Fired (DVD, 2007) NEW

Amazon.com A first-person documentary about a real-life bummer, Fired! finds actress Annabelle Gurwitch sorting through the phenomenon of losing a job. The impetus for this search? Gurwitch was cast in a Woody Allen play, only to be fired by Allen after rehearsals began. This showbiz stubbed toe inspires Gurwitch to go Michael Moore on the subject, only cuter and pleasanter. She solicits anecdotes from a large pool of comedy buddies, including David Cross, Tim Allen, Sarah Silverman, and Jeff Garlin, and she includes clips from a comedy concert where stand-ups recount their worst job experiences. These are generally pretty funny; less successful are Gurwitch's conceptual ideas, like putting Andy Dick in a traveling food van so that he can bewilder unsuspecting customers. Gurwitch also travels to Lansing, Michigan, interviewing auto workers about their tenuous relationship with a big car company. Surprisingly, she also gets an interview out of former Clinton Labor Secretary Robert Reich--which turns out to be not so surprising when Reich wonders if Gurwitch could maybe help out his son, who's also in show business. Some of this is mildly funny, but as appealing as Gurwitch is (you were wrong, Woody Allen), the movie feels unfocused. Included in the DVD: copious outtakes with more anecdotes from celebs about getting canned. --Robert Horton Product Description When actress Annabelle Gurwitch was fired from a play by Woody Allen, she wondered how she would cope with being downsized by a cultural icon. Turning to friends in show business she was assured she was not alone. Fired! features funny moments and tragic tales with a who’s-who of top-rated comedians and actors.