The Machine

You may wonder, if Kreischer is such a popular stand-up comedian, why he hasn’t done more television and movie acting. Well.

The comic’s preexisting fans should find plenty to love... But anyone who goes in hoping for any kind of literary substance would be better off just reading the nutrition facts on their Junior Mints box.

The Machine is loud, gross, obnoxious and overbearing. It’s also disarming, quick-witted, fast moving and becomes increasingly funny.

The best thing about The Machine is it’s not as awful as it could have been for a movie based on stand-up.

The star's bare-bellied bozo act isn't as innately funny as the film presumes, while a rote redemption arc adds little of interest.

There are enough laugh out loud one liners that the film isn’t utterly unwatchable. The Machine wants to be the kind of phenomenon that people talk about and word of mouth spreads, but it just doesn’t have the legs the original viral video had.

I’m afraid anyone who isn’t already indoctrinated into the world of Bert “The Machine” Kreischer will struggle to find entry via this movie, which is too long, too stupid and not nearly as funny as it thinks it is.

On brand with Kresicher’s stand-up persona, the film pulls some punches but manages a workable story and some laugh-out-loud moments.

Look, "The Machine" doesn’t break the mold in terms of how Bert goes from the worst dad to a better human, but it’s entertaining and possesses quite a few surprises thanks to the structure, editing, performances, and action.

'The Machine' works as a comedy ... sometimes.