Epic Movie (Movie Review)
Yeah, I know. When you go to see a film from the same folks who did all of those Scary Movie spoofs, you have no right to complain if the movie sucks.
I mean you did this to yourself... right?
Thing is, I sometimes find bits and pieces of the Scary Movie sagas to be mildly amusing. And when I saw that riff on Da Vinci Code in a preview for Jason Friedberg and Adam Seltzer's newest, Epic Movie (2007), I thought it'd be at least a little funny.
I was wrong.
But again: I have no right to complain. I did this to myself. I'm just glad I went to a matinee, so the ticket was a few bucks shy of the normal load.
Even the things that had amused me in the previews (see: "So lame the hair of Tom" written in code in the Mona Lisa) were more entertaining in the trailers than they were on the big screen. And while I will confess — blushing all the while — that I did occasionally chuckle, that quasi-laughter was often motivated by scenes that had the potential to be funny.
Still, a better film overall than Benchwarmers, a terrible cinematic experience that may long stand as the beacon by which I judge all unfunny movies that dare to position themselves under the banner of "comedy." Not to mention, I'm always somewhat amazed by how Friedberg and Seltzer manage to parody so many film and pop culture references into a single plot.
The four main characters in this film, for example, are parodies from Snakes on a Plane, Nacho Libre, Da Vinci Code and X-Men 3. The inciting action borrows from Willy Wonka, and the remainder of the plot centers around The Chronicles of Narnia. But along the way to the denouement, the connections to other "epic" films were too plentiful to count.
And, yes, before you ask: I was easily one of the oldest people in the theatre. And most of those older than me were generally parents chaperoning a herd of 12-year-olds.
Which just goes to show that Epic Movie may have a target audience that couldn't be more thrilled with the final product. But I'm certainly not a member.
FINAL GRADE: D+
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movie reviews
7 comments:
You went to see this movie?! I'm shocked, amazed, and a little amused..
You get points for even going to see the movie. I wanted to see it. Then I interviewed C. Electra for my column the other day and found out she was in it. And I changed my mind.
Winter: As an card-carrying blogger, I swore an oath to review all types of films... wonderful and pathetic.
So it was my duty to watch this film.
Yeah, uh... that's it.
Ha! I know you enjoy silly stupid movies, just admit it!
I do.
Must admit, I was amused to see just how blatantly this film was snubbed by "professionals."
It was reviewed by 12 critics on Rotten Tomatoes. That's it. Most new films get 40-60 reviews.
But, yes, I will admit. I like good silly films. But there's a film line between clever and witty and all-out awful.
Anchorman = Awesome
Benchwarmers = Awful
Epic Movie = More awful than awesome, good for a few laughs... better watched with friends, at home, with a group of 8 splitting the rental fee.
I have to be in the mood, but after a stressful day at work, I love nothing more than going out and watching a silly movie.
I've seen Punch Drunk Love, a million times. And I love Napoleon Dynamite..
I have no shame.
I love Punch Drunk... it's just dark enough, even, that I wouldn't even term it a silly comedy... definitely has its serious moments, which made me like it all the better.
Now Dynamite... that's a pretty silly comedy. But brilliant nevertheless.
Both are in very different leagues than Epic Movie.
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