Funny Is Relative
“I kept waiting for Jay Roach‘s Dinner for Schmucks to run out of steam or jokes — but it rarely did,” writes Marshall Fine. “Not that the laughs built to a big payoff. Nor did they evoke the kind of gasping-for-air quality that, say, The Hangover did. But director Roach, working from a script by David Guion and Michael Handelman, regularly jolts you with enough unexpected and wonderfully weird moments that you rarely grow impatient with this broad comedy.
“Indeed, I’d count this film as one of the rare — very rare — examples of a film adapted by Hollywood from one of those French farces that Francis Veber seems to toss off in his sleep that actually works (The Birdcage is one of the only other ones I can think of). Roach and his writers succeed because they turn the story into something uniquely their own, without losing the core of the original. Indeed, as I recall, the Veber original was one of his lamer efforts – which means that the Americans have improved upon it.”
I want to believe you, Marshall, but I can’t. I just can’t. Steve Carell‘s blonde goony-bird characterization just stops me in my tracks. It’s a character based on the desire of an actor to be funny in order to make people laugh in order to sell tickets in order to make money.
“It’s a character based on the desire of an actor to be funny in order to make people laugh in order to sell tickets in order to make money.”
I’m sure this will be met with slur on my reading skills, but this sentence is baffling. Are you saying this a paycheck job for Carell? Of course he wants to be funny, make people laugh and sell tickets. So does every other comedic actor in the world. Why is that a bad thing?
i’ll give that there are a few fairly funny scenes but, overall, this was pretty painful to sit through… and by turning the adaptation into “something uniquely their own” it’s been completely defanged and watered down…..
He’s saying the character is so artificial and odd that it is entirely derivative or a total construction. Basically, JW can’t go with it because he can see the metaphorical wires holding up this comedy spaceship. Just too fake.
When is it not a paycheck job with Steve Carell?
This is that special kind of comedy that goes beyond looking unfunny and just comes off as depressing. The ads are nothing but Carell speaking in silly voices/gibberish – Jeff’s right, nobody’s even trying here.
The posters and Steve Carell’s EMBARRASSING hair and glasses make me sadder than Brian’s Song. It looks depressing… And Steve Carell is a funny guy, but in movies he almost always seems a little melancholy and downcast, whether it’s this or that poster where he was sleeping on a grilled cheese. Just a big, uncinematic sadsack where something about it makes me uncomfortable.
Carrel, Rudd, Jermaine Clement, David Walliams, Steve Coogan, Kristen Schaal, Zack Galifinakis… So so so so many funny people, forced to monkey around for that tonedeaf jackass Jay Roach. When I find this in the Redbox, I pray it has five/ten minutes of amusement at least, but you can’t expect much more.
Steve Coogan isn’t funny.
Also, I know it was just gossip column bullshit and the source was Courtney Love, of all people, but isn’t it at least a LITTLE WEIRD that Steve Coogan has continued to work– and in really genial family comedies at that– with nary an interview or explanation about those “rumors”? Guy’s in movies doing shtick in kiddie films or horsing around with genial Steve Carell, and if what Love said about the guy was true, it casts an ugly pall over everything he’s in.
Maybe it’s because all of the people that would rat him out are also raging, irresponsible cokeheads? Also, Coogan’s BBC stuff, particularly “I’m Alan Partridge” is fucking hilarious, and I’d say he’s the potentially funniest guy in this cast.
Steve Coogan was very funny in Britain. All his roles in American movies have been bland. It was weird seeing Hamlet 2, like he was a square peg trying to fit into a round comedy hole. I was hoping the rumored Persuaders movie with Ben Stiller would happen, but it looks like that fizzled out. Anyway so, what, he’s into coke and hookers? Is that even scandalous any more? Certainly no more disturbing than what his Other Guys co-star Marky Mark used to get up to…
I would almost watch this for David Walliams, but it appears his role is mostly to stand there and have Carell react weirdly to him.
it should probably be noted at this point that Coogan doesn’t appear to even be in Dinner for schmucks, at least not credited as such…
I was referring to the tabloid claims about his evil influence on nice Owen Wilson circa the time of his meltdown.
Owen Wilson was in ARMAGEDDON and is awesome. Steve Coogan does Brtiish Comedy, which is the single worst thing ever created on this planet except for GLEE and men’s sandals. And, yes, that includes Monty Python. NOT funny.
Steve Coogan is hilarious. Lex’s irrational hatred for all British comedy is a great shame, as he’s missing out on a lot of good stuff. Coogan’s American roles have always been a bit weird, though. There are rumours that he and Ianucci are going to make an Alan Partridge feature.
Knowing Me, Knowing You and I’m Alan Partridge are genuine comedy classics. Absolutely fantastic. Also, The Day Today, which not only spawned Partridge but also the “Chris Morris” Chris Morris persona that went on to become Brass Eye.
As for the allegations about him – Love didn’t exactly mention anything specific or produce a smoking gun. Just said she warned Owen Wilson to stay away from Coogan. As if Wilson was a delicate flower shielded from the evils of Hollywood until a British comedian came along and corrupted him. Please.
Flight of the Concords, also NOT FUNNY.
In fact, almost NO COMEDY is ever funny, because “comedy” is the garbage dump of cinematic genres. Anytime some idiot goes playing a violin for COMEDIES and how they don’t get recognized by the Academy and it’s harder to do a comedy than a drama? Fuck that, it’s because comedy, and LAUGHTER, is worthless and easy and juvenile, and I don’t go to movies to HAVE A GOOD TIME, I go to movies to be PUMMELED AND PUNISHED. I only like comedy when it’s about cool people, like if it’s frat dudes banging chicks and making fun of fat guys, or something where Dane Cook or Gerard Butler are putting women in their place. THAT’S funny.
Some goofy looking dudes MUGGING? Not funny. Especially when it’s foreign, and DEFINITELY if it involves a woman trying to get laughs, which is UTTERLY REPULSIVE and undignified and unladylike.
And I got none other than Jerry Fucking Lewis backing me up on that one.
I agree with you on Flight of the Conchords, which is only really funny to women and Brooklyn hipsters.
Who the hell is Coogan? Who cares.
Also the original Little Britain was brilliant. FACT.
aris: If you don’t like Coogan but you like Little Britain, that’s not a good sign.
Eloi -I don’t get it.
A quick wikipedia search shows Coogan in a small role in a Little Britain Xmas special, and not mentioned in the show’s entry whatsoever. I didnt say I don’t like him, I just don’t know who he is (nor do I understand your point).
David Williams was fantastic in that show, and apparently is in this film, which is why I mentioned it (not to mention to try to educate Lex about something)…
“But I want bitty….”
aris: My mistake. I assumed you meant you didn’t like Coogan, as opposed to simply not knowing who he is.
To be fair, Little Britain season 1 was okay, mostly for the Tom Baker voiceover. But it quickly degenerated into catchphrase dominated hell.
Saxondale = Extreme funny. Find it and watch it.
I’m with scooterzz — I saw this last week, and it’s dreadful. The positive reviews thus far are ASTOUNDING to me. Then again I didn’t like “The Hangover” either.
And I absolutely adore Steve Coogan, and for the life of me, I can’t even remember him being in the movie.
It is now my theory that every talkbacker on this site is really one incredibly weird, self-loathing pretentious weirdo who has nothing else to do. And no, that doesn’t include me.
LexG, I usually sort of get what you’re trying to do, but sometimes it really doesn’t come across. If you’re actually serious about the whole comedy thing— about women, foreigners, or unattractive people not being funny, I’m not sure what to say to that. I guess I’ll say it’s a unique position to take and leave it to that.
“Nor did they evoke the kind of gasping-for-air quality that, say, “The Hangover” did.”
Oh jeez, seriously? The Hangover was pretty bad, with only a few mild laughs, mostly at the end credits. Have no clue what all these idiots see in that movie.
@ Thunderballs – Yeah, The Hangover was mildly funny throughout, but they really stuck the landing on it, as you mentioned. I think that, more than anything, attributed to the “good time” vibe that sold the film.
As far as this movie goes, the premise kinda bugs me.
Comedy is underrated. Sure, pure comedy in filmcan be pretty awful, but it’s pomegranate juice, so to speak. Like, you wouldn’t drink pomegranate juice by itself most of the time, but you mix it with other juices, and often you have something really special.
And wow, I guess maybe I can understand hating Monty Python, but if you hate In the Loop, you are bad, and should feel bad.
LexG, usually you are funny and interesting. But on this, you are just dead wrong.
Anyone citing “Armageddon” as a great film is immediately suspect, at best. And I don’t even like Monty Python and all of that other stuff. And I think this movie looks like shit. But really, Armageddon is better than all of this?
You couldn’t be more wrong.
It’s not even Michael Bay’s best, and that stagnant pool of mediocrity is none too deep.
I’m pretty sure being entertaining takes presedence over being correct in this case and that rant in comment #14 is pretty fucking funny.
How is Coogan’s presence in something like Marmaduke more awkward than Eli Cash actually being Marmaduke? The guy was a coked-up hound with issues well before he met Coogan…allegedly.
I hate it when comedians try to be funny. You know who else I hate? Children.
i love it when lex says his usual stupid shit — women and brit comedy isn’t funny — and you nod like you can’t figure him out.
‘Nor did they evoke the kind of gasping-for-air quality that, say, “The Hangover” did’
end of review
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