I can't really call this a movie, in the common sense. Sure you'll see some semi-recognizable faces who have held smaller parts across many comedy shows and movies, most notably a few cast members from Reno 911, but there is not a straight forward narrative here. Instead we have more of an anthology of faux-public access and infomercial skits (think Tim & Eric Awesome Show) specifically created and filmed deliberately in amateur style under the pretense that a young boy recorded these bits of cheesy TV over a VHS tape that was originally once reserved for his parents' 1987 wedding footage. You'll see classic clips of horribly acted 80's porn (the story scenes), exaggerated jazzercize infomercials, the blue vertically scrolling preview channel, absurd advertisements, boring public access programs about rock bands and conspiracies, knock-off Antiques Roadshow and HSN bits, and peppered in between all of this you have quick shots of the kid's parents' wedding video and times where him and his friend were messing with the camcorder during sleepovers. Everything is pretty convincing here and as an 80s/90s kid myself, I appreciate the authenticity. This is a love letter to a certain kind of person, of a certain age, with a certain sense of humor. If you get it, you really get it. If you don't, then you just weren't the target audience. This film is like one endless inside-joke, and it's absolutely brilliant for what it is.
15 Reviews
Not my type of film, but I was still able to find enjoyment in it
jtindahouse21 August 2020
'VHYes' first came onto my radar last year when it received a lot of positive feedback at Fantastic Fest. It didn't sound particularly like my type of movie, so it took me a while to get arounds to seeing it. I only had time for a short runtime film tonight and at only 72 minutes 'VHYes' fit the bill perfectly. I will always be a person who enjoys a film with more of a narrative, but I was certainly able to appreciate 'VHYes' for what it was. There is some very clever and well edited humour in this film.
Considering the amount of ideas this film tries out its actually quite astonishing how many of them work. Some don't, but that is okay because they never last particularly long. The biggest stand out for me was Kerri Kenney. She was hilarious. Also her 'Reno 911' cast mate Thomas Lennon was in fine form. They're so great in off-beat comedies.
I think the short runtime was a good decision for the film. I enjoyed it for what it was, but I probably would have started to get sick of it pretty quickly had it run much longer. There are some fun cameos to look out for too, so keep your eyes open.
Considering the amount of ideas this film tries out its actually quite astonishing how many of them work. Some don't, but that is okay because they never last particularly long. The biggest stand out for me was Kerri Kenney. She was hilarious. Also her 'Reno 911' cast mate Thomas Lennon was in fine form. They're so great in off-beat comedies.
I think the short runtime was a good decision for the film. I enjoyed it for what it was, but I probably would have started to get sick of it pretty quickly had it run much longer. There are some fun cameos to look out for too, so keep your eyes open.
This movie has stuck with me
rachelmp11426 July 2020
When you watch a movie and you can't stop thinking about it for days after, you know you have watched a good movie. I couldn't take my eyes off the screen for even a second, because this movie moved quickly and kept your attention the entire time. I recognized some of the show segments as if I had seen them before. It reminded me of watching strange late night tv while I was half asleep at hotels. The ending was unpredictable and gave me something to think about. Overall, I really enjoyed it.
VHNo
natcalgary13 March 2020
Kookie...
warehousereviews2 December 2021
What a strange yet delightfully engaging movie. Stumble across it during a slow day at work and paused it halfway so we could finish it the next day.
We watched the Alan Resnick stuff on youtube, (Alantutorials, Unedited footage of a bear) and went down the rabbit hole watching too many cooks and all these old adultswim vids.... This reminded me of those vids. Was right up my ally.
And if you enjoyed this movie for what it was, take a look at the vids I mentioned as they are great. (watch alantutorial in chronological order)
We watched the Alan Resnick stuff on youtube, (Alantutorials, Unedited footage of a bear) and went down the rabbit hole watching too many cooks and all these old adultswim vids.... This reminded me of those vids. Was right up my ally.
And if you enjoyed this movie for what it was, take a look at the vids I mentioned as they are great. (watch alantutorial in chronological order)
VHYes
Prismark109 March 2020
Directed by Jack Henry Robbins. He is the son of Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon.
VHYes is some ways wants to be a nostalgic smorgasboard of late night 1980s television as well showing how camcorders became the precursor of found footage movies.
It is Christmas Day 1987. 12 year old Ralph gets a camcorder as a present and mistakenly uses his parents wedding video tape to record life as he sees it as well as various things on the television.
So you see snippets of shopping channels, learn how to paint shows and even some risque stuff.
It is meant to be an affectionate parody and comes across as zapping through the tv channels at great speed.
However this kind of spoofing was done better in something like Kentucky Fried Movie. Here as I am not American some of it just went over my head. Even If I was American, I doubt I would still find it funny.
VHYes is some ways wants to be a nostalgic smorgasboard of late night 1980s television as well showing how camcorders became the precursor of found footage movies.
It is Christmas Day 1987. 12 year old Ralph gets a camcorder as a present and mistakenly uses his parents wedding video tape to record life as he sees it as well as various things on the television.
So you see snippets of shopping channels, learn how to paint shows and even some risque stuff.
It is meant to be an affectionate parody and comes across as zapping through the tv channels at great speed.
However this kind of spoofing was done better in something like Kentucky Fried Movie. Here as I am not American some of it just went over my head. Even If I was American, I doubt I would still find it funny.
Boring vanity project of a Hollywood rich kid
cinemagick25 July 2020
I came to find out it's just a patchwork of the filmmaker's short films, which I think is slightly lazy.
Annoying anachronistic detail: One vignette features a painting of Dennis Rodman in his red #91 jersey. This film is supposed to be take place in 1987. Dennis Rodman wasn't even playing for the Bulls as #91 until 1995. Again, pretty lazy filmmaking in my opinion.
As a fan of vintage video technology, especially VHS, and the culture VHS birthed in the 80's, I found this film rather insulting.
Annoying anachronistic detail: One vignette features a painting of Dennis Rodman in his red #91 jersey. This film is supposed to be take place in 1987. Dennis Rodman wasn't even playing for the Bulls as #91 until 1995. Again, pretty lazy filmmaking in my opinion.
As a fan of vintage video technology, especially VHS, and the culture VHS birthed in the 80's, I found this film rather insulting.
Rollercoaster of nostalgia
jbaileyfl18 October 2021
If I had a complaint about this movie it would be that it had too much packed into such a short film. I am very greedy with a 10 star rating, but this movie really cooked my noodle a bit. I felt something inside me while watching this; I don't know if it was the hi resolution retro quality, the familiarity in the programming, or the bursts of hitting all the channels at the right time. If you have given this movie a low star, please rewatch it and think of another movie that comes close to the genre this director has created. The closest I can think is paranormal activity. To put it concisely, an unusually warm candid experience.
Botched Rodman sight gag wrecked it.
confusion_ends11 February 2021
For the life of me, I can't understand why they'd let that crap slip...and I know someone else has already brought it up, but wow. Why do that? If you're so desperately going for the 80s vibe/time, then why screw yourself with a huge error?
Then I realized why it happened. The son of Tim Robbins simply pieced previous shorts together to situate this flick. All I have to type to that is this: that's LAZY!
This entire thing could've (and should've) been so much better. Maybe a person who was born in 1989 isn't qualified to do an 80s parody. Just a thought.
Sucked.
Then I realized why it happened. The son of Tim Robbins simply pieced previous shorts together to situate this flick. All I have to type to that is this: that's LAZY!
This entire thing could've (and should've) been so much better. Maybe a person who was born in 1989 isn't qualified to do an 80s parody. Just a thought.
Sucked.
Totally fun
injury-6544714 January 2021
What is this
Magik678 July 2020
This should have been hilarious
MCoverKT21 September 2021
VHExcrement 0/10
fluffchop21 December 2021
Few movies need lower than a one star. This is such a "film". An unwatchable assortment of utter garbage. I can't stand Tim Robbins nor Susan Sarandon and I'm not surprised to find out their son made this movie. It's just the stinking pile of poop one would expect from that lineage. This movie is truly not worth watching. 0/10.
An amazingly artistic metaphor about humanity's undoing
jonwest10218 July 2020
I'm upset the reviews I find on this film are so dissatisfied with it. I think it's a work of comic genius that is simultaneously a delightful and unique period piece that brings the whole thing full circle with an excellently subtle underlying theme that comes into full focus after completing the film. Artsy folks with dark sense of humor must check it out.
Could have been a masterpiece
maki-lipkovski21 March 2022
A very original, enjoyable ode to Television culture of the eighties. I love the fact how funny and original are the TV shows which are the main part of the movie. Everybody did a great job - the creators and the actors, as well as the set and costume department. I laughed out loud at some moments and really enjoyed the whole film.
What spoiled it for me is that the intimate family story of the boy whose camera is the main character which serves as the backbone of the whole film is just really shallow. That would still be fine, because it is not the point of the movie obviously, but then the creators also try to really didactically make a point (which was quite unnecessary, we got the point even without them explicitly saying it) using the characters of this story. Add to that the overly positive ending of the film, and that is where you really get this yucky feeling of watching a YouTube video.
Luckily, this really only happens in the last minutes of the movie, so all in all it is definitely worth watching. In my opinion, if the backstory and the ending were just a little bit better this would have been a masterpiece.
The music in the movie is awesome.
What spoiled it for me is that the intimate family story of the boy whose camera is the main character which serves as the backbone of the whole film is just really shallow. That would still be fine, because it is not the point of the movie obviously, but then the creators also try to really didactically make a point (which was quite unnecessary, we got the point even without them explicitly saying it) using the characters of this story. Add to that the overly positive ending of the film, and that is where you really get this yucky feeling of watching a YouTube video.
Luckily, this really only happens in the last minutes of the movie, so all in all it is definitely worth watching. In my opinion, if the backstory and the ending were just a little bit better this would have been a masterpiece.
The music in the movie is awesome.
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