That's Adequate (1989)

That’s Adequate is a lovingly mischievous time capsule of Hollywood absurdity, a mockumentary that commits so fully to its fake studio mythology you start to feel like you’re watching a lost TV special from a parallel universe. With Tony Randall’s genial, straight-faced hosting and James CoCo bringing a strangely touching gravitas to the madness, the film fires off smart, sharp satire that skewers everything from the innocence of silent-era slapstick to the industry’s more disreputable corners. The vibe is fast, cheeky, and knowingly low-budget in the best way—like a late-night comedy sketch stretched into a full, coherent world. Fair warning: the humor can get risqué and deliberately tasteless at times, but if you enjoy mock-documentary spoofs that push the joke until it becomes a commentary, this one’s a minor cult delight.

That’s Adequate wants to be a loving, anything-goes mockumentary about a bargain-bin movie studio, bouncing through film history with parodies and celebrity drop-ins. The problem is it often plays like a sketch reel that forgot to bring the jokes: lots of cameos, lots of mugging, and gags that stretch past their breaking point, with “edgy” detours (including sleazier bits and ultra-violent slapstick) that can feel more desperate than clever. If you’re expecting a sharp satire or consistent laughs, this will likely test your patience and live down to its title. Still, if you have a soft spot for oddball TV-style spoofing and want to see veterans like Tony Randall and James Coco in a curiosity-piece, there’s mild charm in the premise even when the execution is merely adequate.