Fired!

2006

Fired!

Critics Consensus

This well-intentioned documentary is too broad in its subjects to have any sort of cohesion.

44%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 27

45%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 161,070
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Movie Info

Devastated after being fired by director Woody Allen, actress Annabelle Gurwitch sets out on a soul-searching journey to discover whether getting the axe was the best or worst thing ever to happen in her professional career. Anyone who has been in the workforce for an extended amount of time has likely been there -- one minute you've got a good-paying job that you love, and the next minute you're standing in the unemployment line. When Annabelle Gurwitch got fired by the legendary director of such classics as Annie Hall and The Purple Rose of Cairo, she thought her career was over. Upon turning to her many showbiz pals for advice, however, Gurwitch quickly discovered that she was not alone. In this documentary, Gurwitch enlists the aid of filmmakers Chris Bradley and Kyle La Brache in traveling the country to interview such celebrities as Tim Allen, David Cross, Sarah Silverman, and Jeff Garlin to find out exactly how they dealt with the heavy hand of rejection. Additional interviews with GM workers in Lansing, MI, who were handed their pink slips offer some tales that are tragically comedic and others that seems to reinforce the old adage about one door closing and another door opening, while a visit to job fairs and "outplacement services" show just what the jobless endure on a day-to-day basis. Conversations with the downsizers as well as the downsized offer viewers a chance to explore the topic from both sides as host Gurwitch reminds viewers that sometimes the greatest success stories are born of failure.

Cast

Tim Allen
Andy Borowitz
David Cross
Andy Dick
Tate Donovan
Illeana Douglas
Anne Meara
Bob Odenkirk
Harry Shearer
Sarah Silverman
Fisher Stevens
Ben Stein
Fred Willard
Robert Reich
Walter Scheib
Annabelle Gurwitch
Jeff Garlin
Judy Gold
Stephen Adly Guirgis
Richard Kind
Jeffrey Ross
Paul F. Tompkins
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Critic Reviews for Fired!

All Critics (27) | Top Critics (16) | Fresh (12) | Rotten (15)

  • It's a shame Allen fired her from that play. After all, then she might not have had the time to make this documentary.

    May 4, 2007 | Full Review…

    John Maynard

    Washington Post
    Top Critic

  • As for her anticorporate muckraking, I can say only that I have watched Michael Moore and I have met Michael Moore, and Gurwitch is no Michael Moore.

    Mar 23, 2007 | Rating: 2/4

    Terry Lawson

    Detroit Free Press
    Top Critic

  • Serious portions, in which Gurwitch appears far too often to be mugging and cracking wise, are intercut with dumb sketches.

    Mar 15, 2007 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Lael Loewenstein

    Los Angeles Times
    Top Critic

  • A sharper documentarian might've tried harder to bridge the gap between the problems of the legitimate American work force and the struggles of relatively well-off celebrities, but Gurwitch, while charming, isn't exactly brimming with insight.

    Feb 10, 2007 | Rating: D+

    Noel Murray

    AV Club
    Top Critic

  • The video is heavy on actors and other showbiz types, and the self-centered Gurwitch doesn't distinguish between a factory worker laid off after decades on the job and an actor getting rejected during tryouts.

    Feb 9, 2007 | Full Review…

    Fred Camper

    Chicago Reader
    Top Critic

  • At the very least, it's gainful, worthwhile employment for its likable star.

    Feb 8, 2007 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

    Sid Smith

    Chicago Tribune
    Top Critic
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Audience Reviews for Fired!

  • Dec 19, 2009
    Getting Fired By Woody Allen Was Just The Beginning
    Wahida K Super Reviewer
  • Jul 01, 2009
    A humorous look at a not very humorous condition: being fired. This viewer can relate to the subject matter, as he has been fired from numerous jobs, and he has dealt with many of the issues touched on here. The actress, Annabelle Gurwitch, after being fired from a play by Woody Allen, sets out on a quest to interview people from all walks of life to try to find how people cope with losing their livelihood. A lot of the material is tongue-in-cheek, but the underlying message is quite apporpriate in today's economy. The way to get over the trauma of being let go, canned, down-sized, right-sized (my personal favorite), or just plain fired, is to see it as an opportunity to re-invent yourself, capitalizing on your strengths and go out and find another job. This viewer found it quite entertaining, and while it may not be a recipe for recovery, it certainly doesn't hurt to find something to laugh about in the midst of what can undermine one's self-worth. A great deal of humor, but some real poignancy as well, especially the footage about the GM workers in Lansing, MI.
    Mark A Super Reviewer
  • Feb 26, 2008
    Sways between anecdotes and insight, general repetition and genuine charm.
    William G Super Reviewer
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