Directors: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen | Starring: Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Runtime: 106 minutes | Rating: PG-13 | Score: 3/5 — Directors: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen | Starring: Josh Brolin, George Clooney,
Runtime: 106 minutes | Rating: PG-13 | Score: **3/5**

A Hollywood fixer in the 1950s works to keep the studio's stars in line.

The Coen brothers return to the Capitol Pictures lot since first introducing it in Barton Fink. (Considering that ending, however, this might be an alternate timeline)

For those who are well versed with the Coen brothers, they have gone from darkly-quirky (The Big Lebowski) to darkly-dark (No Country For Old Men), but this may be the first time where their quirkiness ends on the most positive note that any of their films have.

The real and fictional Eddie Mannix

Channing Tatum channeling his inner Gene Kelly

Alden Ehrenreich in Hail, Caesar!

Following Eddie Mannix (Josh Brolin), a studio exec based off of a real MGM producer with the same name, we get thrust into 27 hours of his crazy world as a producer at Capitol Pictures. Pretty much, he’s the ‘50s equivalent of Entourage’s Ari Gold. From dealing with nagging directors (Ralph Fiennes), starlets giving up their babies (Scarlett Johansson), to major stars being kidnapped (George Clooney) Mannix struggles to keep his sanity all while being offered a more secure, less stressful career over at Jet Blue.

However, Mannix’ storyline isn’t the highlight of the film. It’s the Coen’s, almost backhanded, love letter to that film era. Making clear homages to grand spectacles such as Ben-Hur with the ongoing production of Hail, Caesar!, Johansson’s synchronized swimming homage to Million Dollar Mermaid, and Tilda Swinton, as one of the twins, referencing one of America’s best-known gossip columnists, Hedda Hopper. Along the way comments on the Communist Party as well as religion are dealt with broadly.

All these easter eggs, as well as many Coen brothers’ allusions, are introduced as Mannix walks about the studio lot. And while film buffs will enjoy making the connections, it ultimately becomes overbearing.

Take Channing Tatum’s character who channels his inner Gene Kelly with a 10-minute musical number. Why did we have to watch the whole thing? Did it add to the story? Not really sure, but I know it got a few chuckles from the crowd.

By the end credits, Hail, Caesar! Is the most uplifting film the Coen’s have made, but sadly falls on the lower half of their filmography and why I’d give it a solid Rent It.

For you Coen fans who love the ‘50s, knock yourselves out.