The Wasteland Reviewer

Don’t Tell Larry (2025) Written Review

Have you ever met that coworker who is just on a whole other frequency and you have no idea of navigating a workplace dynamic? Well…meet Larry. The workplace environment is so essential to build rapport and make your work experience something impactful and effective. One powerful force truly makes a difference that complicates it. Larry is one such force of nature in the workplace. He is…strange, to say the least. When you don’t understand, care about, or act within the appropriate societal conventions, you can really put a whole office on edge. Or at least that hyper-ambitious, go-getter who really wants to be the CEO (and her close friend and confidant). Don’t Tell Larry is the type of comedy/thriller that finds that idea of a world that seems familiar…but is in a completely different existence. 

What kind of tone does the writer/director pair of Greg Porper and John Schmike deliver for such a tale? One that is all over the place for sure. This film starts off being a quirky, off beat, and strange comedy. Cringey for sure in a cinematic world of heightened reality. There is slapstick, gross out, and sarcastic humor. None of this seems realistic in the least and the film certainly struggles when things start getting a little crazier and a little bit more demented. There is a thriller at the core of this wild workplace comedy but that transition or coexistence between genres is entirely too clunky for it to be taken seriously. The same could be said about the few moments the film attempts some poignant moments. Then again, the end feels hollow as well with little connection to any of the events or characters. There are certainly a few genuine laughs to go around (most are too cringey to even be funny), and the absurdity is a wonder to behold but this film never comes together in a substantial way. 

What story is there even buried in this wildly messy film? The film focuses on Susan who is a self-centered, ambitious woman who wants nothing more than to be the CEO of a company. Her boss drops a giant bombshell about her new colleague Larry…until her boss mysteriously drops to his death from his office window. Susan and her best work buddy Patrick do all that they can to make sure that Larry never finds out the truth about his father or his potential promotion. The biggest issue of the whole film is that there are zero characters who are sympathetic or likeable. The shenanigans that Susan and Patrick get up too are ridiculous and scattered to say the least. The presence of Larry makes them even more so. The humor at times can be unbearable and the story feels quite listless. Even when the film reaches its climax and ending, there is no satisfaction to be found. 

Does this cast muster up any type of connection or authenticity? To give credit where credit is due, Kiel Kennedy fully commits to the madness and insanity that is Larry. Kennedy is so specific in his acting choices and comedic timing that he feels completely unique and stands out in this film. You are never quite sure if we can trust Larry (on purpose) and Kennedy is able to channel that mysterious and ambiguity. Patty Guggenheim certainly has comedic chops (as seen in She-Hulk) but she is mostly wasted to an awkward character who has little to work with or explore with. There are a few saving graces regarding acting with veteran performers like Ed Begley Jr. and Dot-Marie Jones coming in and leaving a mark. Unfortunately for them, they are given little time to work with. The rest of the cast ranges from serviceable to too clunky on screen…which is not a great sign. 

Does Don’t Tell Larry offer up enough laughs to make this worthwhile? This messy and clunky story leaves little soil to dig in roots and really connect. This whole film is stuffed with the least likeable characters who develop no connection to the audience. Cherish the limited and fleeting laughs that this film can deliver. The performance from Kennedy just might be off-the-wall enough to entertain.