Clear History

Enthusiasm for Clear History will depend on one's enthusiasm for writer-star Larry David, who is at his Curb-iest here as Nathan Flomm, once a wild-maned marketing maven (“I was the brains behind Edible Arrangements”) but who blew his chance at a billion dollar payday by renouncing the decision to name a new electric car “Howard” and selling back his stock in the start-up company. Of course, the Howard became a phenomenal success. Nathan, now clean-shaven, lives under a new name—Rolly DeVore—in Martha's Vineyard, where his former boss (Jon Hamm) and the latter's wife (Kate Hudson) now set up housekeeping, leading Nathan/Rolly to swear revenge. Clear History would have been more aptly titled Sour Grapes, which happens to be the title of David's ill-fated feature film directorial debut, although directing duties here go to Greg Mottola. As with Curb Your Enthusiasm, David's script (more of an outline) gives the A-list ensemble cast (including a nicer but no less profane Danny McBride, Michael Keaton channeling Beetlejuice, an uncredited Liev Schreiber, J.B. Smoove, and Amy Ryan) room to improvise and take the usual digressions to explore whether an apology needs to be sincere, why Rolly doesn't respond to birthday e-mails, and a prurient running joke concerning, of all things, the band Chicago. For those who dearly miss Curb, this is the next best thing to being there; although others for whom a little David goes a long way are advised to steer clear. Recommended. (D. Liebenson)