Steve Byrne's personal connection to the material shines through, and the stand-up scenes deliver enough genuine laughs that 90 minutes of these people just telling jokes might have made for a stronger movie
Jimmy O. Yang gives a slyly appealing performance as a comic who may be too good a person to be a nightclub star; Seeing Will creep up to embracing the X factor of comedy is more than just funny -- it's moving
Jimmy O. Yang appeals in an underdeveloped story; Lacking tangible emotional depth, and, frankly, much laugh-out-loud humor at all, "The Opening Act" is surprisingly underdeveloped for an intimate story about ambition and sacrifice
indie about aspiring stand-up comic is both sweet and salty; it works in its own quiet way, with touching characters and a fascinating setting; and it's a refreshingly simple story about whether or not to give up on your dream
as for "The Opening Act", the humor gets dicey whenever Steve Byrne shifts away from the standup set, but the movie has heart and an endearing cast ensuring that this is no bomb
"The Opening Act" has some heart to go with its jokes, and Steve Byrne doesn't push his luck, keeping the movie simple and immersive, identifying the emotional roller coaster of the profession in a way few features have attempted
by Jeffrey M. Anderson [Common Sense Media ]
