Life has its downs for James, living with his mom in Chicago at 39, an aging performer at Second City, eating and weighing too much. A woman he's been dating drops him, as does his agent, her brother. James turns down roles in local TV, roles that make him sad. Someone's remaking his favorite movie, "Marty," a role he'd love, but he doesn't even get an audition.
Garlin's directing has little pacing, and many of the borderline gags could have been salvaged with some sharper editing. And there's a shocking amount of jokes and situations that just don't work.
– G. Allen Johnson,
San Francisco Chronicle,
5 Oct 2007
rotten:
Despite Garlin's chops and cameos from a who's who of Second City alumni, the film can't find a consistent comic groove.
– David Fear,
Time Out New York,
6 Oct 2007
fresh:
Cheese is such a small, endearing and well-observed piece -- sort of Curb Your Enthusiasm without the excruciating bits.
– Terry Lawson,
Detroit Free Press,
12 Oct 2007
fresh:
It's a nice little movie.
– Richard Roeper,
Ebert & Roeper,
22 Oct 2007
fresh:
You have to like James and his outlook on life. It may not be glamorous, but it's one that eventually allows James a higher lever of satisfaction.