The real mystery of The Moguls is how so many incredibly talented actors agreed to take part - I'm guessing they lost some kind of bet. First rate character actors Jeff Bridges, William Fichtner, Joe Pantoliano, Patrick Fugit and John Hawkes and TV mainstays Ted Danson and Lauren Graham all try, but their characters are such flat clichés that it's painful to watch. They're clearly having a good time doing it, but what about us?
The film seems to make an attempt at an American version of The Full Monty and Calendar Girls, but instead it turns out to be something far less insightful or funny than Zack and Miri Make a Porno. The Moguls lacks in both humor and drama, trying to be heartwarming by showing us how loving and beautiful small-town America can be, but it mainly portrays its men as bumbling idiots. A framing device that makes absolutely no sense doesn't help either. The 1.5 stars are for some decent acting, especially from Danson and Pantoliano playing bravely against type, but it's not enough to drag the film out of the sewer. It just made me sadder that so many talented people wasted their time like that.
The film seems to make an attempt at an American version of The Full Monty and Calendar Girls, but instead it turns out to be something far less insightful or funny than Zack and Miri Make a Porno. The Moguls lacks in both humor and drama, trying to be heartwarming by showing us how loving and beautiful small-town America can be, but it mainly portrays its men as bumbling idiots. A framing device that makes absolutely no sense doesn't help either. The 1.5 stars are for some decent acting, especially from Danson and Pantoliano playing bravely against type, but it's not enough to drag the film out of the sewer. It just made me sadder that so many talented people wasted their time like that.