The performances are of course terrific, as Cusack and Robbins really let loose and go wild on screen, sacrificing almost anything for a joke. Sometimes the jokes work, sometimes they dont, but it doesn't matter because you will be so enamoured with the strangeness of film to complain about those few moments that don't quite turn out right. And the ones that do - well I cant say you'll be rolling on the floor, because again, its bizzare enough so that you'll probably simply be struck with some unsure smile for the duration of the movie, but then you'll watch it again... and again... and again.

Why? Because, it's a film thats genuinely different. And honestly, how many movies can you really say that about? Not many.

If you're expecting non-stop, slap-stick hijinks ala Jim Carrey - you will be extremely disappointed.

This is a lot of subtle, dead-pan, insider humor - most of it requires some knowledge of the music industry, as others have said. I *do* find the film to be very funny - for me, it was one of those movies that you watched with a buddy, and then go around and incorporate lines from it for several years to come - actually, we still do.

It works from the aspect of being a buddy movie - two better "buddy" characters, in terms of believabilty, you'd be hard pressed to find. It also works as a film that creates this absolutely ridiculous world for these characters to live in - yet they generally accept that that's just the way things are - though there's a great scene where the characters look at the camera, as if to acknowledge the absolutely ludicrous nature of the situation to the viewer. Again - that's funny, to me.

As for the actual jokes, it's not going to be a movie that makes you shoot milk out of your nose - well, there are some parts that might - but it's still "funny" nonetheless. The characters are wonderful, the cameos are great, the writing and dialogue are sharp as a tack, and the performances are truly great from the entire cast - even down to the burned out rocker at the Menudo concert.

And the commentary track on the DVD was entertaining to me. It did explain most of what they were going for - most of which I got... though some of the stories about the set design were quite amusing, and had escaped me.

Then again, if you need a joke explained to you, is it funny?

Bottom line: A fun little indie-type film that remains subtle even while drowning in a sea of absolute nonsense.

Best advice: Go rent it first, if you're on the fence. If you like it, then I'd buy it.