"Hail, Caesar". A comedy? Did I miss something?

[bif]

I watched an hour of it only because I was working out and it took my mind off exercising. One of the unfunniest comedies I've ever seen. I think I may have smiled once, but that may have been a tick. And Rotten Tomatoes gave it an 86%.

[sarge43]

1. No, you didn't.

It's one of the few times the Coen Bros completely missed the mark. There's a difference between satire and snark.

[bif]

2. Thanks for confirming that it's not just me.

What a dreadful movie.

[sarge43]

3. It certainly wasn't just you ... or me.

Although critics fell all over themselves praising it, it didn't put butts in the seats.

I wouldn't call it dreadful, just unfocused. Instead of concentrating on one individual as they did in The Big Lebowski or Raising Arizona, there were too many characters doing too many things. Holy Cecil B DeMille, I think they contracted every A and B list actor who wasn't in rehab or jail.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

4. I think the number of characters was the point.

They were doing a riff on the mega-cast comedies of the 60s and 70s. I grew up with It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World, and thought Hail, Caesar was funny. Fully understand it wasn't for everyone. Also an unabashed Coen Brothers fanboy.