The Spoils Before Dying (TV Mini-Series 2015)

I hate to be that guy, but the other reviewers just didn't seem to grasp what this show was trying to do. It is so much more than a genre "spoof" or "parody", rather - much like "Casa de Mi Padre" and "Spoils of Babylon" or "Garth Marenghi's Darkplace" and "Danger 5" - it is lampooning the process of how the films/shows of a certain era were made. The acting is supposed to be over the top or down right pathetic (The actors are playing fictional actors portraying fictional characters based on a fictional book by a fictional author - don't think too much about it). The dialogue and screen directions are supposed to be stilted and awkward. The strange camera angles and bizarre editing choices are as much a part of the "joke" as anything else. Glaring continuity errors are meant to service humor that may otherwise be lacking in the melodramatic dialogue/acting (again - this is the intent, not the consequence). On its surface it can be appreciated for the apparent use of satire, but unless you realize what is happening within the layers of the production itself, you're only getting half of the joke. As for Ferrell's portrayal of Eric Jonrosh, it's fairly obvious he is doing a send up to Orson Wells (the latter years) and not just rehashing old SNL characters as one reviewer put it. I wont say this show cannot be viewed or enjoyed by those unfamiliar with the production process - though some gags probably wont land as well for them - a foreknowledge of film conventions will certainly add to the experience (I watched with non film-nerds, and they loved it). At the very least if you've taken any sort of "intro to production" or "film studies" courses then you stand a better chance at "getting it." And if you haven't, there are still plenty of laughs to be had and seeing some of the actors play extremely against type is rewarding in and of itself. A must watch for filmmakers of all kinds and a highly recommended view for anyone else (assuming you have any sense of humor).