A Happening of Monumental Proportions (2017) User Reviews

A Very Uninteresting and Unfortunate Failure

[ChrisMIN43211 · 4/10 · 29 January 2019]

That's one way to explain what was a missed opportunity with the ensemble cast featured in this alleged comedy. A single father (played by the rapper/actor Common), is suddenly beset by a relationship revelation and a curious incident at his place of employment. While his daughter waits for his Career Day presentation at her school, that very place is the scene of a man's dead body at the school. It's being handled by administrators in a curious "we must keep this secret" fashion. The directing debut of Judy Greer (professional "best friend" in multiple rom-coms) doesn't hold much appeal beyond some scenery. Most characters here you care just enough about, but it's in a mostly unfunny script.

Adult movie disguised as a kids movie

[krice23 · 6/10 · 21 March 2019]

The movie was fine. It was entertaining. It did it's job. However, I have two observations. Firstly, most of the movie deals with strictly adult themes, ie an extra marritial affair, a corpse on middle school grounds, being framed at work for vandalism, an inter-office affair with a subordinate, cock comparing, not to mention a goodly deal of cursing and vulgarities, which doesn't bother me personally, but as it also has a major kids theme running throughout that all the "cockblocking" etc references just don't seem to warrant or justify. These are the exact words used in the film, not mine! Secondly, in light of the fact that this is a 2018 release, was it really necessary to refer to an arm burn as "an Indian rug burn" - twice?! Really? This wasn't a satirical film, so it wasn't an Archie Bunker moment (kids, you can google it). And they pretty much screwed the metro movement in the face (those are my words). Hey, I was born in a very non-Pc 1957, and yes, I grew up with that phrase and likely even used it myself back then a time or two (I wasn't particularly into roughhousing), but People! Haven't we made any progress? What the hell is that phrase even supposed to mean, anyway? Why is twisting your arm in opposite directions contributed to the actions of Indians? Or, is it just another racially bigoted stereotype? Me thinks the latter. And look, I don't ask for perfection, just progress, and someone was definitely asleep at the wheel when they approved this script! My final word? I don't think this film knew it's audience or who it was playing to because you can't put parents and kids together to watch this one, that's for sure. Feels like a crisis of identity to me. Pick a lane and stay in it. Aside from all that, I loved the cast! Nice ensemble!

A quirky, slowburning comedy, with a bunch of terrific actors, but which wont really set my pants on fire...

[imseeg · 6/10 · 27 April 2024]

Directing DEBUT of actress Judy Greer. It is quite a warmhearted, nicely made quirky, slowburning comedy, but it somehow didnt ignite...

The bad:there is a fine line between quirky and silly. And quirky comedy is the kind of jokes that are created out of weird, but true to life situations. Silly comedies however, are created out of absurd NOT true to life situations. This movie tried to mix quirky with silly jokes and that was it weak point.

I liked this movie when it tried to be serious and true to life. I did not like this movie that much when it geared into silly territory.

The good: a bunch of great actors, acting really well. Lots of original, witty dialogues. Lots of funny plot turns. And an overall really warmhearted spirit of caring for one another, packaged inside a bit of a silly story of marital infidelity and office shenanigans.

Utterly forgettable

[enigma-947-339467 · 3/10 · 30 October 2018]

I think I laughed 3 times in the entire movie. Also, Keanu Reaves is the first actor listed in this app and he's in the movie for all of 5 minutes. I remember when comedies used to be funny.

what?????

[ops-52535 · 2/10 · 25 October 2018]

This is not horror,thriller,romance,drama,sci-fi,musical or comedy, its just a bunch of actors that are usually above average standard in the art of acting, clinging to a ozone layer thin storyline about stupid teachers, a dead man,a lottery ticket,a damaged coffee machine,dultrey and adultry and soforth. its just a mess of a screenwriters decline toward alzheimer because it shows all the signs of a demented person. this comedy didnt even make me smile,it didnt even engage a braincell which ive got tens/tons of,a motheaten product of nothing. i give 2 because of the children.

Such a bad ending

[LtlHippo · 1/10 · 4 May 2022]

Avoid this disaster. Horrible ending. The whole bathroom scene was so cringeworthy! All the star power couldn't save this dud. And now I see I have to leave at least 150 characters so I'll end it by saying I wonder if any of the A listers are sorry they made this film.

Awful

[rosscevans · 1/10 · 30 September 2019]

Genuinely awful, avoid this at all costs.

I can't believe I wasted an evening watching this, thankfully it's a short film.

Load of rubbish

[kelsey-ian-1965 · 1/10 · 29 August 2019]

Silly, cringe worthy, unfunny and a waste of my entertainment seeking time. If anyone's not feeling great before watching the movie, they won't feel any better after watching it.

Surprisingly sweet & sentimental

[michaelberanek275 · 8/10 · 23 January 2021]

Not exactly what one was expecting but it turned out to have this touching thing going on in the interface between the child and adult worlds - for me anyway. The disappointed user reviews suggest the film was marketed wrongly as another gross-out caper, which it only sort of is. OK some scenes are a bit awkward and off-beat, but actually consider it a dark comedy drama dealt out with a deft and light touch. I enjoyed the rich photography of the edge of city school location especially the glowing finale, the heart warming pop soundtrack, and the actors of all ages are great with quirky characters to match. Give it a break dissing it and let others have a try -- or is urbanity and optimism now so really out of fashion?

Watched it all through so worth more than one star

[paulatepc66 · 3/10 · 7 July 2020]

Forgettable, but amusing, not sure what the story was about. Spent most of the movie wondering who was Keanu Reeves and whether he had changed his appearance. Realised at the end that he was there because of his name.

Why! What a waste...

[jtboone2 · 4/10 · 2 April 2022]

One look at the cast and it's just amazing that all these people agreed to do this monumentally stupid film. They must have REALLY been hurting for work during the pandemic? Dunno. I RARELY write reviews but this one was such a waste of time, waste of talent, waste, waste, waste...

Just... Why??

[courtneyjjjjjjjj · 3/10 · 10 June 2021]

I don't understand WTF I just watched. Seriously, there's no genre that this movie comes even close to... And hopefully no movie will EVER try again.

I'm a West Wing tragic so when I saw Bradley Whitford and Allison Janney in the same movie I was beside myself with joy.

This movie is SO BAD that not even the talents of these two exceptional actors could save it.

It's one weird movie.

[brucenserekolule · 5/10 · 25 June 2020]

As the title says it's one weird movie. It goes nowhere!