A radio journalist and a sound engineer pretend to air reports live from war-torn Ecuador, even though they’re actually cooking up the sounds and stories from within the confines of a Manhattan apartment.
It would’ve been a preposterous premise 20 years ago, at the time of WAG THE DOG, but in this world of constant Vineing, Snapchatting, Tweeting, and Youtubing (not to mention GPS and drones), it’s hard to believe no one would catch on to the fact that these guys weren’t even in the hemisphere they claimed to be reporting from. But then again, this Netflix film is starring, written and directed by Ricky Gervais, so I’m willing to go along, even though the last time he tackled a premise that didn’t hold up to scrutiny (I’m looking at you, THE INVENTION OF LYING), it went badly for almost everyone involved (remember, Louis C.K., Tina Fey, Jonah Hill, Rob Lowe, and Christopher Guest all played significant roles in that painfully unfunny movie).
I’m intrigued by the action-y, fish-out-of-water stuff the trailer promises from the back-half of this film, and the chemistry between Bana and Gervais looks strong enough to sustain the movie. We don’t get enough Bana in movies these days, much less in leading roles, so watching him be funny again (his first comedy since FUNNY PEOPLE?) opposite Ricky is enough to make me want to check this out when it comes out next month. Add to that a cast that includes Kelly MacDonald, Kevin Pollak, Vera Farmiga, America Ferrera, and Benjamin Bratt, and you have something that may be a funny, lively little bit of satire, even if it seems kind of lofty and stupid on the surface.
Gervais has also got his David Brent movie, LIFE ON THE ROAD, coming out this year, so hopefully, 2016 has got two funny, worthy projects from the OFFICE creator for us to enjoy.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS earn the “special” part of the title on April 29th on Netflix.
