When actress Annabelle Gurwitch was fired from a play by Woody Allen, she wondered how she would cope with being downsized by a cultural icon. Turning to friends in show business, she was assured she was not alone. Everyone she knew, from her rabbi to her gynaecologist, had their own account of getting the boot. Featuring interviews with comedians, economists and regular working folks, and drawing on her hugely popular book, Fired! is a humorous look at downsizing in America.
Writing
Gurwitch's self-deprecating narration saves it from navel-gazing.
Acting
Fred Willard's bit parts are basically his own spin-off.
Director
Kyle LaBrache
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Released during the late-2000s financial crisis, it accidentally became prescient workplace horror for middle-class viewers.
Gurwitch's original stage show predated the film; the Woody Allen incident happened in 2003, giving her four years to workshop the bit.
US
