The easiest thing for a fan of a movie to say is that its detractors didn't "get" it. I get post-modern humor, and that it is often more about movies and deconstructing formulas than presenting relatable characters. I even get the idea of Ace Ventura intending to be truly unacceptable and gleefully so. I wanted to like Observe and Report. I had no interest in Paul Blart Mall Cop and still have no interest. I thought Seth Rogan would provide the smart variation.
The movie will be hurt by the unfortunate habit of newspapers giving credence to personal blogs. A google search of the word rape might actually turn up some posts by random anonymous internet personas with genuine feelings about a hot-button topic who feel no hesitation about misrepresenting a movie to exploit its publicity. In this case, even though I had heard bad word of mouth I was determined to see this film right away and not even wait for a matinée today.
Megavideo had a pirated video online, which I watched for free.
It has entertaining moments which may distract some people from the logic factor. For example, in the States, can someone work as a guard after having been in prison?
That said, the scene where Ronny (Seth Rogan) confronts crack dealers was good. He is supposed to play The Green Hornet, and this is the only fighting he has done in movies (other than one scene in Fanboys where he has three small roles). Even though his home life demonstrates no discipline and he is unlikely to be a self defense expert. He's a guy who wants desperately to be a cop while the most common knowledge about the application process eludes him.
Then there is the infamous date rape scene we have heard so much about. Clearly the point of the rape scene is that it leads DIRECTLY into his psych evaluation scene, which the Star article doesn't mention. For me, that changes everything in terms of what the movie is saying: Ronny is a loser. By extension, anyone who wears a guard uniform is a loser and anyone who thinks there is more to life or that he deserves to date someone he finds attractive must also be a loser. The rape scene is a transition to "Are you ready for your psych evaluation?" So in and of itself the scene is not what its reputation makes it out to be. Also, we see nothing before or after Ronny is on top of Anna Farris' character. Any number of consensual exchanges could have happened between the doorway and the bed. Yes, she's drunk and tired and full of pills she coaxed from him. These are two losers exploiting each other. They deserve each other.
Does she deserve rape? That question I leave to the bogisphere which is more than ready to tell you what to think.
Hitting a skateboarder in the head with a skateboard, or taking a second to punch the Saddam guy while chasing the flasher may be the two things I laughed at. I GET that the movie was trying to be unacceptable - the Taxi Driver editing and the use of Queen music in the fight to let us know he thinks he is Flash Gordon. . .those are worth a smile. Ronny's mom played by Celia Weston has a few excellent lines turning the usually sentimental "mother" moments on their ear. But most of it seems much better in the trailer. In context it's a much sadder movie.
Good quick paycheck for Ray Liota though. I'm glad I didn't pay to see it.
The movie will be hurt by the unfortunate habit of newspapers giving credence to personal blogs. A google search of the word rape might actually turn up some posts by random anonymous internet personas with genuine feelings about a hot-button topic who feel no hesitation about misrepresenting a movie to exploit its publicity. In this case, even though I had heard bad word of mouth I was determined to see this film right away and not even wait for a matinée today.
Megavideo had a pirated video online, which I watched for free.
It has entertaining moments which may distract some people from the logic factor. For example, in the States, can someone work as a guard after having been in prison?
That said, the scene where Ronny (Seth Rogan) confronts crack dealers was good. He is supposed to play The Green Hornet, and this is the only fighting he has done in movies (other than one scene in Fanboys where he has three small roles). Even though his home life demonstrates no discipline and he is unlikely to be a self defense expert. He's a guy who wants desperately to be a cop while the most common knowledge about the application process eludes him.
Then there is the infamous date rape scene we have heard so much about. Clearly the point of the rape scene is that it leads DIRECTLY into his psych evaluation scene, which the Star article doesn't mention. For me, that changes everything in terms of what the movie is saying: Ronny is a loser. By extension, anyone who wears a guard uniform is a loser and anyone who thinks there is more to life or that he deserves to date someone he finds attractive must also be a loser. The rape scene is a transition to "Are you ready for your psych evaluation?" So in and of itself the scene is not what its reputation makes it out to be. Also, we see nothing before or after Ronny is on top of Anna Farris' character. Any number of consensual exchanges could have happened between the doorway and the bed. Yes, she's drunk and tired and full of pills she coaxed from him. These are two losers exploiting each other. They deserve each other.
Does she deserve rape? That question I leave to the bogisphere which is more than ready to tell you what to think.
Hitting a skateboarder in the head with a skateboard, or taking a second to punch the Saddam guy while chasing the flasher may be the two things I laughed at. I GET that the movie was trying to be unacceptable - the Taxi Driver editing and the use of Queen music in the fight to let us know he thinks he is Flash Gordon. . .those are worth a smile. Ronny's mom played by Celia Weston has a few excellent lines turning the usually sentimental "mother" moments on their ear. But most of it seems much better in the trailer. In context it's a much sadder movie.
Good quick paycheck for Ray Liota though. I'm glad I didn't pay to see it.