two brothers, a girl with a broken heart, a sex tape, an angel and a pig…

Frank (CHARLIE HUNNAM) has been tortured, embarrassed, and humiliated  — usually on film — by his brother Bruce (CHRIS O’DOWD) his entire life.  Now that Bruce has finally kicked drugs and turned his life around, things should be different.  But when Frank’s one-night stand with a distressed young woman (LIZZY CAPLAN) goes not quite as planned, Bruce’s camera is ready, as always, to capture it…and share it with the world.

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