I was completely unprepared for the depth of the meta-narrative Jonah Hill crafted with Apple TV’s Outcome. On the surface, it appears to be a standard comedy: an aging Hollywood star, portrayed by Keanu Reeves, attempts a comeback after years away from the spotlight, navigating the inherent challenges. Combine this basic premise with the star power of Hill and Cameron Diaz, sprinkle in cameos from icons like Martin Scorsese, and package it into a concise 80-minute runtime, and from a distance, it resembles a fairly typical comedic formula. Yet, in execution, Outcome emerges as a sometimes humorous but ultimately flawed commentary on Keanu Reeves’ real-life persona.
You see, Outcome isn’t just about a star’s return to fame; it’s about a star confronting the realization that they aren’t actually likable. Despite being Hollywood’s darling for three decades, he’s seemingly alienated more people than he’s befriended. I know what you’re thinking – ‘That doesn’t sound like Keanu at all…’ And from our perspective as fans of the legendary actor, I’d largely agree. However, most of us don’t truly know Reeves, making such a judgment impossible. Watching his character in the film, a protagonist named Reef Hawk, desperately scour the web for any hint that his loyal fans have discovered a flaw in his otherwise perfect facade, all while managing a blackmail leak about something he can’t recall, creates a profoundly meta and disturbingly familiar scenario. It feels like something that couldn’t possibly be real without the seemingly unimpeachable Reeves at its core. Again, it’s not a direct representation of Reeves’ actual life, but it still feels both shocking and eerily recognizable.
Nonetheless, the plot premise is quite unique and offers moments of brilliance, but it’s ultimately weighed down by numerous other creative choices that simply didn’t resonate with me. For starters, Hill portrays a crisis lawyer named Ira who is utterly insufferable for most of the film. There’s a brief segment midway where Ira becomes more authentic and human, but for the remainder, he’s just unlikable, loud, and, perhaps most crucially, not very funny. Furthermore, while I appreciate Reeves, he isn’t exactly the most charismatic actor, and his portrayal of Reef Hawk leaves much to be desired. Moreover, the other stars and icons, whether serving as key characters (like Diaz) or making cameos (Scorsese), never leave a significant impression. This culminates in a film that, once the credits roll, leaves you feeling as if you haven’t experienced much or been emotionally affected at all. It’s simply a bit flat from beginning to end.
One of its few redeeming qualities is its satirical take on current events and trends, featuring hilarious nods to the public implosion of Kanye West or the eccentric and baffling lifestyles depicted in ‘The Real Housewives.’ Certain elements of the film do stand out, and Hill even experiments with some interesting transitions and set choices to deliver visually striking scenes. However, simultaneously, for a film primarily aiming to be a comedy, Outcome doesn’t seem to quite grasp its fundamental objective.
A natural point of comparison for Outcome would be ‘The Studio,’ as both, despite one being a film and the other a TV series, aim to offer a hilarious glimpse into modern Hollywood. In the latter, Seth Rogen and his crew excel, delivering witty and memorable comedy alongside plots and sequences that feel more authentic and charismatic. Outcome lacks this distinction. This leads me once again to question why Apple TV+, despite its strong track record for truly excellent and remarkable television, consistently struggles to meet the same standards for feature-length projects… And Outcome barely qualifies as a feature film, given that I’ve seen TV ‘episodes’ longer than this movie.
One might think I’m being overly critical of this film – and it certainly disappoints given its potential – but this largely stems from my high expectations for Apple TV content. This film isn’t terrible; it’s perfectly watchable, but it simply doesn’t measure up to the other remarkable endeavors that this streaming platform has championed in the past. For whatever reason, Apple TV consistently struggles to crack the code for compelling feature films, and Outcome stands as another illustration of this trend.