EDtv

	A film review by Mark O'Hara Copyright © 1999 Mark O'Hara

Ron Howard's 'EDtv' is full of ideas that double back upon their own trails, like tricky raccoons on the run.

Where else but in Hollywood would you find a work that indicts television, made by people whose roots are in television? Ron Howard starred in 'The Andy Griffith Show' and 'Happy Days.' Rob Reiner, who plays Mr. Whitaker the network honcho, was the meathead Michael Stivic in 'All in the Family.' Woody Harrelson, the title character's brother Ray, attained major airtime in 'Cheers.' Even Clint Howard, a fixture in all of his brother's movies, played a couple of seasons in 'Gentle Ben.'

Their experience certainly serves them well in 'EDtv,' as we see realistic treatments of what goes on behind the camera. It seems that each character in the film has an agenda, a collection of motives that are always self-serving and selfish. In the end the film is a dead-on satire that entertains but, paradoxically, contradicts itself with a Hollywood ending.

A producer at a floundering cable television network, Cynthia (Ellen DeGeneres) conceives a risky scheme intended to boost ratings. She runs a contest in which countless average citizens audition to have their daily lives put on the air. What is Cynthia's hope? That she'll save her own career as well as the careers of her staff. It's a last-ditch attempt, and it succeeds. Though at first the life of Ed (Matthew McConnaughey) appears boring (how long can viewers be captivated by tours of Ed's apartment and by the flavor of his down-home stories?), the program soon becomes as exciting as the juiciest soap opera.

When does the ho-hum documentary become drama? When the camera crew follows Ed to his brother Ray's apartment, 'EDtv' watchers discover Ray has spent the night with a woman who is not his girlfriend. Said girlfriend Shari (Jenna Elfman, TV's Dharma) phones immediately to confront Ray. The nastiness escalates when Ed takes the crew to the digs of the offended Shari, his purpose to plead Ray's case. Passionate whims take over, however, and we witness an unwitting kiss as Ed and Shari fall for each other. What follows is not as down and dirty as 'The Jerry Springer Show,' but still vile and savage.

As the title character, Matthew McConnaughey turns in his best performance in memory. Ron Howard directs well the sequences in which we see Ed's Texas charm. Ed is a 31 year-old under-achiever, a video store clerk who is unremarkable but nevertheless likable. In previous roles McConnaughey seemed two-dimensional at best, but here we care about his character when the television show begins to make off with his dignity. Sure, Ed has fun for awhile; McConnaughey elicits our sympathy for Ed when things start to go really wrong.

Woody Harrelson has no trouble being the most flamboyant presence in the film. His Ray is passionate, rascally, vindictive. We can imagine this guy writing a book called 'My Brother Pissed On Me,' though he has never even read a book. It's unfortunate that Harrelson's screen time dwindles as the film progresses.

Jenna Elfman is fine as Shari; she plays well the part of being embarrassed by the ever-present cameras. Shari is a driver for UPS, and of course becomes the object of national scrutiny as her budding, somewhat forbidden romance with Ed appears in every living room. Her wounded act becomes stale after awhile, though. As Ed and Ray's stepfather Al, Martin Landau delivers another memorable supporting performance. Too bad this movie appears too early in the year to be remembered for the Oscars. In a small role, Clint Howard is convincing as the man faced with following Ed's footsteps, coordinating the broadcast from the television truck. This outing brings some characterization, as Clint Howard's technician has hair plugs: "I've stopped payment on the plugs. You gave me doll hair!" he rages into a phone at one point. Perhaps this Howard deserves a bigger part next movie - his face is certainly sharp and intriguing in middle age.

An unusual motif is noticeable in the way characters spend their spare time. As they watch television - which is always on, in homes and bars - these people seem constantly to be exercising. They peddle curious stationary bikes, lift weights, all in pursuit of the slimness and fitness that the filmmakers suggest are included in the goals of average Americans. Even more curious is Ed's status as blue-collar hero: in fact he's a chameleon with his accent, switching from a neutral middle-American diction to an East Texas twang at will. The result for the viewer carries a disappointing, Roseanne-like effect. This guy's posing as a good old boy but embraces the same materialistic and romantic ends as the rest of us.

Another of the film's agendas is to meet the standards of political correctness. In portraying the audience of Whitaker's network, the writers show the gamut of races and preferences: a homosexual couple, an African-American couple, even a group of factory workers. Although the device of highlighting these viewers' responses is right out of 'The Truman Show,' it serves as a fascinating sort of subplot. Many of the responses themselves are hilarious, but their ultimate purpose is a self-reflexive parody. Let's face it - we American viewers are the targets of Howard's double-edged satire. Yes, the movie attacks the executive schlumps, but it also assaults the mind-sets that demand the type of programming of which EDtv is a sleazy example. What you have to love about the film is that it pokes so much fun not only at the average Joe - represented by Ed Pekurney and his family - but at the average jerk who tunes in.

There's no question Ron Howard knows the formula for a slick and successful Hollywood movie. In 'EDtv' he and his screenwriters, veterans Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel, depict life's hard knocks and nuances; but the last quarter of the film neatly fits back into the mold of happy and romantic closure. The film is generally pleasing, especially in its treatment of Americans' obsession with media in all its crafty forms. Ideas flow freely here, and fans can only hope that at least one of the films in his future will buttress Howard's headiness with a risky and less mainstream ending.

	Running Time: 122 Min | Rated PG-13 | US Release: March 26th | More >>

Related 'EDtv' Links:

• Official Site
• The IMDB: EDtv (1999)
• Upcomingmovies.com: EDtv

Fame. Be careful. It's out there.