User Reviews

Up until the first half of the film, I kept waiting for any comedy scene that might come up. But after the first half I realized that this is definitely not a comedy. Since Drew Barrymore has been known for doing many romantic comedies, I thought this one will be one of them. Even though this idea of switching places have been done before many times, the idea of the film about a movie star with anger management issue, as she steps out of the spotlight and becomes a recluse, is interesting in a way. It's very poorly executed. Mainly it's because it's very hard to sympathize with either characters, Candy black is very mean and foulmouthed, and her stand-in who seemed like a nice person at first, turned out to be an opportunist, who wants to steal her identity and become a movie star herself. I guess the only normal character was Michael Zegen, except the weird story he tells about the Nazi incident !!!! Also in what world is the stand-in supposed to be an exact copy of Candy Black, with her obvious change in her nose, and why does she speaks in this weird tone of voice?? Drew Barrymore is a lovely actress, but this film is very bad on some many levels. What a waste of talent for great supporting actors like T.J. Miller, Ellie Kemper and Holland Taylor. Now that we know it's not a comedy, I wish i could say it's a drama, or a thriller, but it's also not that.

It had it's moments and could have been really good.... but ultimately it was a bit naff.

Once you step in shoes of another,be prepared for what's to come.. Towards the end you see that Paula,started taking on traits of Candy.

Not saying either was justified for their actions,or lack thereof but one walked away a better person overall.

This wasn't a comedy,instead dark humor on fame & being true to yourself.

Drew has done better work,still worth seeing because she's in it.

This was beyond bad from start to finish. Do yourself a favour and do not rent or watch this horror of a movie. Made it through only because we paid for it. It was an embarrassment for Drew Barrymore and we kept asking ourselves, why on earth did she do this movie. It's uncomfortable to watch and not at all funny.

The movie doesn't suck that much. It's still watchable (cause it's Drew Barrymore, or course), but I'm not really satisfied with it. I thought the genre is comedy, but after I've watched the whole movie, it didn't feel like a comedy. It's more like a drama / thriller. The part where the stand-in started doing illegal stuff, it gave me a mild chilling vibe. It can easily turn into a thriller movie. As a comedy it gave me zero out of 10 stars. As a thriller it gave me 3 out of 10 stars. The only reason I gave it 5 stars is Drew. Actually, she's the only reason I decided to watch this movie.

Drew Barrymore plays Candy Black. She started as a carpenter, was called in to work on a movie, and when the actress who was supposed to take a comedy fall didn't show up, Miss Barrymore stepped in, and rose to be the female comedy star of Hollywood, with the stereotypical problems: temperament, substance abuse. When one of her fellow actresses is injured on set, it's all about Miss Barrymore, and she walks off the set. five years later she's living like a recluse in a huge house with a front gate like Paramount, in trouble with the IRS, and under judicial order to go to rehab. Which she is too depressed to do.

Drew Barrymore also plays Paula, who was Candy Black's stand-in, and pretty much a dead ringer. So Miss Black tracks down Paula, has her go to rehab in her place. Now the public is anxious to rehabilitate Candy Black, the studios see profit, but she is not interested. She wants to stay at home and make furniture. So Paul takes her place....and her life.

Although listed as a comedy, it is not one. It is a serious movie with themes about the problems of publicity, and the issues of identity. Miss Barrymore, whose profile is looking a lot like her famous grandfather's, is up to the dual roles. If the issues of the movie are not hers, in her first movie in five years, she is certainly convincing. Unfortunately, the script does not offer much that is original in execution.

Miss Barrymore has a stand-in in this movie, Brooke Carrell. She also has two stunt doubles, Luci Romberg and Heidi Pascoe as the stunt double for "Paula". Why they needed 23 producers (including Miss Barrymore) is a mystery to me.

Ok, I understand the bad reviews because the movie was presented as a comedy, but it's not a comedy at all. It's more of a drama / thriller movie and within those genres it works very well. Drew Barrymore did an excellent job, she played two roles, this depressed, overwhelmed woman with severe problems and on the other hand there is this other character, who at first seems to be a happy girl with problems but innocent, although little by little she is showing her true essence. So if you are going to see this movie, I recommend you not to see it as a comedy, because you will not find jokes, funny scenes, etc. See this movie for what it is, a drama with touches of thriller. And I repeat, Drew Barrymore really did an excellent job here!

I enjoyed this film. I almost didn't watch it after reading the reviews but was able to see a few that really explained the genre. I'm glad I gave it a chance. It is definitely a dark comedy/drama with a bit if a twisted thriller in there too. Barrymore was excellent as usual and her creepy stand-in played her part well. This is an odd little film and it is worth watching for those who want to see something interesting with good production.

Don't have preconceived expectations for what you want this movie to be and it'll be fine. I'm glad I didnt read the reviews before I watched it, because I probably would have just skipped over it. I thought it was a really good movie and I thought Drew Barrymore did a fantastic job at playing the two women. The topic is really interesting. Like other reviewers have noted, it's more of a drama film, but that doesn't mean it's not a good movie. It had a solid pace and kept me intrigued and wanting to know what was going to happen next. Give it a watch.

I didn't know it until I watched this movie, but I missed seeing Drew Barrymore in films. I hope she comes back and does more.

That line delivered in the movie by agent Louis (not even his real name, he adds), portrayed by T. J. Miller, of all the controversial actors, sums up "The Stand In" quite well, and not only regarding the business of making movies. That fakeness permeates the audience, critics, fans and social-media followers, too. The paparazzi aren't harassing stars when they venture outside their fortified mansions for no reason, and it's the same one that encourages fans to look for selfies even when the celebrity is gut-punched and lying on the street. It's why something like "Framing Britney Spears" exists, where fans hypocritically both claim to want to free her and have her be obliged to perform for them and be a continued subject of gossip and harassment, while still others are ostracized by so-called "cancel culture" and put on apology tours of comebacks. Albeit less objectionable, it's the same for movie expectations. Critics claiming they want something different--that subverts their expectations and not just another sequel or formulaic "hit me where it hurts." So, here we have "The Stand In" advertised as a comedy or romance, but it really isn't, and that also mocks the brand of bubbly slapstick and rom-com antics that stars like Drew Barrymore (as well as a supporting cast and cameos from comedic veterans Holland Taylor, Ellie Kemper, Lena Dunham, Richard Kind, Miller and others) are known for, as well as recruiting talk-show hosts like Jimmy Fallon and Kelly Ripa to mock how phony their crafts are, and the movie is widely panned. Maybe there's a reason TV is full of junk and most of the box office, in non-pandemic years at least, is occupied by the MCU and other franchise installments or otherwise safe-and-predictable Disney-type fare. The whole business is fake.

So incisively reflexive is this that I'm rating "The Stand In" higher than I might otherwise for such a considerably flawed picture. I mean, its resolution is ultimately to seclude oneself in a Shaker community--although, granted, it's somewhat amusing that the rom-com aspect of the narrative revolves so much around a Christian sect known for their celibacy (if you haven't heard of Shakers, that's probably why, as one's numbers tend to dwindle without procreation). And, it could've been funny, perhaps, if it hadn't imitated "Single White Female" (1992) instead.

Besides the casting of Miller and maybe others--I'm not hip to all the celebrity scandals--Barrymore and her star persona fits well in the reflexive construction. It would've been more apt had the movie made her character acting royalty, like the real actress is as part of the Barrymore clan and put into films as soon as she could walk, instead of a carpenter, but at least there's the drug abuse and rehab here, which is in line with the art-reflecting-life theme. Supporting the fake and doubled nature of cinematic representation, there's two Barrymores, too. Kind of like "An American Pickle" (2020), but the dual roles aren't a pointless vanity exercise. Actors-playing-actors, inside and outside the films-within-the-film, "reality" and illusion. They reflect the duality and duplicity of cinema itself while also holding up a mirror to the culture surrounding it--the whole fake business. That's clever reflexive filmmaking, so big whoop if it doesn't meet generic expectations of humor and romance. Good, I'll take "The Stand In" over an entire listicle of Barrymore rom-coms any day.

It's that bad and boring. Stopped it at 38 minutes. Never. Going. Back.

Is the first thought that comes to my mind when seeing drew barrymore in ''stand in'' its a total miss on the comedy genre, so if its that you want, see something else.

this is a film made to survive as an actor, and several acting personalities as well, having small roles on the cast list, but its a real miss, from 3rd to 100 minutes, cause 1 to 3 had some fun, the rest is jjust moaning and whining.its so badly plotted and the inconsistecies on actual timing and shallowness of story fullfill all the criteria for a movie turkey.and the lookalike isnt a match at all, even i lookalike myself when facing the mirror asking whos the fairest...

so this is a non recommend from the grumpy old man

This was a great idea for a movie but not a good movie!! Neither of the characters drew plays have any charisma. Not funny either & marketed as a comedy.

The story is a bit trite. A few laughs though so not terrible. Barrymore's performance is really very good I'll have to admit. Pity the script wasn't up to it.

A comic drama. It is about a great actress who after a scandal sees her career fall and how her double takes the opportunity to return her stardom but at Inter things get out of control. Quality. Entertaining A kind of game for twins but for adults. Few sexual and situational jokes. Nice to see Drew Berrymore on screen. Talk about really doing what we want and being at peace with ourselves, leaving appearances and always seeking to be ourselves and be okay. Even daring to do what we always wanted to do. A movie to have a good time.

No No NO, this was a bad wknd overall for movies, this ranks worst. Wait for your next Sandler movie, concentrate on talk show. This movie doesn't deserve synopsis review.

I liked it, probably moved by the admiration and empathy I feel for Drew Barrymore, always captivating and talented, here we have a simple and light comedy, with a dramatic, fun and sweet pinch, sometimes exaggerated, raw Drew, almost without makeup, disheveled and bad dressed up, almost people like us when we are at home on a rainy weekend or with covid...: /

I really, really, love Drew Barrimore, but I had to move the film up to the end to know what it ended up with because I couldn't stand to see it. I really didn't understand...