Film: Clear History

Director: Greg Mottola
Genre: Comedy
Source: USA (2013)
Rating: Unrated - Probably R?
Location/Format: HBO
Grade: B-

Your enjoyment of this movie will depend entirely on your enjoyment of Larry David and his Curb Your Enthusiasm-style inappropriate humor.

I for one find that quite funny.

This little film about an investor and ad executive who makes a principled stand about the wrong thing at the wrong time is basically a cavalcade of hilarious people: John Hamm, Bill Hader, J.B. Smoov, Danny McBride, and even Michael Keaton (where has he been?) all show up to flesh out Larry David's world. Though his loss of millions is the driving storyline, as in Curb David takes time to get annoyed about the little things: people who won't back up when there's only space for one car, silverware placement, past sexual indiscretions of love interests. David is a master at mining the absurdity of these minor inconveniences, giving free reign to the id as he calls people to the carpet--even when he is the one obviously at fault.

The film works overall, but it really is just like an extended episode of Curb in a slightly different setting. It's good background material while checking out Amazon. I would watch it again, if just for more Michael Keaton.

Seriously, where has he been?

Alternative Film Title: "The Howard: Ayn Rand Ruins More Stuff"