Review: Fun ‘Jason Nash Is Married’ explores love and showbiz
“Jason Nash Is Married,” written and directed by and starring Jason Nash, is the feature adaptation of the funnyman’s same-titled Comedy Central Web series. The film, a largely point-and-shoot affair, is an enjoyable, lightly satirical glimpse at the uneasy intersection of marriage, showbiz and life in Los Angeles.
Nash, who’s also known for his erstwhile podcast “Guys With Feelings,” plays a loosely autobiographical version of himself. His character: a struggling comedian-performer also named Jason who’s looking back at his split from his more successful TV executive wife, Busy (Busy Philipps). In ways that are human, equitable and funny, Nash shows how it takes two people to build — as well as ruin — a good relationship.
The movie is punctuated by emotionally naked bits evoking Nash’s “Guys” podcast and has a vibe that mixes the wistful, off-kilter romanticism of “Annie Hall” with the crash-and-burn narcissism of “Seinfeld” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” (“Things seem to go poorly when I’m around them,” Nash freely admits.)
As Nash navigates his character’s flailing comedy career, rocky marriage, $30,000 tax debt, post-marital dating stab and more, he introduces us to a motley collection of L.A. denizens: neurotic, crass, clueless, shameless and sometimes all of the above. That they’re played by a game and amusing array of familiar comedy-world faces (Patton Oswalt, Andy Richter, Casey Wilson, Rob Corddry, David Koechner, Jerry Minor, T.J. Miller and others) keeps these eccentrics and their attendant situations (loved the “Adventure Baby” bit) buoyant and strangely credible. It’s fun stuff.
“Jason Nash Is Married.”
No MPAA rating.
Running time: 1 hour, 25 minutes.
Playing at the Downtown Independent, Los Angeles.
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