Ed TV Review
By Joe Lozito
Not exactly "Must See TV"
There is an inherent irony in Ron Howard's new film "Ed TV". It's the story of a network that decides to air one man's life (Matthew McConaughey's lovable shlub Ed) twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. "This isn't the 'Real World'," says network exec Cynthia (Ellen Degeneres), "we're not going to tape this and then edit it". So, while we are supposed to believe that most of America has gotten hooked on watching one boob's life unfold in real time, we are presented with quick, titilating plot contrivances worthy of any MTV Spring Break special.
Writers Babaloo Mandel and Lowell Ganz, big names in sitcom writing, had no choice but to spruce up Ed's closet with some convenient skeletons. It seems that Ed and his brother's girlfriend Shari were meant for each other - much to his brother's chagrin. Also, Ed's mother has some secrets of her own involving Ed's childhood. Watching these issues play out is like watching back-to-back half-hour episodes of an "Ed TV" marathon. None of the issues have serious repercussions and in fact they all get resolved quite easily. Each character has an epiphany of some sort, and most of the characters cry about one thing or another.
Mr. McConaughey has fine-tuned his hayseed routine for this role. His Ed comes off like the bartender Woody Harrelson used to play on TV's "Cheers". How apropos then that Mr. Harrelson should appear as Ed's self-absorbed brother.
Perhaps most abused in the film is Jenna Elfman as Shari. She has to play most of the movie either furrowing her brow or crying. This is a shame because, in the few scenes she gets to play happy, she really lights up the screen. She has a real down-to-earth quality to her which is something that the film itself oddly lacks.
Mr. Howard directs the movie in his usual fluffy, competant style. He has filled his movie with nice little touches. From the "Wonder Bread" T-Shirt that Mr. McConaughey's whiter-than-white-bread Ed wears, to the casting of fellow "Happy Days" alum Donny Most to play opposite Rob Reiner's sleazy network president. And, in the end, "Ed TV" is the sum of these little touches. It's not out to make any grand statements - which is something that "The Truman Show", for all its posturing, failed to do - it's just out to entertain. Sounds like a sitcom, doesn't it? Well, it feels like one too.
