Lost in London LIVE (2017) - ★★★☆☆

For those of you who don't know, Lost In London is kind of a special flick. The first and only film (to date) directed by our dear Woody, it was also the first film to ever be broadcast live into theaters across the nation. On top of that, it was filmed entirely in one shot, with one camera and no cuts (I haven't seen 1917, but I imagine it was pretty derivative of Lost In London). Furthermore, I'd like to take this opportunity to make what is a bold, potentially controversial statement: Lost In London is the only film in the Woody Harrelson genre.

Perhaps I should back up a little. Lost In London is based on a true story, and Woody appears as himself alongside Owen Wilson and Willie Nelson (the three men all live nearby each other in Hawaii, now. Personally, I'm wondering why Matthew McConaughey doesn't join them!) on a rollicking journey through the streets of London one night as Woody attempts to make amends to his wife and children by taking them to the set of Harry Potter, only to get arrested for breaking an ash tray.

I say this is the first film of the Woody Harrelson genre because I really, truly, think it is. Most of the jokes revolve around Woody, and the entire plot is about him. There's jokes, there's action, there's drama, but the most important element of all is Woody himself (the film is reflective of my own life in this way). All the semantical and syntactical elements come from Woody himself, and depend on the viewer's knowledge of the Woodyverse. Admittedly, most of the references are pretty easy to pick up on, so I think even a beginner Woody Harrelson fan could find their footing in this movie.

Maybe someday, Hollywood will open its eyes to the vast panoply of opportunities which the Woody Harrelson genre recommends. Maybe as more films are added to this illustrious genre, they will grow more difficult, and require more engagement. One can only hope!

But for now, I'll leave you with the words of the prince who Woody hangs out with for a while during the movie, whose sentiments toward Woody I rather share:

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The Big White (2005) - ★★★☆☆

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Indecent Proposal (1993) - ★★★☆☆

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The Hi-Lo Country (1998) - ★★★★★

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