Movies, Movies, Movies!
Aug. 18th, 2003 10:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
chaosvizierThat's right, it's time for me to share my highly respected and recognized opinion with you so that you know what's good for you. Heed my words! I am a dispensary of wisdom and cheesy goodness!
But perhaps you don't want that, in which case...
American Wedding
Slapstick comedy is such a tricky thing to rate or review accurately. One man's funny might be another man's annoyance, and vice versa. I am no exception to this rule, and in fact, looking at my selection of slapstick movies I like vs. slapstick movies I don't like, I'm hard pressed to explain why I might like one film and not another, despite the similarity in the nature of the comedic material offered. For example, I despise the Austin Powers series of movies, and yet I cannot help but rewatch the Airplane series. What's the difference- stupid slapstick or stupid slapstick? I can only say that the Zucker Brothers provided a somehow more intelligent slapstick in their films, but I know that my argument stands of legs of straw. I can't justify anything.
In any event, among my list of "slapstick" movies I enjoy are the American Pie series of films. This one brings it to its (possibly) triumphant conclusion.
The plot: How many things can go wrong just before a wedding? Much like in both versions of Father of the Bride, you have to see it to believe it... or not.
The pros: The formula set by American Pie and American Pie 2 has not been changed. There is a goal: a wedding. There are things that must be done for that goal to be achieved. And wacky hijinks ensue every step of the way. Although the formula is the same, the humor is still goddam funny, and pushes even more extreme boundaries than the previous two did. Although some members of the original cast are no longer present, this does not detract from the film in any way... with maybe one exception (see below).
The cons: Tara Reid was not in this film. Her character was always an empty and shallow one, granted, but she's a hottie. Ruff, ruff. (Luckily, Alyson Hannigan makes up for this adequately. Ruff, ruff, again.) My old buddy Deus Ex Machina was in the film, glaringly obvious as always. Annoying, but overlookable, because really, this kind of film is all about vast exaggeration of potential. Some of the scenes seemed a bit short and out of place, as if a good bit ended up on the cutting room floor for some unknown reason (one scene was, practically, this: "Hey Kevin." - "Hey Jim." - "How you doing?" - "Pretty good." - "Well, let's get to the wedding, shall we?" - END SCENE). And, lastly, this movie could have benefited from David Lo Pan saying "You were not put on this earth to get it, Mr. Burton."
The verdict: If the first two were not your cup of slapstick tea, neither will this one be. I, on the other hand, loved the first two, and this movie had me howling to the point where I almost suffocated myself. I'd see it again, just to try and listen for the many minutes that I missed because I was laughing too hard to catch the dialogue.
Disclaimer: Yes, I'm not an Austin Powers fan. Nor am I a Jim Carrey fan. This, however, does not prevent me from quoting their movies. Quotability does not an enjoyable film make. And if you think that makes me a hypocrite, I've got a whole bag of 'sshh' with your name on it.
But perhaps you don't want that, in which case...
American Wedding
Slapstick comedy is such a tricky thing to rate or review accurately. One man's funny might be another man's annoyance, and vice versa. I am no exception to this rule, and in fact, looking at my selection of slapstick movies I like vs. slapstick movies I don't like, I'm hard pressed to explain why I might like one film and not another, despite the similarity in the nature of the comedic material offered. For example, I despise the Austin Powers series of movies, and yet I cannot help but rewatch the Airplane series. What's the difference- stupid slapstick or stupid slapstick? I can only say that the Zucker Brothers provided a somehow more intelligent slapstick in their films, but I know that my argument stands of legs of straw. I can't justify anything.
In any event, among my list of "slapstick" movies I enjoy are the American Pie series of films. This one brings it to its (possibly) triumphant conclusion.
The plot: How many things can go wrong just before a wedding? Much like in both versions of Father of the Bride, you have to see it to believe it... or not.
The pros: The formula set by American Pie and American Pie 2 has not been changed. There is a goal: a wedding. There are things that must be done for that goal to be achieved. And wacky hijinks ensue every step of the way. Although the formula is the same, the humor is still goddam funny, and pushes even more extreme boundaries than the previous two did. Although some members of the original cast are no longer present, this does not detract from the film in any way... with maybe one exception (see below).
The cons: Tara Reid was not in this film. Her character was always an empty and shallow one, granted, but she's a hottie. Ruff, ruff. (Luckily, Alyson Hannigan makes up for this adequately. Ruff, ruff, again.) My old buddy Deus Ex Machina was in the film, glaringly obvious as always. Annoying, but overlookable, because really, this kind of film is all about vast exaggeration of potential. Some of the scenes seemed a bit short and out of place, as if a good bit ended up on the cutting room floor for some unknown reason (one scene was, practically, this: "Hey Kevin." - "Hey Jim." - "How you doing?" - "Pretty good." - "Well, let's get to the wedding, shall we?" - END SCENE). And, lastly, this movie could have benefited from David Lo Pan saying "You were not put on this earth to get it, Mr. Burton."
The verdict: If the first two were not your cup of slapstick tea, neither will this one be. I, on the other hand, loved the first two, and this movie had me howling to the point where I almost suffocated myself. I'd see it again, just to try and listen for the many minutes that I missed because I was laughing too hard to catch the dialogue.
Disclaimer: Yes, I'm not an Austin Powers fan. Nor am I a Jim Carrey fan. This, however, does not prevent me from quoting their movies. Quotability does not an enjoyable film make. And if you think that makes me a hypocrite, I've got a whole bag of 'sshh' with your name on it.
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no subject
Date: 2003-08-19 04:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-08-19 05:59 am (UTC)There are lots of movies like that, though. You see them thinking, "This is going to be lame ass" and then you finish the film and it's "That was the funniest shit ever." How? Who knows? I think Disney's George of the Jungle was that way for me- I got dragged into it kicking and screaming because it was a kids' flick, and yet it turned out to be one of the best Disney movies ever. Go figure.
no subject
Date: 2003-08-19 06:31 am (UTC)I'm trying to deal with the fact that you don't like Austin Powers. Ok, the first one was a little slow, but it basically served to establish the characters. But after that they were able to let loose with the monsters that they had created. Oh and two words: Elizabeth Hurley.
As for American Wedding, funny as hell. I'm not sure if I liked it better than the second one, but it was damn funny. I really did NOT miss any of the missing characters. Mena Suvari is funny looking, Chris Klein is like a bootleg Keanu Reeves (which is REALLY bad), and Tara Reid (in my opinion) is really nothing special.
The plot had more holes than the Moonlight Bunny Ranch. But I think if that bothers a particular viewer, then they're missing the point.
no subject
Date: 2003-08-19 12:58 pm (UTC)Agreed and agreed.
The plot had more holes than the Moonlight Bunny Ranch.
Nice metaphor. And yes, totally. But plot consistency is not why you go to these kinds of movies. This is all about entertainment and fun. Laughs and hysterics and what not. Plus, pushing the limit on tasteless body humor.
no subject
Date: 2003-11-20 07:25 am (UTC)