This film opens tomorrow. But where? I’m assuming will be showing in Los Angeles, because Patt Morrison of the L.A. Times is calling it “the funniest movie you can’t see.” It’s odd that a “limited release” film (which is what Fox is calling it) is not playing in New York. “Limited” usually means Chicago, L.A., New York, maybe San Francisco. Doesn’t it? This seems more like a “scattered release with no publicity” film.
Has anyone heard anything about it? Read reviews? I can’t even find an official web site.
on slate
Saw this last night–just out on dvd–and believe that most of us would find it quite funny, if not as exceptional as the “Slate” review suggests.
I love how Judge can both mock the dumbing down of America while, in illustrating viewer stupidity, relishing a tv program called “Ow! My Balls!” (And it is, yes, funny.) There’s a wealth of background detail–kind of interesting to see this film, with its cheaper but still attentive dystopian art design, just after Children of Men.
It made me laugh pretty consistently for the first half-hour, then it kind of rambles pleasantly along to its close. The introduction to America 2055, mounds of garbage piled up, Luke Wilson’s fairly perfect reaction shots to the stupidity all around (before he figures out what’s going on)… it’s pretty great.
Just received in in the mail. I’ll watch it tonight. I could use a good laugh.
Here you go–Dana Stevens, another big Children of Men fan, takes the time to work through the relations between the two films.
I don’t have much to say right now, except that I enjoyed this very much–though I was a bit disappointed in Maya Rudolph’s performance. Or maybe her character. But Dax Shephard was absolutely great. I’ve seen people act dumb before, but this was unlike any performance I’ve seen.
It’s visually very interesting too, though clearly done on the cheap. I got a bit teary eyed, too, because a lot of it reminded me of Los Angeles today (like the DMV right underneath the 110 freeway, just east of Figueroa).
I’m still puzzled by why this came and went unnoticed, why Fox was unable to get behind it the way it got behind Borat. Anyway, I recommend it.
A few interesting takes on Idiocracy.
I also liked this much more than I expected. It lands some serious blows while being genuinely funny. I watched twice, once alone and once with my 13 year old (me gulping every time the language exceeded current family limits) and there is so much to enjoy just in the background or in the little details: the weirdly bent buildings, the car running off the end of a smashed freeway, the hospital reception manner of identifying sickness, Will Ferrell in the smoking ad, water “you mean from the toilet?”… and so much more.
finally got around to it, and also enjoyed it very much. however, i must point out that “ow, my balls!” rips off “kicked in the nuts” on channel 101.