Tristram Shandy 2006
Given the number of “making of” extras on DVD’s, the time is ripe for a behind-the-scenes spoof. Tristam Shandy takes an odd twist on that, starting out with an amusing self-aware period autobiography of the title character, and then abandoning that about a third of the way through for a story about the main actor in the role, Steve Coogan, as played by Steve Coogan. Most of the other roles are not people playing themselves, so this is certainly fiction. And hopefully Coogan isn’t the cad that he portrays, but certainly there are people just like him.
The whole movie never really rises above “amusing". They have fun portraying the things that go on behind the scenes of a movie, similar to This is Spinal Tap, but they don’t go for big laughs. There are more serious storylines that are revealed as the camera floats from one scene to the next, adding weight and ultimately sweetness. Though I’m not a big fan of Robert Altman’s work, his influence is strong here, for better or worse. If an Altmanish mockumentary with British flavouring doesn’t sound appealing to you, avoid this. Otherwise it is probably worth watching. B-.