Film review: Huge (2010), directed by Ben Miller

Clark (Noel Clarke) works as a waiter in a Greek restaurant. He’s a ventriloquist with a natural flair for being funny, and entertains kids in the restaurant with a dummy. The customers love him. Whenever someone says he should do something with comedy, he always responds that he’s perfectly happy where he is.

Warren (Johnny Harris), on the other hand, is a struggling comedian. When he performs at an open mic night, Clark heckles him. The next day, Warren seeks him out and says they should work together, because they could be huge as a double-act.

Warren and Clark move in together and try to come up with a routine. Problem is, their material isn’t very funny, and Clark has extreme stage fright. How can they possibly hope to make it big on the comedy circuit?

Also featuring Thandie Newton, Tamsin Egerton, Russell Tovey, Michelle Ryan, Matt Berry, Rasmus Hardiker, and a who’s who of British comedians as themselves at an aftershow party.

This is comedian Ben Miller’s directorial debut, and he does a good job, as do the stars of the piece. Noel Clarke many will recognise from Doctor Who, where he played Mickey (Rose’s boyfriend). His Clark is a likeable chap, if a bit shy, but it’s nice as an antidote to the intense and obsessive Warren, who is a little bit overbearing.

For being a film about comedians, it’s not particularly funny. You get a few glimpses of stand-up shows that provide a bit of a giggle, but for the rest, it’s mainly a tragedy. Warren and Clark are essentially a couple of loser wannabe comedians who are desperate to make it – one more than the other – but who might or might not have what it takes.

Still, it’s a good film. Not really my cuppa tea, because it’s a little too depressing, and the whole “I think we should work together” directly followed by “let’s move in together even though we are perfect strangers” feels a little far-fetched, but yeah. There’s no business like show business, like they say.

3.5 out of 5 goldfish bowls.