The Jimmy Show (2001)

A failed New Jersey inventor embarks on a career as a standup comic, turns to drink, and labors to keep his family together.

Director:

Frank Whaley

Writers:

Jonathan Marc Sherman (play), Frank Whaley

Stars:

Frank Whaley, Carla Gugino, Ethan Hawke

1 win.

Cast

Credited cast:
Frank Whaley	...	Jimmy O'Brien
Carla Gugino	...	Annie
Ethan Hawke	...	Ray
Lynn Cohen	...	Ruth
Jillian Stacom	...	Wendy
Spelman M. Beaubrun	...	Claude
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mark Birch	...	Track Coach
Jefferson Breland	...	Man in Club
Heather Bucha	...	Hostess
Seth Buchwald	...	Hippie
Frankie Dellarosa	...	Jersey Guy
George Demas	...	Man in Club
John Elsen	...	Tony
Mitchell Greenberg	...	Dr. Schull
Laura Jordan	...	Jersey Girl

Storyline

Jimmy O'Brien works in the stockroom of a grocery store, where he is reminded of his powerlessness by his boss. Only his love for his wife offers him comfort, but their obligations to his invalid grandmother and a new baby stifle their dreams. It is not until open-mike night at the local comedy club that he allows himself to do what he needs to do: run off at the mouth.

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Plot Keywords:

based on play | character name in title

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 January 2002 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Staten Island, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$703 (USA) (13 December 2002)

Gross:

$703 (USA) (13 December 2002)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Next Wednesday Productions, Stonelock Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When his grandmother (Ruth) is in the chair dead, you can still see her breathing.

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Quotes

Jimmy: Why do I talk about it, why don't I do it?

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Connections

Featured in The 2004 IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards (2004)

User Reviews

Offers certain truths but lacks hope and humor.

I saw"The Jimmy Show" at a screening at the American Film Market 2002 last week and, while it contains home truths about life in suburban America, I found it heavy going. The producers call it a bitter-sweet love story but to me it was more bitter than sweet. Its big problem lies in its lack of an underlying vein of hope and optimism so often necessary in a story of this genre.

Jimmy O'Brien describes himself as "young, fresh and angry" but is in reality a born loser with sticky fingers. Holding down a supermarket dead end job by the skin of his teeth, he has aspirations as a standup comedian. Every Tuesday on open-mike night at The Laughing Stock comedy club, he dies on stage at the hands of a tough, no-smiling audience but this is nothing compared with what is happening inside Jimmy. He is slowing strangling on his own lack of initiative, ambition and basic social graces. Thrown out of his market job for stealing cases of beer, he continues along a seemingly downward path without benefit of humorous relief.

Frank Whaley wrote the screenplay, directed, and plays the role of Jimmy, and when such vital chores are taken on by one man, I can't help thinking the movie has more than the usual biographical aspects and should more accurately have been called "The Frank Show". In supporting roles, Carla Cugino as his long-suffering wife and Ethan Hawke as his co-worker provide adequate performances.

Not recommended for those in search of a feel-good movie.