The main actor is quite good. He's really believable and his final big scene was impressively acted. The movie makes great points but overall it was a little boring and not scary. The ending felt rushed and didn't quite make sense. Will definitely be looking forward to more by Jim Cummings, but this was a one time watch for me.
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hannah-mae9110 December 2021
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Nevergivea1010 February 2022I honestly have no idea what I just watched. It wasn't terrible but it certainly wasn't good. I wasn't bored but I was in no way into it. I knew what was happening, yet I was confused. It wasn't funny but I did laugh a few times.
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As "The Beta Test" (2021 release; 93 min.) opens, a woman confesses to her Swedish boyfriend to having had a one night stand. The boyfriend promptly kills her. We are then introduced to Jordan, who is about to be married in 2 months, and his Hollywood talent agency partner PJ. Jordan receives an anonymous invite for a discreet no-strings sexual encounter, and he is very tempted... At this point we are 10 min into the movie but to tell you more of the plot would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.
Couple of comments: this is the newest film from co-directors, co-writers, co-producers and co-stars Jim Cummings (as Jordan) and PJ McCabe (who didn't even bother changing his character's name). From the get-go I felt pulled in by this movie for a number of reasons. First and foremost, it is impossible to predict how it's all going to play out (and the movie is very plot-heavy, by the way). Second, the script is tight, very tight, and balances drama with dark humor effortlessly. Third, the cast (the 2 guys with their significant others, and several side characters) are outstanding. Cummings reminds me of a young Jim Carrey. I was amazed how quickly this film flew by.
This film was shot in the Fall of 2019, yes over 2 years ago, but then of course a little thing called COVID-19 broke out and almost brought the movie theater business onto its knees. The film premiered at this summer's Tribeca film festival, to great buzz. The movie finally opened at my local art-house theater here in Cincinnati this past weekend. The Tuesday early evening screening where I saw this at wat attended so-so (exactly 7 people including myself). IF you are in the mood for a movie with razor sharp observations on today's office and sex cultures, I'd readily suggest you check this out, be it in the theater (while you still can), on Amazon Instant Video and other streaming platforms, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion. -
mohinderchugh19 July 2022Although lead actor acting is good and movie looked very promising but it than fell apart. It neither remained mystery nor dark comedy. I just kept watching waiting for for some twists and turns which never happened.
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ops-525357 November 2021Or the friction of a fractious mind, of a grooming groom 6 weeks before his marriage, comes into such stress that all the latent undiscovered mental imbalances and diseases come to the surface in a very sexual potent dramathriller with a hint of comedy, or is it just another one of those senseless labyrinthic writer/producer/director hyperspadic shuffles of a confused humans mind? Dont ask me, cause i cant tell.
Jim cummings do have some weird movies in his dossiere, and the beta test is simply said another complex one. But it shows how voulnerable we are in our digitized lives, where you are controlled whatever or whenever, its a nightmare on the doorstep, but it misses the real potent strings in my uvula, and that is due to its complex story where noone can trust anyone, and therefore a bookmark case of every neurotics worst nightmare. It do also have some sex acts, even though its just at a second grade of grey, itll really suck you in...
jim cummings is this film, with a little bit of help from the supporting cast, his acts are weird and demeanors shares a coocoo's nest, and with a million facial expressions that can entertain even the most demented silverscreenviewer. I do not love him , i just like him , maybe because he is a spittin image of my son.
But the film lacks some debth of reason and is so abrupt and culdesacking in its plotdevelopment that its hard to enjoy for the average viewer, its more a geek kinda freakin show, therefore just a 6 from the grumpy old man. -
ferguson-64 November 2021Greetings again from the darkness. Writer-director-editor-actor Jim Cummings' 2018 film THUNDER ROAD was quite popular on the festival circuit, and Cummings is back with another story of a stressed out man ... at a time when the world doesn't much care about stressed out men, especially those who carry themselves with a heavy dose of self-importance. Cummings and co-writer, co-director, and co-star PJ McCabe have delivered a satire on traditional Hollywood in the shape of a whodunit with dark comedy that teeters into thriller territory.
Cummings stars as Jordan Hines, a high-octane Hollywood agent who talks as quickly and incessantly as he smiles, and neither are sincere. Jordan is an unlikable guy who belittles the support staff and mostly patronizes his fiancé Caroline (Virginia Newcomb, THE DEATH OF DICK LONG, 2019), while kissing the proverbial tushes of prospective clients. One day a mysterious elegant purple envelope shows up in Jordan's mail. It's an invitation to meet up with an admirer for anonymous, no-strings attached sex (as if that's even possible when someone has targeted you). He initially trashes the envelope, before reconsidering.
After the encounter, Jordan's personality becomes unhinged and his world begins to crumble. He wants to know who the woman was and why he was chosen. His desperate obsession with locating the mystery woman means his work suffers, as does his relationship with Caroline. Jordan's fantasy has turned into a nightmare that causes him to see and hear things - and he's unable to discern his visions from reality. This fast-talking agent teeters between viable and obsolete, and an "I'm so excited" montage fits perfectly into the persona of a man who lacks sincerity, doesn't know himself, and is oblivious to the needs of others.
There are some comparisons here to Jeremy Piven's character in "Entourage" and Patrick Bateman/Christian Bale in AMERICAN PSYCHO, but Cummings make the character his own. The comedy is dark and satirical, but the film never seems sure of itself as it bounds between erotic thriller (with very little eroticism), a 'who is she' mystery, and commentary on how a certain type of individual is no longer welcome in a post-Harvey proper society.
The opening sequence is no slow start, as it features a brutally violent murder - an incident that doesn't find its place until near the end of the film. Also included here is cautionary tale on the dark web, and the dangers of social media and the internet, although this feels like an add-on, rather than a fully developed sub-plot. Virginia Newcomb does get to deliver the film's best line, "I'm not insulting you. I'm describing you". Also giving the story a contemporary feel is the emphasis on packaging deals, which is a relevant topic in the ongoing discussions with industry unions. There is a lot tossed in here, and some parts work better than others. -
theunholy-110 November 2021A social satire about our modern society that produces unsatisfied people by always selling them the next best thing, by convincing everyone they need and deserve more, making those who have everything not even realizing it, leading them to poor choices and often madness.
The main character has a beautiful and devoted fiancee, health and he makes a decent living. But by always searching for more, he starts to loose all of the above, plus himself and his dignity. His sinking is about half-way through when he first appears, which makes you wonder what's wrong with him and allows the movie to be grasping.
Jim Cummings is obviously a big Jim Carrey fan, too obviously in my opinion. It really felt like he was imitating his vision of what would have been Carrey's performance instead of really making it his own, which is actually not that bad but can be frustrating at times. Like his character, he seems to be searching for himself (as an actor) ; maybe there's a subtle message there related to the plot...
The story is too restrained in my opinion, it lacks daring, but still is quite clever and enjoyable.
Overall, even though this movie has its flaws, it's really worth watching. -
PedroPires9025 November 2021Let's just say that Jim Cummings a director AND as an actor doesn't work for me. His act work for 20 minutes, but after that it's just repetitive and annoying even if he has something to say.
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TheTruthofItIs11 November 2021"The Beta Test" is an indie film starring Jim Cummings and PJ McCabe who also wrote and directed and let me tell you that this is the FIRST Covid-era indie with writers/actors/directors that has NOT been a waste - this was actually good. There are A, B, and C stories in this film and people are getting confused which is which, even mainstream critics. So without getting too long here, I'll 'splain the A story which is causing the most confusion. The film derives its name from a computer program called the_beta_test.py (written in Python) written by a hacker aliased as Johnny Paypal. He got thousands of names of film industry players via the Sony hack of 2014 and uses them as input to the program which pairs people for "secret admirer" one-time sexual encounters. He makes money, $5000/person, by selling them the name of the other. Sometimes these lead to adulterous encounters which often ends with murder in this film. Johnny's beta test, which is the state of a program before goes into production status, involved about 100 pairings which netted him about $1M but as he was being attacked by Jordan he launched it into "alpha"/production mode which pairs 1000 times more which he expects to net him $1B in the next few days, wow, some business plan. So here's the real spoiler since no one else seems to know or understand. Jordan's fiancee Caroline was the woman he was paired with! That's why she forgave him after his meltdown/implosion in the garage, and she's apparently pregnant (closing scene in the diner) so there's that to keep her with him. And they're on the run since he committed quite a few felonies. All the other story threads are subordinate to this primary one. BTW, some have compared Jim Cummings to Jim Carrey but I think he's more like Ty Burrell playing a psycopathic Phil Dumphy! Also, this has been compared to "Eyes Wide Shut" and there are thematic elements they share including the haunting music, but I'd also point out its similarity to 2008's "Deception" which was really good, too. Now that you know all this, it may warrant a re-watch if you were lost the first time through, enjoy!
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Otkon3 December 2021I am starting to like Jim Cummings. He is like a more neurotic Ed Burns. Impossibly gorgeous but completely flawed.
In this film, he totally nails the obnoxious Hollywood agent thing. You really just want to loathe him as he trainwrecks his way through his seemingly perfect life. But of course, he is only human - a disgusting, overbearing and weak human despite his golden boy facade.
He just can't help himself. If you like the idea of watching a pretty alpha male lose his mind and get what he deserves, this is a decent 90 minutes.
I hope Jackie's résumé was printed on anything but blood clot purple. -
Xstal8 January 2022A vaguely fascinating concept, though the premise is quite inept, if a pair can get together, wearing masks they don't untether. Can't imagine hooking up, at least sneaking a tiny look, unless you are the type or kind, who likes to be deaf, dumb and blind - which is fine, but you'd need a pretty good pairing algorithm to know that!
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Red-Barracuda30 August 2021Dark and mysterious events lead to murder. But who is responsible? And why?
Absolute tour de force effort from Jim Cummings who puts in a stellar central performance here, while additionally writing and directing as well! The result is a very compelling mystery, which is laced with very effective black humour throughout. It begins with an extremely disturbing scene, which perhaps sends out a misleading signal regarding where this one is headed, as while it is indeed a sinister tale, the intensity of its opening sequence is full on. Nevertheless, it is an attention grabbing opening, and the story-line was engrossing from start to finish.
An original piece of work, well worth seeing. -
JoBloTheMovieCritic7 November 20216/10 - a fascinating premise and incredible production design for an art house film, this film was very promising until it got more and more muddled and hard to follow the longer it went on.
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atractiveeyes8 November 2021It has an interesting idea and tries to deliver an important message but it fails in portraying it. The screenplay is weak and dull. Story doesn't make much sense and storytelling is messy. Lead performance is a cringe. It's a missed opportunity, it could've been much better.
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Adultery meets #MeToo by way of Entourage in the sometimes comic, imminently tragic The Beta Test. Jim Cummings shows his understanding of any poor sap still thinking he belongs to the Alpha Male Club as Cummings did in different ways in Thunder Road and Wolf of Snow Hollow. In Beta, Cummings' Jordan is a talent agent running feverishly with clients but out of date clueless.
Everything about him is geared for combat: handsome head on a slender build, close-cropped hair, and machine gun delivery. What he is not prepared for, however, is a temptation too good to refuse: an invitation for anonymous sex in a high-profile hotel, with no apparent consequences except of course the shock that he would be unfaithful to this loving, virtuous wife.
After the central sin, The Beta Test moves into thriller territory as Jordan tries to find the elusive mystery lady (he was, after all, blind folded when he sinned). Of course, he is really looking to find himself especially after a partier dumps doom on his profession, which is growing more impotent in the face of a fragmented Hollywood and artists' growing independence.
Jordan might face his professional demise in the Harvey-Weinstein way if he fails to see the signals when he inappropriately guides a young female in the office or fails to weigh the consequences of infidelity. Cummings plays the perfect everyman, cocky and successful but disconnected from the emerging new woman.
Cummings has forcefully depicted a corrupt Hollywood while he has defined the defensive role men must take in face of the Internet's merciless data tracking, identity stealing, and lawlessness. Cummings' hero is this time around for him more aggressive than his other leading men but also more vulnerable.
While some may see humor in Jordan's slow dissolve into anonymity, I find his disintegration a caution to live a better life and maybe just go offline. -
entertainedlightweight15 November 2021Jim Cummings latest entry in the "frail masculine protagonist thrown into a situation where he has no control and starts to get more unhinged" has all the same strong points and flaws as his first two features.
It's definitely fun to watch him on screen as he is a solid actor that delivers a great and funny performance.
The plot unfortunately is a bit all over the place, which makes it hard to find a deeper meaning behind all the chaos. -
moniquerich5 March 2022The Beta Test was actually pretty good. It had me all over the place trying to figure it out. Could've ended a little better, but I liked it overall. It wasn't hard to get into. Easy to follow and fun at times.
I'd say to watch it and judge for yourself. It isn't a boring movie. -
mindgem4 July 2022I was dang surprised. I thought it was going to be a super cheesy movie but the acting was great. I'm definitely going to see what else this actor is up to.
The story works but lacks ending and Mcguffins along the way.
Anyways, it's a mix between 50 shades of gray, American Psycho, The Game and Gone Girl. Not as good as either of them but up that same alley. -
diane_berger7 November 2021Maybe it's just me, the average viewer who doesn't have a vision of what the art cinema is and who cannot find enough entartainment, some sort of interesting catch or get any empathetic impression out of this movie, but I really don't get it how this kind of production could find its way into theaters. The script really sucks (pardon my French!) and the characters are not sympathetic, so how could we be interested, as viewers, by something as hollow? Too bad some people invested money into something like this and hoped to make a decent profit: that's a no/no!
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abisio8 November 2021An overstressed Hollywood agent, a few weeks before his weeding, gets personal invitation for a no hold barrels sexual encounter. The problem is he is blinded and identify the woman he had sex with. He become obsessed with her and the situation and things get out of control.
The movie can be considered as poor people Eyes Wild Shut; but with some comedy moments (and sometimes very annoying).
Jim Cummings, the director, loves the be the annoying/disturbed guy (as he did in the funnier The Wolf of Snow Hollow); perhaps too much . He is still funny but he exceeds his welcome in my opinion.
There some interesting secondary characters; dialogs filled with one liners that requires a lot of attention, several killings and some kind of thriller that (as in Eyes Wide Shut) is barely resolved.
The important theme of the movie is the hypocrisy and desperation that requires to stay afloat in this new ultra technological world. As hard as it seems; Cummings also keep everything on the light smile side instead of the drama.
In brief; it is an interesting concept managed in a very interesting way. Worth a try; but requires attention. -
adammalleck13 February 2022This is the second time I have seen Jim Cummings movie where he is the lead role. Before this movie, I saw him play a cop in a horror movie about a wolf. He is quite an amazing and gifted actor. His main talent is acting like a man experiencing a mid-life crisis. The ending was somewhat enigmatic - I had to locate a synopsis to get a better understand of the last 5-10 minutes of this movie.
In terms of the story, I find it unlikely that during the "beta test", when an individual finds out that their spouse/partner had a one-time anonymous sexual encounter, that they would go as far as to murder them. At least, as often as this movie depicted these events occur. Script could of been more polished. -
emmerindeed8 November 2021The only comedy in this is how bad it is, from the writing to the acting it just left me rolling my eyes.
The premise isn't set up all that well, and there doesn't seem to be much motivation for the main characters actions other than he's an asshole. It bounces between eccentric and boring in such a disappointing way.
I'll admit I did laugh when he filled out the purple card, but I can't tell if that was the intention. -
frank-liesenborgs29 October 2021If you love "Thunder Road" and "The Wolf of Snow Hollow", written, directed and main acting by Jim Cummings, which were very well received by the movie buffs, you will equally love "The Beta Test". This movie is part a satire and part topsy-turvy thriller. The movie and the plot are not perfect but there is no need for perfection here. The acting performance of both Jim Cummings (Jordan) and PJ McCabe (PJ) are just sublime. And it is always a pleasure to see Jim Cummings displaying all his talents. He is truly one of the most underrated actors today.
As the film gets going, we learn Jordan is going to be married soon to Caroline (Virginia Newcomb), about whom Jordan and the film itself seem to have so little interest, apart from making fun of her obsession with her upcoming nuptials, that we don't even know what she does for a living.
When a purple envelope arrives in the mail offering Jordan a chance to meet an "admirer" for "anonymous no-strings-attached sex" at a hotel, he hems and haws over the invite and it's enclosed RSVP card and finally fills it out. But elsewhere in Los Angeles other couples who have signed up for similar encounters are facing dire consequences, including murderous spouses. Will this be just as bad for Jordan, too, or even worse, damage his career?
All the black comedy is terrific. The stuff about Jordan hunting down who sent the invitation for the hook-up is exciting. The dialogues are clever and custom made for the characters.
A very good plot, story, acting, filming, dialogues and a nice twist at the end. What else you need to go and watch this movie? -
j-bush-642-90361915 February 2022The concept of assembling internet data and setting up a honey trap for blackmail is solid. However, I can not imagine a successful executive would be stupid enough to go into a hotel room blindfolded and it just gets worse. It could have been so Mich better.
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geister_faust6 November 2021Neither story nor characters are interesting enough to actually watch it from start to end. Cinematography is nowhere to be seen to actually save this abomination of a movie. It's not unwatchable, but there is very little sense in doing so: the message behind the story is so trivial that the whole effort to pack it in a movie requires either more depth or less screen time.