Having a devil of a time (CREDIT: Vertical Entertainment; LevelFILM/Screenshot)

I Used to Be Funny

Starring: Rachel Sennott, Olga Petsa, Jason Jones, Sabrina Jalees, Caleb Hearon, Ennis Esmer, Dani Kind

Director: Ally Pankiw

Running Time: 106 Minutes

Rating: Unrated

Release Date: June 7, 2024 (Theaters)

The Exorcism

Starring: Russell Crowe, Ryan Simpkins, Adam Goldberg, Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, David Hyde Pierce, Marcenae Lynette, Tracey Bonner, Samantha Mathis, Adrian Pasdar

Director: Joshua John Miller

Running Time: 95 Minutes

Rating: R

Release Date: June 21, 2024 (Theaters)

Hello! I recently saw this indie movie called I Used to Be Funny. It stars Rachel Sennott. I am a BIG fan of hers. And then, just a few days later, I saw a different movie, with a different title. And that title is… The Exorcism. (Not to be confused with The Pope’s Exorcist.)

Considering how much Sennott has made me laugh in her previous flicks, I was a little wary that this latest outing seemed to be promising the loss of that ability. But thankfully I Used to Be Funny lets us in on the trauma that explains the displacement of her comic skillz. Get well soon, Sam*! (*-That’s the name of Rachel’s character.) I hope you find your funny bone again!

In all honesty, though, I Used to Be Funny would have been a more appropriate name for The Exorcism. In a profound display of lifelessness, it stars Russell Crowe as an actor battling addiction as he attempts to star as the main priest in a remake of The Exorcist. That possessed classic has a reputation as one of the greatest horror movies of all time. But let’s not forget that, like many terrific tales of terror, it’s also quite hilarious. (Who in their warped mind can forget the spider walk scene?!!!) But The Exorcism inspires nary a chuckle. Except, that is, when David Hyde Pierce is on screen. He plays an actual priest and brings some fidgety and thoughtful verve to the cloth.

Grades:
I Used to Be Funny: 10 Flashbacks out of 7 Open Mic Nights
The Exorcism: Satan’s Not Home