Recalibrating
I've officially joined the ranks of those calling for a new system for movie rating. All of us in fundamentalism have heard the calls for a tougher crackdown on vulgarity and sexual content. I'm sure those people are right, but I'm not feeling so orthodox at the moment.
I just want stupidity added as a factor to be considered in the rating process. Or maybe failure to achieve the humor claimed. How about being a complete waste of life? Any of those would have saved me last night.
I knew I was taking my chances when I went to see Will Ferrell. His penchant for crude humor not only reveals his lack of comedic creativity, but offends my sensitive morality. So I've never been much of a fan; in fact, his movies tend to provoke unwanted responses. Some of my more common responses are groans, rolled eyes, and the occasional chortle. This movie drew a new one—stunned silence gradually melting into indignant antipathy.
It was rated PG-13, but the critics were giving it solid reviews, and it's still floating at the top of the Box Office money pool. Those were good signs. Plus, I caught a couple of trailers for it, and they looked great.
Then, last night, my desire to do something joined forces with the complete lack of area activities to deal my ambivalence a fatal blow. Oh, how fatal that blow!
In case you haven't figured it out by now, I'm referring to Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. Allow me to be specific. The plot doesn't have holes; the void has wispy tatters of a plot drifting across it. The retarded protagonist and the manifold antagonists can't decide if they want to engage the audience, develop sub-plots, or laugh at their own pointlessness. So they just bumble around the screen calling their crude antics humor. You'll only find interesting character development if you're a psychologist looking for a challenge. All the chic sociopolitical points are made at the expense of your intelligence. I dare not attempt to elucidate my feelings on Sacha Baron Cohen's so-called French accent.
The movie did have its funny points. If you want to see them, invite a few friends over, pop some corn and distribute the Perrier. Then watch the trailer online. Those were just about the only points in the movie worth watching. Be careful if you try this, though. Be sure you don't watch it too many times, or you'll want to quote it, and this is not a movie to be associated with.
In short, it was a disappointing return to theater after a prolonged, school-induced absence, and it all could have been avoided if those blasted movie raters would have looked out for me like they claim to.
I just want stupidity added as a factor to be considered in the rating process. Or maybe failure to achieve the humor claimed. How about being a complete waste of life? Any of those would have saved me last night.
I knew I was taking my chances when I went to see Will Ferrell. His penchant for crude humor not only reveals his lack of comedic creativity, but offends my sensitive morality. So I've never been much of a fan; in fact, his movies tend to provoke unwanted responses. Some of my more common responses are groans, rolled eyes, and the occasional chortle. This movie drew a new one—stunned silence gradually melting into indignant antipathy.
It was rated PG-13, but the critics were giving it solid reviews, and it's still floating at the top of the Box Office money pool. Those were good signs. Plus, I caught a couple of trailers for it, and they looked great.
Then, last night, my desire to do something joined forces with the complete lack of area activities to deal my ambivalence a fatal blow. Oh, how fatal that blow!
In case you haven't figured it out by now, I'm referring to Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. Allow me to be specific. The plot doesn't have holes; the void has wispy tatters of a plot drifting across it. The retarded protagonist and the manifold antagonists can't decide if they want to engage the audience, develop sub-plots, or laugh at their own pointlessness. So they just bumble around the screen calling their crude antics humor. You'll only find interesting character development if you're a psychologist looking for a challenge. All the chic sociopolitical points are made at the expense of your intelligence. I dare not attempt to elucidate my feelings on Sacha Baron Cohen's so-called French accent.
The movie did have its funny points. If you want to see them, invite a few friends over, pop some corn and distribute the Perrier. Then watch the trailer online. Those were just about the only points in the movie worth watching. Be careful if you try this, though. Be sure you don't watch it too many times, or you'll want to quote it, and this is not a movie to be associated with.
In short, it was a disappointing return to theater after a prolonged, school-induced absence, and it all could have been avoided if those blasted movie raters would have looked out for me like they claim to.
At 1:02 AM,
I ran across your blog and must tell you how refreshing it is to read thoughts so finely written. However, despite your well-expressed thoughts, I cannot overlook the idiocy of a few in this latest post.
First, if you were familiar with Will Ferrell (as you claimed to be) you probably should not have been surprised, disappointed, or stunned at his very characteristic clueless, absurd, and scattershot humor. Ferrell lacks the guts for genuine satire--his attempts at it have always been rather sad.
Second, I am surprised that you (as a religious person) counted "it's floating at the top of the Box Office money pool" as definitely being a "good sign." You see, much of the world does not share your kind of "sensitive morality." (As far as movie critics go, it may help you to read reviews of more conservative critics who would share your moral views.)
Third, you really cannot be upset about the swearing and "crude antics" that seem to drown the plot, because those blasted movie raters did warn you about that.
At 12:02 AM,
I have to ask if the movie was that bad and that crude, why didn't you just walk out? Maybe i'm just missing something...
At 4:54 PM,
If I may...
Thanks for the impassioned defense, Mark, but I believe Anon's comments were well-meaning and fair. I'm afraid Anon just missed my point. My point was not that the movie was crude—from my limited experience with Will Ferrell (don't assume, Anon), I expected some crude humor would detract from the movie. And, yes, crude humor was mentioned in the rating.
My problem with the movie is there was nothing for the crude antics to detract from. As much as I enjoy witty humor, absurd and scattershot humor provide me with enjoyable entertainment from time to time. In fact, I watched several post-Talladega Will Ferrell interviews in which he was completely random and extremely engaging. The problem with Talladega to which this post was dedicated was the nearly complete absence of any humor. Or plot. Or anything else to capture my interest.
Thanks for the advice to seek opinions about movies from a person with whom I have more in common, Anon. So, Dale...
At 6:27 PM,
justin, this has nothing to do with ur post, sorry. But that is a sweet new blog roll thingy!!!
At 11:40 AM,
Wow, I completely agree with your take on the movie. I'm just glad that I had a free ticket and didn't actually waste my money on it. Although, sadly, I cannot take back any of the wasted time. By the way, I was just about to send you a message saying to update your blog. I'm really bored! So, I was glad to see this.
At 12:13 PM,
What an odd set of comments.
I have to say, you should have received all the warning you needed by the fact that it was a Will Ferrell movie. I'm not even touching moral sensitivity, just the completely lack of intelligent/witty/verbal humor evident in all of his films. Plus a movie about a racecar driver? You could do better.
At 12:07 PM,
Okay, wow. You've got quite the dialogue going on here. I take it you don't recommend the movie. Thanks for the warning. I have to say though, I wasn't too tempted, but it's good to know.
Oh, and Justin, good luck with Armitage. You might need it!
At 7:37 PM,
The star of Anchorman mocking NASCAR. How can you go wrong?
Or so I thought. While most of the script was undeniably funny when taken out of context, as a whole the movie fell flat on its face.
I can't agree more with your recommendations on how to enjoy this movie. Just watch the trailer.