7 Days in Hell

7 Days in Hell is a sports-themed mockumentary evoking a pastiche of everything that makes sports journalism so addictive while taking absurdity to a whole new level. This unconventional film delivers some great moments through an imaginative spin on sports culture, and if you love tennis or sports in general, you will certainly get a kick out of it.

The film was released in 2015 and features a star-studded cast. The list includes the likes of SNL alum Andy Samberg, "Game of Thrones" star Kit Harington, who's stepping out of his familiar Westeros shoes and into some tennis ones, and the multifaceted comic genius Fred Armisen, among other well-known artists including Lena Dunham, Michael Sheen, and Mary Steenburgen.

Directed by Jake Szymanski and written by Murray Miller, 7 Days in Hell takes us back to the tennis court to recreate the longest match in the history, which was a comically exaggerated seven-day marathon between two fictional tennis players, Aaron Williams, played by Andy Samberg, and Charles Poole, portrayed by Kit Harington.

The character, Aaron Williams, is an outrageous, child prodigy of tennis essentially considered the sport's 'Bad Boy.' In contrast, Charles Poole, Harington's character, is portrayed as a prototypical British tennis athlete – a brilliant player but hopelessly dim-witted and gauchely under the thumb of his monstrous mother, played by Mary Steenburgen.

The story manipulates the documentary style with a cleverly designed script and characters, infused with a surreal sense of humor. The movie is based around TV interviews and 'eyewitness accounts', which are entwined with liberally fictionalized events from the real world, encompassing a great deal of saucy content and ludicrously comedic violence.

The film also has its moments of riotous comedy which doesn't necessarily rely on sports-knowledge, featuring bizarre anecdotes, hilariously unrealistic and over-the-top animations, and crazy flashbacks thrown at the viewer in a way that doesn't adhere to any cohesive narrative, making it an engaging watch.

It's not just the tennis world that 7 Days in Hell satirises but the entire sports-industry ecosystem. The film takes a comedic jab at everything from overzealous journeymen and super-rich sponsors to the obsession with rankings and the relentless desperation for victory. It underlines the melodrama of sports biopics and documentaries, acting as a hysterical commentary on how seriously these entities can take themselves.

The work of Andy Samberg and Kit Harington takes center stage in this roller-coaster of humor and absurdity. Harington's portrayal of an innocent, dim-witted, and manipulated tennis player is a stark contrast to his famous brooding role as Jon Snow, offering a testament to his acting range. On the other hand, Samberg nails his interpretation of the 'bad boy' figure, making it clear as to why he is one of the top comic actors in the business.

The production value of the movie is exceptional considering it's is a sports mockumentary. It could have been easily made into a shoddy, low-budget affair, but instead, it comes across as a grand spectacle. The movie purposely uses an inconsistent mixture of different filming styles, media types, and graphic overlays, which perfectly adds to the chaos and the madness.

7 Days in Hell is a ridiculously fun romp of a film with a premise that can only be described as ludicrous. It offers absurdity on a new scale, mocking every possible convention of sports drama while providing an engaging viewing experience. This movie is more than just a parody of the tennis world; it's a testament to the power of humor in storytelling. So if you're in for some farcical sports fun, buckle up and prepare for an entertaining ride through this chaotic, comical, and thoroughly captivating indulge into the unknown world of surreal tennis mockery.