MovieChat Forums > In the Loop (2009) Discussion > This film is an acquired taste

This film is an acquired taste

posted 11 years ago by PotassiumMan
9 replies | jump to latest

Stylistically, there's a certain rhythm to this film that you have to get used to; the frenetic camerawork was not something I'm accustomed to. Also, I'm sure most people know the deal with British humor and how 50% of it is quite funny and 50% makes you want to roll your eyes, wondering what they were thinking. That holds true in this film, for sure. I think I would have to watch this film a couple of times to warm up to it. Not that it's bad, far from it. It held my interest throughout and had more than its share of funny moments. But being an American, I don't automatically respond to a film where the humor is occasionally obscure and studied. I look forward to watching this film again.

[–] angelofvic 11 years ago

The humor isn't really obscure or studied. A lot of it is British colloquial use, which you may not understand, but the phrases are easily Googled if you don't. (By the way, the screenplay/transcript is posted on another thread on this board.) It took me several views to catch all the jokes (and look up the phrases that were new to me even though I'm well-versed in British slang). Some of the dialogue is very fast and so to catch it all as a non-British speaker usually requires either subtitles (but not Netflix's!) or several viewings.
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[–] angelofvic 11 years ago

Also, check out this thread:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1226774/board/nest/212847808

.

[–] thelastfaceyouwillsee 11 years ago

Also, I'm sure most people know the deal with British humor and how 50% of it is quite funny and 50% makes you want to roll your eyes, wondering what they were thinking.

Really? 99% of American comedy makes me want to roll my eyes, wondering what they were thinking. There's a good reason why Saturday Night Live (for example) doesn't get broadcast in the UK. Humour is subjective and American comedy in particular is often too safe and PC.

Horses for courses.
You never know them all.

[–] Critical_Beatdown 11 years ago

britinthehat, er, I mean thelastfaceyouwillsee,

Nice to see you using phrases I used when our paths last crossed on the message boards.

Not much of a thinker, are you?

Suicide, it’s a suicide

[–] wheresjacquez 10 years ago

So is calling someone Kunta Kinte part of the 50% that is funny, or am I supposed to roll my eyes?

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] bringbackberniew 10 years ago

But then, for an American, I guess I'm often a sucker for British humor. This was excellent. I'm amazed I had never heard of it til someone recently recommended I watch it on NFLX.

It is funny, if you're not British how would you know what British humor is "studied"?

[–] Degree7 9 years ago

Oh shut it Love Actually.

~ I'm a 21st century man and I don't wanna be here.

[–] donnabert 9 years ago

PotassiumMan, yes, I can see that Americans hate having to THINK during their comedy shows.

Not so. I love this film, and I watched it twice just this week. None of is eye rolling or lame. It's hysterical and if you don't get it, you're probably just not smart enough. Not that there's anything wrong with that. :P