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12 December 2007

Based on the ads (I haven't seen the movie), does anyone else find this film not only unappealing, but vaguely infuriating?

post by: jonmc at: 09:37 | 27 comments

I heard Reilly and the director interviewed on "Fresh Air" last week, and thought it sounded pretty unfunny... in what way would you say it's infuriating?

posted by BoringPostcards 12 December | 09:41

Hmmm. I love parody, but to be done well (see Mel Brooks, Spinal Tap etc) there has to be some affection for the subject being parodied, and based on the ads I don't see any here, just a lot of empty flipness that makes me want slap them upside the head.

posted by jonmc 12 December | 09:46

Comedy is difficult... that's why comedies never win Oscars and are shoved in with musicals. Two people can never agree on what's funny and what isn't (or is offensive, in Apatow's case).

This doesn't look funny to me. Apatow is no Guest.

posted by chuckdarwin 12 December | 09:53

Yeah, this didn't look appealing to me either. And I generally like Reilly, Jenna Fischer and Judd Apatow. But I didn't have much interest in Walk the Line either even though I love Cash (I'm not sure why--I suppose I didn't want my enjoyment of Cash's music distorted by a third-party's interpretation of his life story). So if this is supposed to be, in part, a parody of Walk the Line, I guess I'm just not the right audience for it.

posted by mullacc 12 December | 10:05

I love parody, but to be done well (see Mel Brooks, Spinal Tap etc) there has to be some affection for the subject being parodied

Either that, or some SERIOUS disdain and/or criticism: see Nashville. I like parodies better when they're vicious (like Best In Show), not loving (like A Mighty Wind).

I don't see any here, just a lot of empty flipness that makes me want slap them upside the head.

I think that nails it. This isn't a parody with feeling behind it; it's more like smart-aleck riffing than anything with punch.

posted by BoringPostcards 12 December | 10:12

I have loved John C. Reilly singing in Chicago, and in Prairie Home Companion, doing completely different styles.

But yeah, this seems to be over-reaching a bit.

posted by danf 12 December | 10:48

Yeah, as much as I want it to, it's not totally hitting for me either. Which is a damn shame, cuz Reilly and the crew here are super talented. I'll probably still see it, but it might have to be a DVD rental. Also, Walk the Line wasn't that great of a movie that it should be parodied. In general though, the biopic, yeah, that's riper than a black banana.

posted by Hellbient 12 December | 11:04

Hey.

Come on now.

Give it a chance.

It has Tim Meadows in it.

posted by cortex 12 December | 11:09

The ads seem to be for a movie that is trying to hit too many targets. I am wondering if it has any focus or if it is just a series of hit-or-miss jokes like Talladega Nights.

posted by mischief 12 December | 11:10

When I first saw the 30 second TV trailer I perked up and thought "this is the movie for me!". But after a few weeks that excitement was downgraded to mild interest. I'd still like to see it, but not bad enough to go the theaters. So it'll get added to my NetFlix queue and I'll go from there. I'm not exactly sure why my enthusiasm went down, but I'm obviously not alone.

BroingPostcards:

I like parodies better when they're vicious (like Best In Show), not loving (like A Mighty Wind).

My thoughts exactly! I also hate when a movie tries so hard to recreate what it's parodying that they forget about the jokes.

posted by Slack-a-gogo 12 December | 11:26

Easy on Talladega Nights there, mischief.

posted by Hellbient 12 December | 11:28

I'll probably see it when it comes to video/on-demand/cable. Mostly because I love John C. Reilly. He was even brilliant in Talladega Nights. No, seriously, BRILLIANT. He took a one-note foil in a Will Ferrell vehicle and created an actual character. He's awesome.

And as long as I'm saying stuff that will make people question my taste and sanity--Reese Witherspoon was woefully miscast as June Carter in Walk The Line. Yeah, I know, I know, won an Oscar, blah, blah, blah. But June was a FORCE. She was a broad. She was cute, but not cutesy. She should have been played by someone less pixieish.

posted by jrossi4r 12 December | 11:35

I totally agree about Reese, jrossi. But that's just the tip of the iceberg - I was so excited for that movie, and found it so formulaic and disappointing.

Besides, I wanted a scene where June and Johnny's mother sang an old-timey gospel tune together while Johnny was in that final recovery.

posted by Miko 12 December | 11:43

TN had good jokes, hellbient, they just forgot what they were parodying. ;-P

posted by mischief 12 December | 12:00

I don't think so. Besides, it was parodying more than just one thing. I thought it was pretty solid all around. Can you be more specific?

posted by Hellbient 12 December | 12:06

I'm putting it on my Netflix queue for Reilly's hair styles alone. But I have low expectations. (Also I suppose I need to watch Walk the Line first.)

posted by kirkaracha 12 December | 12:23

I like Reilly a lot, but I'm on the record here as a Apatow-hater. based on the ad copy, this sounds like a terrible, flippant movie.

I'm with you Giovanni

posted by matteo 12 December | 12:40

It could be worse, jon, at least George Clooney isn't in it ;-)

posted by essexjan 12 December | 12:54

I found Talladega Nights unwatchable, more stupid than sassy. I will be skipping Walk Hard for the same perceived reasons.

posted by malaprohibita 12 December | 13:02

The trailer's gonna make it seem way more low-brow than it is, such is the nature of comedy marketing.

posted by Ambrosia Voyeur 12 December | 13:05

I think it could be good -- but I don't expect it to be brilliant satire, I just expect it to make me laugh, which is enough.

I also think Mel Brooks is waaaaaaaaaaaaay overrated. Worst decision he made was to stop making films with Gene Wilder. It was a quick roll downhill from there.

*ducks*

posted by middleclasstool 12 December | 13:23

TIM MEADOWS

posted by cortex 12 December | 13:30

Brooks, in The Producers and Blazing Saddles, did two of the funniest movies of all time. Young Frankenstein and the 12 Chairs were close.

I hate that he's recycling YF on Broadway. I hope it flops. He might try Blazing Saddles next, which would be a shame.

But yeah, a lot of filler in his CV.

posted by danf 12 December | 13:38

I hate that he's recycling YF on Broadway. I hope it flops. He might try Blazing Saddles next, which would be a shame.

Oh, I completely agree.

posted by muddgirl 12 December | 13:54

I hate that he's recycling YF on Broadway. I hope it flops.

He's doing WHAT, now?

posted by chuckdarwin 12 December | 13:59

Right, but YF wouldn't have been near the same without Gene Wilder's writing and performance, not to mention his creative influence and performance on BS -- which has 5 total screenwriter credits (including, notably, Richard Pryor). The Producers, I'll grant you.

posted by middleclasstool 12 December | 14:09

Not me: I'm looking forward to it. And I heard his set in Chicago was awesome.

posted by eamondaly 12 December | 14:28

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