Billy Crystal not only stars, but also wrote and directed. Yes, it does have a vanity project angle, but it’s Crystal, so how bad can it be? He plays a veteran comedy writer who befriends a sassy singer (Tiffany Haddish). Their friendship goes deep, especially when it’s revealed that he’s facing dementia (yes, another dementia movie). There are several sketches from the TV show he works on, but none of them are funny. Unfortunately, that’s the state of much of the script, even though there are a number of classic Crystal lines. He also relishes the opportunity to go deep into emotional territory, which he does reasonably well. Haddish is playing this much straighter than usual, but she still manages to let some of her personality shine. This is not a romantic comedy, but a friendship flick with a layer of love. Although the laughs are uneven, there’s a lively pace and two enjoyable performances to make it a respectable production. 
(3 / 5)
