Review: Get Hit on IFC.com
I was prepared to loathe the new IFC online series "Get Hit" before I even saw it simply because of the premise: satirizing viral video. A moratorium should have been declared on this concept long ago after South Park covered this territory, as did a Warner Bros. Studio 2.0 creation called Viralcom that wasn't half as funny.
But to my surprise, "Hit" feels fresh (six episodes premiered Aug. 18). Not because satirizing viral video is suddenly original--it's still tired, and I'm willing to pay whoever decides to tackle it next NOT to upload their work--but because "Hit" creators/stars Peter Blomquist and Jeff Wiens, known otherwise as Franco and Billy, are good. Think "Mr. Show," only creepier, more manic and possibly certifiable.
In "Hit," we follow the pair as they demonstrate their effort to replicate the success of their fictional viral-video hit "Ball Kicking Fight Club," which incidentally is a totally genius idea that probably would get about a zillion streams on YouTube. They settle on "Spud Gun Warrior," and document the harrowing process while tossing off pearls of wisdom about viral-video production along the way. For instance, don't ever spend more than $100 on said production. "Anything more and you might as well be making a real movie," Blomquist instructs.
"Hit" lays bare the masochism inherent in viral video with maximum weirdness; it's as if Crispin Glover attempted to try the genre. I'm curious to see what Blomquist and Wiens do next; it takes serious chops doing comedy this strange this well. (Andrew Wallenstein)
