‘Cunk on Life’ Netflix Movie Review - Diane Morgan is a Genius

As Philomena Cunk, Diane Morgan is hilarious, witty, and inimitable. Her deadpan humor has a seductive charm - it makes you want to run towards her and say, "Make me yours. I surrender." The childish jokes woven into the fabric of the Cunk films and shows can easily become grating in the hands of an amateur. Even the formula - puncturing serious questions/answers with more silly remarks - can easily turn into something predictable and monotonous. The Cunk productions, in other words, are always on the edge of becoming an unfunny disaster. It's a terrific Morgan who holds everything together. Her Philomena first appeared on Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe, and I am glad she didn't disappear into oblivion after that initial appearance. This interviewer might be dim-witted and ill-informed, but it's a joy to see how these "weaknesses" are converted into comic rewards by talented cast and crew members. It's always a pleasure to watch Philomena. She kicks boredom out of the frame with her amusing, magnetic presence.

Before Cunk on Life, I watched Cunk on Earth and was surprised by its intense concentration of humor. The comical pitch of that series is so high that it becomes hectic here and there. When that happens, you get the jokes but not the motivation to laugh. But when the jokes manage to bypass this frenetic wall, you roar with laughter. I had to pause the show a few times to calm myself down. One of my favorite jokes from Cunk on Earth involves Philomena talking about how her ex, Paul, after surviving an accident, cursed that if he ever saw Jesus again, he would be a dead man. The mockumentary also has these "silent visual jokes," like Philomena pretending to read a book or looking "introspective" in front of the camera. The five episodes were a delight to watch.

Cunk on Life borrows most of its elements from Cunk on Earth. Philomena once again pokes fun at Christianity (other religious groups are not very tolerant, as was evident from the "censoring" of the Muhammad sequence from Cunk on Earth). Some of the experts from the show reappear in this film. And, oh yes, the song Pump Up The Jam is also present. One of the "informative texts" at the bottom informs us that this song was originally composed for Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ. Cunk on Life is filled with more such nonsensically juicy trivia. However, the most deliciously shocking thing about the film is that it's absolutely nuts - in a good way, of course. Without getting into spoilers, let's just say I wasn't expecting Hubble's story to go in THAT direction. I couldn't believe what I was seeing on the screen; I was speechless. The same compliment can be extended to that meditation sequence. What the Cunk vehicles ultimately prove is that you need to be intelligent to craft even lowbrow humor. Don't let a mainstream filmmaker tell you that you need to leave your brains at home to enjoy their infantile claptrap. Maybe they can learn something from Philomena.

Final Score- [9/10]
Reviewed by - Vikas Yadav
Follow @vikasonorous on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times