HAROLD REVIEW

“Harold.” This is a movie about a kid suffering male-pattern baldness. He’s constantly mistaken for an old man and gets picked on in school all the time. Grab your date, ladies and gents, it’s Make-out City!

Wait, no it’s not. Why would it be? This is not a make-out movie. But you, you’re a comedy film nerd. And you should, by right, be dating a fellow comedy film nerd. So, maybe you can swing it romantic-like.

The main thing you should know about this movie as a CFN is that it’s written and directed by T. Sean Shannon. He’s been at SNL for years. Before that Tonight Show, In Living Color, and one of my all-time favorites, Paul Provenza’s “For Comics Only.” He’s fantastic and hilarious. In fact, the movie idea first premiered on SNL as a short film. Now, in limited-release feature-length action.

The movie stars Spencer Breslin, brother of Abigail. What are they feeding those kids? Were they genetically altered in the womb to be movie stars? Apparently, they have an older brother, Ryan. Is he going to be a star? Does he want to be? Is it awkward at Thanksgiving?

Is “Harold” a good movie? Yes. Funny, and to be appreciated as, perhaps, a cult favorite in the near future. Spencer is funny and weird as the young kid who looks old. Colin Quinn is great and completely believable as “Guy at the Strip Club.” And there’s a guy in a bear suit in the movie. I was hoping there would be and I wasn’t disappointed.

The big news is that Cuba Gooding Jr. is in this. You know, the guy who won an Oscar for “Jerry Maguire?” Yes, he’s in it. I guess his cred’s gone down a little since “Snow Dogs” and “Daddy Day Camp,” but still. He plays the understanding, yet creepy, janitor, the one understanding adult in a sea of meanies. The one who encourages Harold to stand up to the bully.

The weird part for me is that I’ve actually been dating a guy named Harold. He assures me that he didn’t begin showing any male-patterned baldness until 38, which is far more reasonable. So, maybe that’s why there’s not a movie about it. He didn’t get to come see the movie with me because he was working. But he did do great in his softball tournament on Sunday. He hit a home run! He turned out to be a real winner, just like movie Harold!

I recommend “Harold” for true comedy people. You’ll get it. You’ll like it. You’ll be cooler for having seen it. And, isn’t that what movie-going is all about?

HAROLD is in limited release