Checking Out

An absolutely interminable piece of work, Checking Out follows airline executive Ray Macklin (Jeff Daniels) as he becomes convinced that he’s going to die after the sudden death of a beloved coworker – with the film subsequently detailing Ray’s ongoing efforts at convincing his wife (Melanie Mayron’s Jenny) and a series of skeptical doctors that there’s something medically wrong with him. It’s clear right from the outset that Checking Out has been infused with few attributes designed to capture and sustain the viewer’s interest, as director David Leland’s hopelessly flat visual sensibilities are exacerbated by his reliance on aggressively over-the-top instances of light-hearted humor (which wouldn’t be quite so bad were any of this actually funny). The continuing emphasis on eye-rollingly tedious comedic set pieces (eg Ray encounters a creepy hypochondriac, Ray attempts to install a hydrotherapy unit, etc) perpetuates the film’s shockingly sluggish atmosphere, while the oddball, almost avant-garde third act is sure to test the patience of even the most easy-going of viewers. Daniels’ natural charisma is lost underneath his progressively frantic performance, and it’s finally impossible to label Checking Out as anything other than a colossal misfire of nigh epic proportions.

* out of ****