Hot Air

Director Frank Coraci and screenwriter Will Reichel have made a movie that aims to bridge some of American's current social divides but is so focused on its destination that not much of note happens during the journey.

However hopeful Hot Air is, its phoniness makes the prospect of an open-minded debate feel even more like a fantasy.

Coogan gets some big scenes, but anyone familiar with what this actor is capable of may wonder why he was cast in the first place.

Neither funny, insightful nor moving, it's mostly objectionable for its failure to exploit the facets of Coogan's screen persona that line up so neatly with the smug blatherers who dominate the AM dial.

Ill-judged redemption tale; language, sex, addiction issues.

Predictable, artless fare at its core, yet also disappointingly toothless.

Even with its sappiness, Hot Air is about family sticking together and finding forgiveness. It a breath of fresh air over the typical a one-sided partisan film.

It's a satire and silly, but I -- for the most part -- enjoyed it.

There isn't an unpredictable moment in this film, but director Frank Coraci is experienced at keeping the pace brisk while making unlikeable characters engaging.

A film that begins as a topical expose of polarizing media personalities eventually succumbs to predictably sentimental clichés.