Films with Izzy: My Favorite Year

Post date: February 1, 2023

#7: My Favorite Year

Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary: An aspiring comic looks back at his favorite year of 1954, when his favorite actor was booked onto the show he writes for. Benjy Stone, a junior comedy writer working behind the scenes on a variety show, is excited to learn his idol, Alan Swann, is booked as a guest star. Unfortunately for Benjy, Swann’s star has fallen hard since his movie days, even showing up to the studio drunk. To protect his hero’s career, Benjy promises to keep Swann in a state of sobriety for the whole week. Accompanying the leads is a cast of eccentric side characters ranging from a demanding, tyrannical “king” of the set, a pretty co-worker who Benjy desperately tries to court, and a corrupt union boss trying to destroy the show because he’s offended about being parodied. What follows is a series of laugh-out-loud antics involving party crashing, dinner with Benjy’s embarrassing relatives, and even fighting with swords on live television.

Would You Enjoy It: Be warned that while this film is rated PG, a lot of the jokes and humor would definitely not appeal to a younger audience. There are some risque remarks from Benjy about his feelings towards his co-worker and heavy focus on Swann’s alcoholism, as well as a general theme on the idiosyncrasies of adult life that would go over a child’s head. Nevertheless, if none of these topics bother you and you’re not a young kid, you’re in for a treat. There’s a joyous air throughout the entire film that makes even the most mundane scenes, like eating Chinese food while working overtime, entertaining. However, it’s not all just fun and games. There’s also a few sweet hints of sentimentality that creeps in at times, particularly with Swann’s feelings about his relationships with women, and Benjy’s disappointment that his hero isn’t all he’s cracked up to be. Nevertheless, even with the moments of tenderness, this film will send you into fits of raucous laughter after every single scene.

Final Thoughts: My Favorite Year isn’t at all a film about romance, but love permeates this film like the smell of roses through the breeze. From Benjy’s devotion to his favorite actor driving the main plot to the nature of the film itself, a nostalgic romp through the era of live television, there’s a distinct integrity to it all. It’s very obvious that those in the writing room both knew and held a certain endearment towards “the good old days”, and the film benefits from that cherishing. (As an extra fun fact, certain iconic characters are also based off famous names from back in the fifties. Watch with your family and have fun asking your grandparents if they recognize what actor Alan Swann is based off of.) The emotional moments almost never feel corny or overwrought. They feel like real, unalloyed pieces of someone’s life, and the absurdity only compliments the sentiment. If you have a fondness for comedy, you’ll enjoy this love letter to the genre. This Valentine’s Day, enjoy a movie about every kind of love: the affection you hold towards your role models, the crush you have on a coworker, and the dewy-eyed tenderness you feel every time you recall the times of yore.