HERE TODAY (12A) ★★III
Here Today bids to address the issue of dementia through comedy and a May-to-December romance between director Billy Crystal and co-star Tiffany Haddish.
Veteran comedy writer Charlie Burnz (Crystal) has Emmy and Tony awards aplenty.
Surrounded by enthusiastic twentysomethings in the writers’ room, for his hit comedy This Just In, he’s the voice of experience. But unbeknownst to his colleagues, Charlie is
contending with “a form of dementia”.
His routine is shattered when he offers an hour of his time as a charity auction prize and aspiring singer Emma Payge (Haddish) turns up for lunch.
A violent allergic reaction to mussels dispatches Emma to A&E with Charlie in tow and
an unlikely friendship is forged.
Here Today focuses intently on Charlie at the expense of everyone in his orbit.
The talented leads are at their best when they trade one-liners and the script, from Crystal and former Saturday Night Live writer Alan Zweibel, sings when it pokes fun at the business of comedy. But Haddish’s character is disappointingly light on back story and once the tone shifts to reflect the deterioration of a brilliant mind, the writing fails to live up to the leads’ superb chemistry.
■ In selected cinemas from Friday