At first i was reluctant to watch this mostly because of the title of the film, but I m glad i did. It's a fun film. The concept is not new but the story is actually good with plenty of twists and surprises coupled with some good acting by the female lead and the cast overall. Runtime is sufficient and the pace of the film is good, making it easy to watch. Maybe a bit more violent than you would expect but maybe also a bit more funny than you would expect; the film does not try to take itself that serious. If you are looking for a fun, multi-faceted story with the protagonists getting more and more entangled as it progresses and toppled with some dark humour, then give it a go. 7/10
75 Reviews
Enjoyable thriller
jkt20063 April 2021
Allison Janney rocks yet again. This time as.in a different kind of character not seen before. The movie begins with her being a simple wife who is not even enough self assertive to begin with...and then...Good script leading to an entertaining thriller that is thoroughly enjoyable. Good direction by Tate Taylor. I enjoyed her last thriller AVA which was the reason I decided to watch this one and she does not disappoint.
Crazy, wonky story done with just the right amount of silliness
joscon-1661613 February 2021
From the weird haircuts to the crazy coincidences to the horrible dullness of every day life, this movie is quite the roller coaster. It was very entertaining IMO. It wont win any Oscars but its nice to have something thats both dark and funny all at once.
7
Edvis-199718 February 2021
Like,people,come on. How this Gem has only 5.4 Imdb and such low Metascore. I've never laugh so many times in like two years watching comedy. Yeah, I get it look like absurd and parodyt of movie but that what it is. It was really interesting to watch, it had so many plot twists, main character did amazing work. The best comedy of this year, hands down.
Deserves more credit
jakethesnake-4200721 March 2021
Every once in a while a movie comes out that flys under the radar that's really good and no one talks about and this is that movie. Crazy bonkers from start to finish. It's not amazing and it's maybe a little too bonkers at times but it's a fun film.
....
OGmacadamia3918 April 2021
A hidden gem,, just the right mixture of cray and fun
vovers119 February 2021
What Went Wrong?
gab-6759911 November 2021
You would think with so many good actors in this one it would be at least half good. You would be wrong if you though that. The story was ok but didn't really keep you invested until the end. It was just a hot mess some really good actors selling themselves very short when it comes to this movie. It was not worth watching really, not for comedy or anything else. Now the invisible guest, that was a movie stuck in my head!
Amusing black comedy that often recalls the Cohen Brothers' twisted storytelling
youngcollind10 August 2021
Crafting a tangled plot that weaves together it's deplorable characters through lies and misunderstandings. Allison Janney delivers a standout performance as the lead, impressively straddling the line between being sympathetic and morally reprehensible. It may come up a bit short on actual laughs, but it's inventive story is fun to watch play out. I can't for the life of me understand why other reviews of this are so low.
fun to watch
roger-schaubs14 February 2021
Unwatchable
jg-8361625 June 2021
Very entertaining
calicut1105 November 2021
I'm not sure why critics hate this one
stklaus19 February 2021
This is a light black slapstick comedy, which runs low-key, nothing spectacular, but is never boring. The humour and the film is driven by its entangled plot, for once it doesn't comprise laugh-out-loud, gross (there is some violence) or forced jokes, no, it's the satiric story that is fun and entertaining.
Since lots of people are involved, I give you some story infos for an easier watch (which won't spoil anything):
Her (A.Janney) husband Karl (M. Modine), a banker, was involved in money laundering and now ows money to the bad guys. Her brother Pete (J. Simpson) seemed to do some robbery and is also involved with the bad guys coincidentally. Her sister (Mila Kunis) works for a small TV station.
After lots and lots of bad comedies this was a surprise; maybe it's a bit harsh with American lifestyle, thats why they hated it(?)
Since lots of people are involved, I give you some story infos for an easier watch (which won't spoil anything):
Her (A.Janney) husband Karl (M. Modine), a banker, was involved in money laundering and now ows money to the bad guys. Her brother Pete (J. Simpson) seemed to do some robbery and is also involved with the bad guys coincidentally. Her sister (Mila Kunis) works for a small TV station.
After lots and lots of bad comedies this was a surprise; maybe it's a bit harsh with American lifestyle, thats why they hated it(?)
Not a particularly special black comedy
Okonh0wp19 December 2021
Black comedies involving ordinary people who get mixed up with hitmen are pretty much a dime a dozen and this doesn't stand out one bit. It doesn't help that the plot contrivance for how the subject gets caught up in the mob -- she portrays her husband's death as a disappearance to get attention-- is flimsy, boring, and makes her look unsympathetic.
There's also not much of a thematic thrust for the film to attach itself to. Is it about two sisters bonding? Is it about hitmen being hitmen? Is it a tragedy?
The best I could say is that it has a solid cast but they're not giving much to do.
There's also not much of a thematic thrust for the film to attach itself to. Is it about two sisters bonding? Is it about hitmen being hitmen? Is it a tragedy?
The best I could say is that it has a solid cast but they're not giving much to do.
quirky black comedy with limited laughs
SnoopyStyle1 May 2021
Sue Buttons (Allison Janney) is tired of being overlooked. It's her birthday and nobody cares. She catches her banker husband Karl (Matthew Modine) cheating in a motel. He dies from the sex and she buries him. She decides to use it to get the attention she craves. She reports Karl missing to the police and her half-sister reporter Nancy (Mila Kunis). Detective Cam Harris (Regina Hall) is not buying it one bit. Unbeknownst to them, Karl has been forced to launder money for Mina (Awkwafina) and her ruthless daddy. They want their money back. Karl's brother Petey (Jimmi Simpson) assumes that Mina had kidnapped Karl. Petey's boss Rita (Wanda Sykes) is eager to join the crime world.
This is trying to be The Big Lebowski but the filmmakers are nowhere near as capable as the Coen brothers. The premise has that potential and it must be the reason why it attracted so many interesting names. This black comedy needs a better rooting interest from the lead. While I foresaw the ultimate survivor in this, it doesn't make it good and the movie ends with problems. The one-year-after ending leaves some loose threads. Quite frankly, this needs to end at the gunfight. The story doesn't want to keep going. The aftermath is up to the audience. There are also issues with some the side characters. I can't accept that Mina is obsessed with $20k when millions are missing. I don't think Awkwafina is good for that role anyways. All in all, this has some fun but the problems keep it from being that good.
This is trying to be The Big Lebowski but the filmmakers are nowhere near as capable as the Coen brothers. The premise has that potential and it must be the reason why it attracted so many interesting names. This black comedy needs a better rooting interest from the lead. While I foresaw the ultimate survivor in this, it doesn't make it good and the movie ends with problems. The one-year-after ending leaves some loose threads. Quite frankly, this needs to end at the gunfight. The story doesn't want to keep going. The aftermath is up to the audience. There are also issues with some the side characters. I can't accept that Mina is obsessed with $20k when millions are missing. I don't think Awkwafina is good for that role anyways. All in all, this has some fun but the problems keep it from being that good.
Okay
atractiveeyes16 February 2021
I actually saw this movie because of its very interesting cast and it turns out to be a fun mess. The story is definitely entertaining but it's also dumb, lame, and chaotic. Performances in general are all good and funny but Allison Janney and Akwafina are amazing. If you want to see and enjoy Breaking News In Yuba County just don't take it seriously.
Breaking News in Yuba County
JoBloTheMovieCritic26 February 2021
6/10 - this direct-to-DVD film is one that I wouldn't have bothered with except they happened to get some of my favorite stars and director on board...and let's just say while engaging, it isn't a must-see by any means
What was this?
itaylor-5066523 June 2021
Started out great, with solid comedic potential and Allison Chaney doing a great job.
But why the sudden and repeated violence half way through? Was this supposed to be a comedy or a violence movie? If failed by trying to be both.
But why the sudden and repeated violence half way through? Was this supposed to be a comedy or a violence movie? If failed by trying to be both.
A gold mine
cekadah21 February 2021
If you really love dark humor with oddball characters this film is a gold mine! I'm sure the 'general public' won't tune-in to the flavor of this story but for me it is perfect.
Casting, script, editing all top notch. It's best to watch first then read about it. Then you'll want to watch again.
Casting, script, editing all top notch. It's best to watch first then read about it. Then you'll want to watch again.
Pretty funny meditation on how we allow media to controll us
douglasp15 February 2021
This movie probably won't last long in your memory but it is pretty funny while you're watching it.
The basic plot is a woman who feels invisible decides to use her husband's death from a heart attack as a means to gain fame and recognition.
But what the movie is really about is how media, instead of bringing us together, makes us feel insignificant and how, basically, we are all controlled by how we imagine we would appear on TV.
All of the performances are fine. The writing is pretty good. The characters act absurdly but they are supposed to. And the movie is only a little over 90 minutes!
The basic plot is a woman who feels invisible decides to use her husband's death from a heart attack as a means to gain fame and recognition.
But what the movie is really about is how media, instead of bringing us together, makes us feel insignificant and how, basically, we are all controlled by how we imagine we would appear on TV.
All of the performances are fine. The writing is pretty good. The characters act absurdly but they are supposed to. And the movie is only a little over 90 minutes!
An Uneasy Mix of Comedy and Drama
benjithehunter23 April 2021
An overlooked, lonely woman catches her husband having an affair which gives him a heart attack and kills him and, instead of calling the police, she decides to bury the body and tell everyone he's missing, making her a local celebrity.
The concept of Breaking News in Yuba County is a strong one and director, Tate Taylor, has assembled an enviable group of fantastic actors to bring these characters to life, but the tone keeps veering in between comic farce and gritty, violent drama and they never meet in the middle in a satisfying way. The violence feels like something from an entirely different movie and the comedy, which I'm sure read as more farcical on the page, is played too straight to manage more than a chuckle or two from the audience.
The concept of Breaking News in Yuba County is a strong one and director, Tate Taylor, has assembled an enviable group of fantastic actors to bring these characters to life, but the tone keeps veering in between comic farce and gritty, violent drama and they never meet in the middle in a satisfying way. The violence feels like something from an entirely different movie and the comedy, which I'm sure read as more farcical on the page, is played too straight to manage more than a chuckle or two from the audience.
Almost a social commentary on today's media game
jeroduptown22 May 2021
Janney is a doormat of a lady, overlooked at work and at home - and when she happens upon an opportunity to be noticed...she takes it. It's an almost dark comedy that isn't nearly as funny as it could be with Awkwafina and Wanda.
Nice actually, I enjoyed it
eng_amrsamir2 March 2022
I started watching this movie because I am a fan of Allison Janney but the real enjoyment came from other actors like Awkwafina, Bridget Everett, Regina Hall, Wanda Sykes
If you watched Burn after reading and likes it probably you would like this one as well.
Dark comedy with fun cast
sabrakittycat-788-6978868 January 2022
I'm perplexed as to why this got such low ratings. The plot had twists yet somehow remained predictable. Everyone committed to their character 100%, even if their screen time was just a few minutes like Ellen Barkin's role. I'll admit that I'm getting a little bored of the Awkwafina character where she plays herself but with different names and wardrobe. This is definitely a fun flick for a Friday evening.
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