Hollywood.con is a strange title that promises a good amount of fun or jokes that quickly become tiresome. At a glance, it sounds like a film that will be a spoof of the movie business. This is all well and good, but there are plenty of stories that have done a great job of skewering films. It is a high bar and the name is not a great start.
Oddly, the film does not seem concerned about having too much of a laugh at Hollywood’s expense. The plot has nothing to do with gossip sites or shady backroom deals. Hollywood.con is a comedy adventure that is a classic case of mistaken identity. Mika Harms (Mika Boorem) is a social influencer who is mistaken for a producer. She tries to take advantage of the situation, but is soon mistaken for a drug runner – except for the one person who recognizes her from her social media videos.
If Hollywood.con sounds convoluted, that is because it is. The movie takes a lot of detours in order to get to the main idea; It seems like the film is about family. If this is the case, then it manages to get the point across well. The movie compares Mika and her family to the ruthless gangster El Jade’s (Tom Arnold). It brings a surprising amount of heart to the proceedings.
It is difficult to tell if this is what the film is going for, however. The main issue is the movie is all over the place. Hollywood.con never manages to set a consistent tone. One moment it is a screwball comedy, the next it is a wild adventure, then it is a psychedelic trip. The constant changes ruin the immersion. (This may be due to the fact five people wrote the script.)
One thing that keeps things enjoyable is the performance of Boorem. Despite some awkward scripting, she is an instantly likeable character. There are many obstacles in her life and it is hard not to root for her to overcome each one. Even in Hollywood.con’s less impressive moments, Boorem manages to stand out. The movie has its flaws, but it is worth watching.
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