Friday Free-for-all
By
Happy almost weekend, everyone!
Heckler
So I’ve been waiting, quite patiently, for The Love Guru to come out. But at the same time, I’ve been waiting with apprehension. To be honest, the concept just wasn’t jiving with me. Not Stephen’s role in it, of course, but of other aspects of the movie. Currently, the movie is in low double digit positive reviews over at RottenTomatoes.com, and the way that the critics are describing the movie is just brutal. I couldn’t imagine being involved with a project that is being this universally panned.
It made me think of a movie I saw this year at the AFI Dallas film festival called “Heckler” (NSFW). The movie is a documentary, interviewing dozens of comedians about their experiences being heckled. The movie was co-created by Jamie Kennedy, and one of the movie’s sub-plots is Jamie coming to terms with the critical reception of Son of the Mask. It’s an amazingly powerful movie about comedians and actors and directors facing the most brutal and biting criticism that could be dumped on a person. One particularly moving scene is one involving an interview with Carrot Top (NSFW) that really just made me feel bad for saying anything about any comedian, um, ever.
Here’s the trailer to Heckler, and I encourage you to see the movie if you get the opportunity.
Related posts
18 Comments
June 20th, 2008 at 12:26 am
That movie actually looks really interesting, and it does make me feel bad for all of them. I can’t even imagine the horror of being the subject of a heckler. What I don’t understand is why people would go to a comedy show if they’re easily offended. It seems to me that if you’re going to go to a comedy show you should understand that almost nothing is sacred in comedy.
That’s also sort of why I don’t like RottenTomatoes so much, because it seems to me like every reviewer goes to the theatre looking for Oscar worthy movies, and that’s just not going to happen. Most movies to me are just about having fun. Having a few laughs and overall having an enjoyable experience. Not getting moved to tears by the masterpiece bit of cinema I just saw on the screen. Sure I enjoy really beautiful movies that make you laugh and cry and really inspire you, but sometimes I like to just have fun at the movies.
/rant
Reply
June 20th, 2008 at 1:45 am
huh I hadn’t heard of that movie yet but it does sound like a fascinating idea. It definitely is a needed critique on how brutal heckling/reviews/random opinionated people are to endure. I think it’s getting to be even worse because we definitely live in an age where everyone wants to share their opinion (and yes I know I am aware of the irony of saying this in the comment section of a website ;) and especially with the detachment of the internet people get MEAN very quick.
I try to watch myself about criticizing comics (and people in general) because as Carrot Top says in that clip, reviewers often forget that the object of their ridicule is in fact a person with feelings. Especially in the comedy world it’s a brutal race to getting known and in between, eating is a requirement so A LOT of comedians take parts in really bad movies/tv shows/projects because they don’t have any other options.
A lot of comedians aren’t exactly innovative in their work for a lot of reasons, one of which being that they find an audience that doesn’t want that. Carlos Mencia gets a lot of hate (and I’ve definitely sent it his way) but the fact that he’s still so popular and well known is definitely telling of what the public wants. I can’t really dump on someone too much because hey, they’re more successful than I’ll likely ever be, and most of the time they’re probably a fairly nice person just trying to get by.
Also: I always thought Carrot Top was pretty funny and never understood why so much venom and hatred was pointed at him. I think his unique looks has a lot to do with it which is a whole other problem.
Reply
June 20th, 2008 at 3:42 am
(More on the subject of movie reviews rather than the actual starter topic, but still slightly relevant.)
I was just checking the latest movie reviews and I remembered something we discussed in journalism class in high school.
The sad truth is that people actually like to read bad reviews. For some reason, people like to read a review of a movie/book/album/etc that completely rips the subject in question a new one, so to speak. Schadenfreude, I suppose it is. I’m sure that some (I’m definitely not saying all, or most, or even several) of the reviewers out there intentionally point out the flaws of movies and give them irrationally cutthroat reviews just for the matter of readership.
And face it, reviews aren’t exactly hard hitting news with facts. They’re purely opinion, so they can get away with saying a lot more than most, and people take delight in that.
It really makes me wonder if it’s like, human nature or if it’s something else at play.
Reply
June 20th, 2008 at 4:24 am
(I posted this once, but it seems to be gone- feel free to delete NFZ staff, if it resurfaces. My computer’s been a with sketchy lately.)
More on the subject of movie reviews rather than the actual starter topic, but still slightly relevant.
I was just checking the latest movie reviews and I remembered something we discussed in journalism class in high school.
The sad truth is that people actually like to read bad reviews. For some reason, people like to read a review of a movie/book/album/etc that completely rips the subject in question a new one, so to speak. Schadenfreude, I suppose it is. I’m sure that some (I’m definitely not saying all, or most, or even several) of the reviewers out there intentionally point out the flaws of movies and give them irrationally cutthroat reviews just for the matter of readership.
And face it, reviews aren’t exactly hard hitting news with facts. They’re purely opinion, so they can get away with saying a lot more than most, and people take delight in that.
It really makes me wonder if it’s like, human nature or if it’s something else at play.
Reply
June 20th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
GRR. I knew it would double-post.
Sorry NFZ!
Reply
June 20th, 2008 at 6:23 am
love the picture!
Reply
June 20th, 2008 at 7:24 am
Going to see Get Smart today after work. I can’t wait. I get off work at 12:00. I’ll be running right to the theatre! I’ll give my review when I get back. I know I’m gonna laugh my head off.
Reply
June 20th, 2008 at 9:15 am
First, that picture of Stephen is so cute!
Second, that documentary looks really interesting. I, personally, have never cared too much for movie reviews, book reviews, music review, etc etc. Obviously all it is is someone’s personal opinion. Even after reading the bad reviews about “The Love Guru,” that doesn’t deter me from wanting to see the movie myself. So, I don’t know, people just obviously have to take reviews with a grain of salt.
Reply
June 20th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
That looks like a good movie.
Reply
June 20th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Ooo, two of my favorite things — stand-up comedy and documentaries. I’ve added it to my Netflix queue for it’s release in September (wah!).
I’m totally with AmandayIvy on the fact why on earth would someone go to a comedy show if they’re easily offended? Makes no sense to me. I’ve never seen really nasty heckling during a show, but I have seen disruptive ones that simply stop the show because they need attention for whatever reason. This happened half a dozen times when I saw Lewis Black perform in March — he actually did an extra 15 minutes because he had to keep stopping for some drunk idiot in the back who couldn’t keep his mouth shut. There’s a YouTube video where someone actually threw a water bottle and hit him in the head while he was performing. As you may imagine, he didn’t let that go quietly, as he shouldn’t have. It’s simply horrendous and disrespectful behavior that I can’t stand — didn’t their mothers teach them better than to act like that?
As far as movie critics go, some of them have nothing better to do other than bash people, but others sometimes make for a more compelling and supportive review. Since I’ve joined Netflix, I’ve needed something to gauge whether or not I’ll like some of the lesser known films out there, considering the vast array of choices you have. For the most part, RottenTomatoes is sort of on par with my taste in films — even if I haven’t read any reviews on something I’ve seen, chances are, my opinion is pretty much in keeping with the ratings there.
As much as it may suck sometimes, I think most folks in the public eye, or pretty much anyone who takes what they do everyday and puts it out there, has to develop the ability to take criticism, as long as it’s constructive. It’s the nonconstructive criticism that hurts people’s feelings.
Reply
June 20th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Roger Ebert’s review of “Get Smart”:
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080619/REVIEWS/867249699/1023
And “The Lov Guru” (not so much a good review, but Stephen’s credited in the short “cast and crew” list. It makes me wonder how big his part is. He has a name, at least.)
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080619/REVIEWS/826592907/1001
Reply
June 20th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
That photo of Stephen using his award as a preening device is my new favorite–a welcome laugh on a Friday.
Reply
June 20th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Was that pic taken at the Peabody Awards? Where was that pic originally found? Love it!
Reply
June 20th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
There is a fine line between criticism and mean-ness. Its a free country, but if folks do it with respect, then the world is better for it.
Reply
June 20th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
*unrelated to Heckler, even though I echo everyone’s sentiments*
I was watching the Stewart-Carell interview this week, and they were being hilarious together of course, and Stewart says something like, “Because you f*** anything that moves!” He could’ve been going along with their little bit, but then again, Steve answered, “Touche, my friend.” I don’t know – I immediately thought of that thing Tina Fey said, about how, in earlier days, either Stephen Colbert or Steve Carell was a ladies’ man, but she wouldn’t say which one?
I was wondering if anybody else thought of that too, or what they make of it. Maybe the secret has been revealed! =P
Here’s the interview:
http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=174003&title=steve-carell
Reply
June 21st, 2008 at 9:32 pm
hahaha I loved that moment on TDS.
I can definitely see Steve being the ladies man. Stephen’s a flirt, it seems, but there’s a difference between “flirt” and “ladies man”.
I think you may be right. Lol.
Reply
June 21st, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Bad reviews actually fill me with hope ,most of the comedies i love get utterly panned i`ve come to think it`s a good sign.
Loves;Deuce Bigalow.Adam Sandler movies.The Dukes of Hazard.The Blues Brothers.Reno911.There is something about dumb chaotic fun critics just don`t appreciate, i feel sorry for them.[a little]
Reply
June 23rd, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Totally unrelated to the topic for the Friday Free-for-All, but YEY! for Neil DeGrasse Tyson on Wednesday! He’s my favorite friend of the show — I love what Stephen said to him once when he was on the show, that he makes his subject matter sound so “seductive”. He’s so right…
Reply