Product Details

• Actors: Noella Akwiri, Shirley Brener, Shirly Brener, Helen Duffy, Nicole Gian
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: East Texas Distribut
• VHS Release Date: November 16, 1999
• Run Time: 91 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304774362
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #480,063 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

In the vein of Swimming with Sharks, Hijacking Hollywood is one of those dark comedies that is definitely funnier if you're familiar with the inner workings of the movie industry. A kid (Henry Thomas) from the Midwest with a film degree, a script, and a dream goes to Hollywood and a familial connection gets him a job as a production assistant on a big-budget film. Rather than turn into a 1930s Busby Berkeley musical in which moxie, talent, and a few lucky breaks take him to the top with an all-singing, all-dancing finale, the film takes a dark turn as he runs into the typically abusive Hollywood hierarchy.

As Thomas takes the abuse, gets a feel for the geography, and learns to read between the lines on loosely defined doublespeak like "in development," he becomes fed up. He also realizes how easy it would be to accomplish the hijacking caper that gives this film its name. Although certain elements of the film do have that it's-funny-because-it's-true quality, the film has a tendency to replay the joke until it ceases to be funny. The best performance comes from Mark Metcalf, who seems most authentic as an overblown producer with an ego as big as his budgets. Thomas, on the other hand, seems to have the same expression on his face most of the time, and Scott Thompson's cackling production coordinator feels way too forced, particularly with the cackles.

Hijacking Hollywood is decidedly low budget, even going so far as to have an official Web site with Geocites listed on the video box, when hijackinghollywood.com is (at the time of this writing) available for registration and would cost the producers as little as $300 to register and run for two years. --Greg Bulmash

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very funny, what's the big deal with the porno guy?, November 9, 1999

By 

Adam Burnett ([e-mail]) (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hijacking Hollywood [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Very funny. Neil Mandt, Henry Thomas and Scott Thompson are hilarious. It's about a man trying to make his movie "3 Days in a Salt Mine" but he can't. So he takes the footage of Moby Dick 2 hostage so he can get the money for his movie. And what's the big deal with this porno guy Micheal Mandt. He's only in it for five seconds and there's no nudity of him so no big deal. Just your normal comedy movie.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very funny- worth adding to your collection, August 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Hijacking Hollywood [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Highjacking Hollywood is the story of an aspiring, young screenwriter/director Henry Thomas) who comes to L.A. seeking fame and fortune but ends up as a low level production assistant working under a tyranical boss (Scott Thompson). Kevin's fortunes turn when he meets his sleazy new roommate, Tad (Neil Mandt), and the two come up with an idea to turn the tables on the production company Kevin works for.

The film's fast pace, great dialogue, plot twists and a different "Hollywood" ending make it a lot of fun to watch.

Henry Thomas is great as Kevin, who goes from clueless neophyte to sophisticated dealmaker in the course of the film. Scott Thompson is very funny in his role as the evil boss- "Work will set you free!" ,he screams at employees from his office and then goes back to his video games.

Neil Mandt has just the right sleaze quotient as Kevin's Viper driving, Armani clad roommate Tad, who always has a film "in development"- even though he shares a one room apartment with Kevin.

Nothing about this film says "low budget", which is amazing. After I saw the movie I found out that Mandt not only stars in it, but wrote, directed and produced it as well, all on a shoestring budget.

I rented this movie at random at the video store, because the title sounded intriguing, and it became one of my favorites. If you like "inside" Hollywood stories or just want to watch a refreshingly funny movie with a different twist, check this one out.

3.0 out of 5 stars Disturbing, July 22, 2003

By 

Christopher (Provincetown, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hijacking Hollywood (DVD)

I found this movie disturbing. It is one thing to watch a movie expecting to see a lighthearted plot centering around hijacking and ransoming a movie by a production assistant, but it is another to watch a dead dog get shot at and a revolting porn scene with a guy that makes Ron Jeremy look like Tom Cruise.

I have read the reviews below and was appalled at the porno guy's scene. What the hell was that guy wearing? And the facial expressions he was making...heinous.