Parents' Guide to Outcome

This send-up of the pitfalls of fame has a star-studded cast and some funny moments, but it seems unsure of the overall tone it wants to convey. Outcome sways between satire, like Hill's constantly catastrophizing crisis lawyer, and solemn reflection, as Reeves' Hawk listens to a series of people from his past explain the many ways he hurt them. His journey is like watching a 12-step program in action. By far the film's most memorable scene involves Susan Lucci, playing Reeves' mom, carefully staging his apology for her turn on The Real Housewives. Other cameos are entertaining, like Martin Scorsese as a discarded talent manager, and his new client, a slick Hollywood child star hilariously played by Weapons' Cary Christopher.

As a commentary on fame, the film has insights. A star since early childhood, Hawk's life doesn't belong entirely to him—fans feel proprietary about his celebrity and career, without actually caring about him as a person. Maybe that's why he hasn't always behaved with others like a real human being (or built much of a life outside his career). Bringing in former child star Drew Barrymore was clever, but there's little nuance in references to the Kardashians, glimpses into the lawyer's rewarding family life, or the plotline of setting up a star for redemption through victimhood (with shades of Jussie Smollett). Constant golden hour lighting is also distracting. Written and directed by Hill, Outcome is such an insider's view on Hollywood celebrity that the audience it may ultimately land best with are the already-famous (and their hangers-on).