Released by October Films
Two Mikes Don't Make a Wright is a collection of three short films produced between 1988 and 1992. They have little in common except all appeal to those with a "refined" sense of humor. While none of the trio is designed to incite belly laughs, their wit is as incisive as a keenly- honed rapier. Included are "The Appointments of Dennis Jennings" by Steven Wright, "Pets or Meat: Return to Flint" by Michael Moore (Mike #1), and "A Sense of History" by Mike Leigh (Mike #2) and Jim Broadbent.
Seen together, these make for a wonderful viewing experience especially suited to those who appreciate offbeat comedies. Each, however, has its own particular strengths and weaknesses.
Running Time: 0:30
Director: Steven Wright
Producer: Paula Mazur
Written by: Steven Wright
Starring: Steven Wright, Rowan Atkinson, Laurie Metcalf, Mike Starr
Written and filmed before Richard Dreyfuss and Bill Murray filmed What About Bob?, this film takes a similar approach in exploring the mutually-antagonistic relationship between a crazed, paranoid patient (Steven Wright) and his callous psychiatrist (Rowan Atkinson).
The two principals play their roles perfectly straight, regardless of how bizarre the situation is. In combination with Wright's droll direction, this makes for a highly amusing production. It's almost impossible to describe exactly why it's funny, but suffice it to say that this is both an exceptionally original and clever farce.
Atkinson's energy is primarily internalized here, and his performance is far from what one might expect from the man who is best known as Black Adder. Wright and Metcalf are perfect as a less- than-sane boyfriend/girlfriend pair. Mike Starr, who was later to become the only good thing Mad Dog and Glory, is noteworthy as a deadpan doorman.
Running Time: 0:23
Director: Michael Moore
Producers: Michael Moore and Lydia Dean Pilcher
Written by: Michael Moore
This short essentially functions as a disappointing sequel to Roger and Me. Instead of blending human interest and incisive comedy as he did in the first feature, Moore has decided instead to focus almost exclusively on humor in "Return to Flint". Unfortunately, except for providing a few good laughs through a number of inventively-edited sequences, there isn't much point to this production. A couple of "old friends" are present, such as the lady who sells rabbits for pets or food and the cop who serves eviction notices, but in this installment they are presented more as caricatures than real people.
The primary purpose of the short appears to be to satisfy Michael Moore's bloated ego. Where he was brilliantly vicious in Roger and Me, he has become self-important and glib in "Return to Flint". Never is it more apparent that success has gotten to Moore's head than in a several- minute compilation of clips that encompass everything from a rave review of Roger and Me by Roger Ebert to Moore's appearances on Donahue, Letterman, and The Tonight Show. It's as if he's saying to the audience, "Look what a good job I did on Roger and Me! Now everyone who matters loves me!"
"Pets or Meat: Return to Flint" retains the humor of Roger and Me, but loses the spirit. It's an empty sequel whose most disturbing image is not the plight of a city crushed by General Motors, but a snake eating whole a small rabbit.
Running Time: 0:26
Director: Mike Leigh
Producer: Simon Channing-Williams
Written by: Jim Broadbent
Starring: Jim Broadbent
This is a one man tour-de-force for Jim Broadbent, the character actor who played one of the leads in Mike Leigh's Life is Sweet and enjoyed supporting roles in The Crying Game and Enchanted April. Hardly recognizable under layers of old age makeup, Broadbent plays the 23rd Earl of Leete, the aging patriarch of a respected British family who's telling the story of his twisted life to the camera.
"A Sense of History" has the look and feel of a straight documentary. The warped subject only makes the choice of such a strict and uncompromising style all the more successful. This Earl of Leete is a bizarre character with a lot of secrets to reveal, not the least of which is why Adolf Hitler wasn't such a bad guy after all.
In building his character from a seemingly-ordinary, pompous aristocrat to an off-the-wall, homocidal lunatic, Broadbent is intensely funny. It's clear that he and director Mike Leigh have formed a rapport that they use to good effect here. "A Sense of History" represents the best in "intellectual comedy".
© 1993, 1996 James Berardinelli