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The 'Existential Answer' to why this movie has people split

posted 17 years ago by I_Am_Myles
15 replies | jump to latest

Back when I first saw this movie in 2004, it was one of the funniest movies I had ever seen, dealing with subjects I had never seen in a comedy. It's nice to see a movie dealing with issues that are slightly larger than your average Adam Sandler flick. That being said, I feel that the people who are turned off by this movie, just don't relate to the subject, and I doubt have ever questioned their own existance and/or reality. For a film that the 'haters' accuse this film of being, I would say Anchorman was much more random, had stupid characters, and overall had so much unrealistic stupidity, it totally ruined the actual one good theme it had going: women in the workplace. So why all the complaining? Last I saw, David O. Russell hasn't released a movie since Huckabees, yet Will Ferrell has unleashed a plethora of garbage almost every month. This movie is a comedy, you don't have to understand it to laugh, but since Will Ferrel isn't in it and it actually makes you think a little oustide of your own reality, I think some of you purposfully overlook the humor. Perhaps adding a laugh track like they do on mindless sitcoms would help prompt you, it works for mainstream America. I honestly blame the marketing of this film, for it has targeting the wrong crowd of viewers. Sure the preview makes it look like a slaphdash butt-tickling absurdist comedy, but it's not quirky enough, doesn't have a bunch of over the top acting, and not completely absurd enough to be digested by people who are "brainwashed not to think and feel".

Disagree with me? Well look at some of the 'popular' comedies of the last few years and tell me what classics, School for Scoundrels, Mr. Woodcock and Accepted were.

oh and leave Jude Law's accent alone.

Cary Elwes in SAW; now that is one terrible, terrible accent.

[–] bunny226622 17 years ago

I don't agree with eveything you have to say except people who like this movie are more likely going to be the ones who have experienced some kind of an existential crisis or gone through a questioning of the meaning of their life. I thought this movie was pretty funny and made the existential thing a not so serious issue.

Why don't the evil just get regular jobs like the rest of us?-Veronica Mars

[–] creole_femme 17 years ago

Actually, I found myself dwelling on some of their existential questions. While I was being entertained and laughing my head off with everything Mark Wahlberg's character was doing, I was actually thinking about the things that they posed.

About Jude Law's american accent: I've seen worse. I think he did a good job with it.

[–] scotty07 17 years ago

those arent the popular comedies at all i dont know where you are coming up with that but for the most part i agree with what youre talking about.

[–] Mr_Sideburns 17 years ago

Yeah, I understand what you are coming from and agree with most everything you said (with the exception that I also like Anchorman and other movies like that, they are a completely different genre of comedy and cannot be combined)

Like... a bunch of Wes Anderson movies are really funny, but in a way that fans of Anchorman or Mr. Woodcock might not necessarily find funny.

Also, be careful when calling others out about thinking outside of subjective realms, remember, they are you after all ;)
(SPOILERS)
I loved this movie because I could relate myself to the characters and their struggles internally AND externally. I did exactly what the main character's conclusion was in the end, I connected with the Everything through the pain and the meaninglessness.

[–] owlesun 16 years ago

I think that it's cute how you believe that other people don't like this movie because they are not as smart as you :)

Perhaps they have simply solved their existential questions due to their superior intelligence?

In this world you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant.For years I was smart.I recommend pleasant.

[–] geoh777 16 years ago

I think that it's cute how you believe that other people don't like this movie because they are not as smart as you :)

He said "... it actually makes you think a little oustide of your own reality, I think some of you purposfully overlook the humor."

That's exactly what I did when I first viewed this movie. The second time it took on some meaning. The third time I was just looking for Isla Fisher and ended up laughing my ass off at the antics. I was actually starting to get some of it.

I hate it when people spell off of.

[–] isaacsgs-1 16 years ago

Cary Elwes was in SAW?

[–] CarlSolomon 16 years ago

It's funny the OP mentioned Anchorman negatively when Russell produced that movie.

The Soapbox: "This place is just as stupid as ever. Damn, I've missed it."-Embertstorm

[–] zombiegomz 16 years ago

It has people split because every single character is an over the top beautiful eccentric. It's a disgustingly pretentious and high minded movie full of annoying people exploring existential ideas, seemingly stating them as if correct. Nothing is correct in the world of existentialism. This movie is like a person who fishes for complements by confidently spewing their theories on life thinking it's an amazing thought, but instead it's empty and shallow.

[–] Tenchi6724 16 years ago

Hey, I LIKE TO DANCE!!!

[–] geebrother 16 years ago

I think you forgot to add that that is your opinion

[–] FedRev 16 years ago

If he's saying it then obviously it's his opinion. There's no need to state "in my opinion" on every post your write.

Blood has no nationality.

[–] killakahn 16 years ago

then who are you to say its empty and shallow? The only thing that matters, is what subjectively matters to each individual, in his own reality. They feel they have found some amazing and profound truth. And here you are, some douche bag, telling them they're empty and shallow. Maybe your the one who's empty and shallow.

by the way I loved this movie.

*beep* you, your a pretentious prick, ever thought of that?

Why the *beep* is everyone so negative on the forums? Everyone, please get the sticks and/or dildo's out of your asses.

There's so much pretentious *beep* egotism, and self delusion here its disgusting.

then of course someones going to analyze the *beep* out of my own words and think they know anything about me at all.

We don't know anything about anyone else. shut the *beep* up

[–] MoeHartman 16 years ago

I enjoyed this movie because it's funny but more importantly, because it is original, which is perhaps why the more mainstream audience didn't go for it. It requires a bit more thinking than some comedies, so I imagine that many people simply didn't get it. It doesn't really paint existentialism in an entirely accurate light, but that kind of suits the irreverent mood of the movie and is forgivable. The acting is great and I feel the concept was one of the more unique ones in recent years. It was too different for the masses and not quite smart enough for some intellectuals, but I love it nonetheless. A divisive film, but a lot of great ones are, and I wouldn't be surprised if the consensus on it becomes more positive with time.us

[–] laid_backk 16 years ago

i also really liked this movie.yes it was funny but it did make me think, which is something i like in a movie.the fact that the characters were eccentric doesn't make it "not true" or unreal.it is a film after all, not everything has to seem "real". and i think a lot of people hate this movie cause they think it doesnt have anything to do with actual existentialism but isn't everyone free to interpret things their own way?