Why Him?

This week on Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes ring in the holidays with "Why Him?", the chaotic Christmas comedy starring Bryan Cranston and James Franco.

Both Mike Butler and Mike Field enjoy the film for what it is. It’s loud, crass, and occasionally very funny. That said, the movie never quite reaches its full comedic potential. The Mikes agree it could have used more fully realized comedy set pieces and a clearer sense of who the main character actually is, as the focus often feels split between competing perspectives.

Despite those issues, the core dynamic works well enough that the film almost feels like a backdoor pilot for a sitcom or spin-off. There’s a solid foundation here for something episodic, where the characters and conflicts could breathe a little more and let the comedy build naturally.

A flawed but enjoyable holiday watch, "Why Him?" lands somewhere between guilty pleasure and missed opportunity.

What's your favorite non-traditional holiday comedy? Let us know in the comments!

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0:00 - Introduction

2:42 - Film Facts

4:56 - Assassin's Creed Tangent

9:19 - Film Discussion

27:24 - Reviews

32:14 - Who Would You Recommend This To?

34:36 - Why Is This Forgotten?

36:51 - Plugs

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