This is a low budget film. Very low budget. As such we should appreciate what has been achieved. It is funny and quirky with a few subtle jokes there to be teased out on a second viewing (like the internal joke about a production being given a name that people will not understand until they see it - like 'Zemanaovaload'). Byrne gives a fun performance as the weary, OCD-suffering writer who turns his attention to the voluptuous Veronika Zemanova - or anyone working in the local supermarket who happens to look like her. I *think* Will Self has a cameo too. Give Jayson Rothwell a real budget and watch him go....
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frank-5846 September 2005
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dgaither11 March 2005If most of Ed Byrne's work is superior to this, as another commenter has suggested, I need to start digging up his performances. I found this to be a very funny movie and the audience I was with had at least a dozen group explosions of laughter. I found the humor to be similar to that of the "Friends" TV show, if that show had been R-Rated. I think the effectiveness of the film derives from the fact that so many characters and situations are recognizable from ordinary life as lived by the rest of us. Then the film takes just that extra step or two toward absurdity that makes you appreciate the inherent absurdity in the "ordinary" situation it grew out of. The impromptu jig John dances as he's listening to a voice mail message from someone he's taken revenge on will lift your spirits. How I wish I could dance that step. ***Spoiler Alert*** You should not go to this movie expecting to see Veronika Zemanova acting. John Davies' obsession with her is limited to downloading and printing various clothed and unclothed photos of her from the internet and decorating his apartment with them. He's right though in saying of Georgina Chapman that "if you squint just right. . .".
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theNomadz5 September 2005Ed Burn plays John Davies a midlife crisis ridden OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) writer,who's partner Suki has left along with the bulk of his possessions.
With an horror film script rewrite to finish and new found job of writing plot lines for a prime time soap,this new found pressure makes him suffer even more neurosis than normal leading him to become even more compulsive over a lads magazine super model he wants to cast in his film as the token none speaking movie boob shot.
All this while he's to deal with his friends,psychiatrist and his two imaginary finger friends (played by comedy duo Vic & Bob).
I personally loved this film its small but there in lies its beauty,in some areas it felt a little too like a sitcom but never for long enough to become stale.Ed Burn (thankfully not wasting his talents on lame pointless advert/clips television shows) proves to come across charming even among all his neurosis and becomes one of the few British stand-ups to prove he can act and hold a film,which when alongside other stand-ups like Steve Coogan & Lee Evens who became big on TV but who have both made dire moves onto the bigger screen.
I gave this an 8 out of 10 would of been higher if the ending wasn't so clearly rushed.That said its worthy nights entertainment congrats to Ed on doing what so many before him have failed at. -
wmajor-118 April 2005With all due respect to the comment by 2cents, "Zemanovaload" isn't an Ed Byrne stand-up showcase; you can watch his stand-up for that. This is his breakthrough as an actor, and it's a thoroughly memorable and enjoyable one. Rife with all the same sharp, witty dialogue and wry observations about life and relationships that audiences the world over have come to expect from British independent films, "Zemanovaload" is the first film I've seen to brutally dissect the dysfunctional way in which digital-age relationships have evolved while somehow finding a humorous silver lining to it all. Byrne's performance as neurotic and hopelessly obsessive-compulsive TV writer John Davies (the kind of guy who makes Woody Allen seem well-adjusted) rings disturbingly true to life, as does his obsession with supermodel Veronika Zemanova, who should easily become a household name with this film's worshipful title. A delight in all respects.
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2cents23 September 2004Ed Byrne is one of the funniest British comedians working today, I have seen him perform numerous times on the TV and recently I had the pleasure of seeing him live at the Edinburgh Festival, the man is hilarious . . . this film is just a joke.
Actually that may be a little harsh, in it's own way it is quite quirky and if it wasn't for the complete waste of Ed's talent then it could be seen as a nice little 'made for TV' britflick. But the potential was DID exist and it was wasted.
Ed is John a film and TV writer with quirky neurosis and hang-ups. He is completely shallow and only dates models. After being dumped he sets his sites on the top 'perfect 10' model (Miss Zemanova) and he continues to e-stalk her using the internet.
The production is so cheap that in one continuous paranoia gag they actually use the same piece of footage at least 10 times throughout the movie, and it was only mildly amusing the first time. ( Credit where it's due, Vic and Bob are actually quite amusing as Ed's fingers)
This is a terrible vehicle for Ed Byrne and isn't going to do his career any favours. My advice would be to watch it if it's on TV late and you have just come in after a night out (it's that sort of movie) certainly not worth wasting money on. Either at the cinema or as a DVD purchase.
Fans of Ed Byrnes comedy STAY AWAY, you will only be left unsatisfied. -
w-edwards24 December 2005What can I say - I LOVED IT!!! I tell you that has got to be one of the best feel-good movies I've seen this year. Acting - Great. Dialoge - Great. I couldn't think of a better ending. ( I'm chuckling just thinking about it while I type). I think that it is a must see for Veronika fans, a should see for others. PS there is a bit of nudity, but only about as much as an issue of Playboy - no graphic/raunchy sex. As you watch this show you will realize that you have probably been in the main character's shoes many times too often in your own life. I would love to mention some of the extremely funny scenes, but would hate to ruin the show for anyone else.
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Damo2526 September 2005Sorry to have to point out to you here, but last time I saw Ed Byrne he was still Irish. Having said that, I will have to see this film as it looks like a bit of a laugh. Hope its better than "The Cassidy's", an absolute train wreck of a sitcom that Ed did a couple of years back for RTE, watered down waste of talent that was. Anyway, I believe Ralph little is also in this film, usually does fairly funny stuff. I saw this DVD in the video shop the other day, as two 13year lads were snickering as they went to rent it, I'm sure they were disappointed to find that there is no porn in this what so ever, hope they had a laugh though.