Film Review: HERE TODAY (2021): Funny Man Billy Crystal’s Return to Form

Here Today Review

Here Today (2021) Film Review, a movie directed by Billy Crystal, and starring Billy Crystal, Tiffany Haddish, Penn Badgley, Laura Benanti, Louisa Krause, Kevin Kline, Sharon Stone, Barry Levinson, Anna Deavere Smith, and Sarah Stiles. 

Comic genius Billy Crystal returns to form in his latest mediocre but heartfelt new dramatic comedy, Here Today. When I think about the possibilities of this new picture, which co-stars the always hysterical Tiffany Haddish, the bar is set pretty high. This film delivers a lot of laughs and heartfelt sincerity but much like his 1998 box-office disappointment, My Giant, the new picture ultimately falters due to too much gooey sappiness towards the end. However, the effort deserves respect for its noble attempt to portray a man’s experience with dementia and its impact on his family, his career and his friends.

As the movie opens, Crystal’s character, Charlie Berns, a comedy sketch show writer, meets Emma (Tiffany Haddish) for a lunch appointment that was supposed to benefit charity. As it turns out, Charlie’s lunch date with Emma is all for a mere $22 bid that Emma’s boyfriend made. Emma has an allergic reaction to seafood while eating with Charlie and this scene falls completely flat as Emma’s lip becomes enlarged and, as a result, she must seek medical attention. Charlie helps Emma with her resulting medical bills and Emma promises to pay him back as the picture begins to portray the friendship they develop as a result of their unconventional meeting. These are two characters who seem to have little in common but before the credits roll, the audience will be completely moved by their friendship.

Haddish’s performance is full of remarkable sensitivity alongside the obvious comic moments as she discovers that Charlie is struggling with dementia. There are some truly moving moments between Emma and Charlie which will definitely touch the audience. Emma becomes concerned with Charlie’s odd memory loss which sporadically displays itself. For example, while on a talk show with past co-workers Barry Levinson, Sharon Stone, and Kevin Kline (all playing themselves), he can’t remember his former colleague’s names.

The comedy show Crystal’s character Charlie works on is ill-conceived. With some fine comic talents such as Sarah Stiles (of Broadway’s production of Tootsie) playing cast members, the jokes and sketches mostly fall flat. A “Saturday Night Live”-inspired show, it lacks the credibility necessary to make us believe Charlie’s successful show has stood the test of time. As Charlie helps another male writer find his funny center and, ultimately, performs an improvisational attack on a fellow male cast member, we rarely believe that this show would be successful.

However, there are some very touching scenes throughout. Laura Benanti plays Francine, Charlie’s daughter, who somewhat blames Charlie for her mother’s death. Charlie decided to stay behind and watch a performance of one of the shows he worked on one night when his wife got into a car accident. These dramatic scenes can move audience members to tears at certain points. There are scenes of Charlie and his wife in flashbacks and they are interesting, especially the scene where the wife gives birth in a museum.

Haddish and Crystal ultimately make the film what it is, for better or worse: A study of an unconventional friendship between a woman and an older man. Some audience members may find parallels to Lost in Translation. But, this film isn’t on that level.

Anna Deavere Smith gives a good supporting turn as Charlie’s doctor who periodically gives his character updates on the progression of his dementia. Smith is quite likable and offers warm sincerity in her characterization.

You may find yourself wiping a few tears away at the conclusion of the picture but the unevenness of the picture ultimately undermines the emotional impact the film makes. It is also too emotionally manipulative much like the Crystal picture mentioned earlier My Giant which was about an unlikely friendship between a dying giant and a talent scout (who was played by Crystal).

But, Haddish and Crystal trade some zingy barbs and have a rapport that is rather enjoyable overall which makes the film a curiosity piece for anyone who wants to see Crystal back at work doing what we remember him for back in the late 1980’s and 1990’s.

Here Today is nothing less than an interesting character study between two unlikely people.

Rating: 6/10

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