EdTV 1999, Rated PG-13 Universal

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The only place the axiom, 'nice guys finish last' isn't true is in Hollywood. The only reason this adage isn't true there is because, with one or two exceptions, there aren't any truly down-to-earth, nice guys to finish last. One of those exceptions though is EDtv director, Ron Howard. From his roles on The Andy Griffith Show and Happy Days, to his films Splash, Parenthood and Apollo 13, to his off-screen marriage to his high-school sweetheart, Howard has always exuded warmth and familial wholesomeness; for the time being, we'll call him the anti-Sheen. Howard's affable nature has, once again, come through on-screen in his latest film, EDtv.

EDtv , much like The Truman Show, is the story of a man whose life is broadcast on TV, 18 hours a day. However, it is here where the similarities between the two films end, as the lead character in EDtv has agreed to let himself be filmed.

At a bar with his brother, Ed (Matthew McConnaughey), is selected by a team of TV executives to be the subject of a real-life TV show; there will be no editing, no cutting, just a constant live feed. At first Ed is hesitant about the deal, but after talking to Ray, his ne'er-do-well brother (Woody Harrelson), he accepts the position. Initially, Ed finds the media attention surrounding him amusing, but things get slightly more complex when Ed, and the camera crew following his every move, catch Ray cheating on his girlfriend, Shari (Jenna Elfman). Thus begins Ed's romantic pursuit of Shari, and with that the realization that constantly being in the eyes of the media isn't as great as it seems cracked up to be.

The major difference between EDtv and The Truman Show was the warm, good-natured feeling that surrounded this production. Written by Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel, the scripters of other light comedic hits like Father's Day, A League of Their Own and City Slickers, the tone of EDtv is decidedly bright and humorous, quite the opposite of Andrew Niccol's tone in the rather caustic The Truman Show. Instead of spending their time dreaming up new ways in which to flog the American public about their insatiable desire for entertainment Ganz and Mandel spent their time creating humorous situations and dialogueótwo facets most good comedies can lay claim to.

However good Ganz and Mandel's script was though, it was the casting of this film that truly stood out. For the most part, casting is an unheralded and somewhat easy sounding job. Don't cast Arnold Schwarzenegger as a scientist, Kevin Costner as Robin Hood, or Sylvester Stallone as any character that needs to use more than two syllable words and you appear to be a genius. However, as the fabulous casting in EDtv, courtesy of casting directors, Jane Jenkins and Janet Hirshenson, proves, there is a lot more to the job than just that.

The main task of a casting agent is to visualize a character and cast an actor who fits that vision accordingly. This was done perfectly in EDtv, as McConnaughey really seemed to be Ed. An unknown player prior to A Time To Kill, McConnaughey, like Ed, was an everyday guy, who was suddenly thrust into the public spotlight for all to see and judge. Drawing upon this experience, McConnaughey worked to keep Ed realistic and level-headed. Helping McConnaughey capture the essence of Ed were fellow actors Harrelson, perfect as the somewhat thinking challenged older brother, Martin Landau as Ed's stepfather, Sally Kirkland as Ed's mother and Dennis Hopper as Ed's biological father.

This premiseóa man agreeing to have his life put on TVóinitially seemed as if it might be fodder for Leslie Nielsen to spoof the other 'people on TV' movies The Truman Show and Pleasantville. Howard chose not to do this with EDtv, taking a higher, more intellectual road with the material at hand, creating a wonderfully warmóand wholesomeófilm that makes a point without beating the viewer over the head with it. Of the two 'Average Guy on TV All Day Long' movies, see EDtv.