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Capone doubles over in pain from laughing at Mike Judge's EXTRACT!!!
Hey, everyone. Capone in Chicago here.
The workplace is undoubtedly a great environment to base a whole lot of comedy, and the first time writer-director Mike Judge wrote a film about how much genuine inanity was borne in the world of white-collar business, he called it OFFICE SPACE, and it was good. Judge had already established his place as a scary observer of human behavior with "Beavis & Butt-Head" (both the TV show and the feature film), but Office Space was so right on the money that a generation of middle managers and cubicle dwellers turned the film into their source for the finest quotes the world had to offer at the time. Judge hasn't exactly transplanted the OFFICE SPACE template and moved it into a factory assembly line setting for his latest film EXTRACT, but the results are just as funny, even if some of the best humor takes place outside of the work environment.
The first thing you notice about EXTRACT is that the employees actually seem to like their boss, Joel (played by Jason Bateman), who built this small, privately owned factory that makes a special brand of extracts with flavor that lasts longer. Joel has done well for himself, but he's frustrated because his wife (Kristen Wiig) hasn't slept with him in weeks. After a serious industrial accident involving an employee (Clifton Collins, Jr.) losing a testicle, a temp shows up to work on the line in the form of Mila Kunis' Cindy, a seemingly sweet, beautiful woman who seems genuinely interested in Joel's line of work. After some prompting from his best friend Dean (the bearded Ben Affleck, as a sort of stoner philosopher), Joel realizes that the only way he could even dream of cheating on his wife with Cindy (he kind of makes that leap with consulting Cindy first, but let's not get lost in the details) is if his wife cheated on him first. One male prostitute (the hilarious Dustin Milligan) later, Joel is ready to make a play for Cindy, but nothing in this movie is that easy. In fact, that's part of the problem I had with EXTRACT.
The jokes are undeniably there, and they are many. The problem is, there's too much story for a film like this. General Mills might want to buy the Joel's company once a potential lawsuit from the ball-less wonder goes away. The always-reliable J.K. Simmons is on hand as Joel's right-hand man; he starts out as a strong supporting player, but by the end becomes a glorified messenger boy. The subplot about the lawsuit is tedious, and a cameo by Gene Simmons as the injured man's shark lawyer does not work. I was especially disappointed in Kunis' storyline as a drifter/con artist who targets a couple men in this story and essentially vanishes from the plot for huge chunks of the movie.
That said, I'm happy to report that what does work far outweighs what does not. Milligan's man-whore role is the best thing in the movie. His dumbness reaches levels rarely achieved on screen or television. He's magnificent. And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention again how great Affleck is. He's not the star of the show, but he comes in and out in a few keys scenes and knocks the entire production up a notch. The film misses him when he's not there. Bateman is good here as the quintessential straight man at the center of the universe of insanity and stupidity. And the funniest thing is, the further the comedy gets from the main storyline, the more I like it. Take for example, the handful of scenes between Bateman and his clueless neighbor, played by the brilliant David Koechner. These sequences could have easily been cut and you never would have missed them from EXTRACT's plot. But they also happen to be among the funniest moments in the entire film, because they are so grounded in reality that to remove them would have been to remove the very heart of Mike Judge's strength. Judge gives voice to the people and events that we find so frustrating that we don't have words for them... but he does. It could be a constantly malfunctioning fax machine or, in case of Koechner, a neighbor who will not take No for an answer, even after you tell him "No."
I'm also ridiculously pleased to see one of Judge's works get this much of a pre-release buildup, courtesy of Miramax. After the abortion-like release of IDIOCRACY by Fox, or the unceremonious death of the still-strong "King of the Hill," also by Fox, I'm happy every time I see a commercial or a trailer for EXTRACT, a film worthy of all the buzz. The film is sick, twisted and drug-fueled enough for all the freaks who took to OFFICE SPACE, but it still offers an inherent sweetness that is crucial in a film where many of the characters could be wholly unlikeable in the wrong hands. Fortunately, Mike Judge has the right hands to both write and direct something that seems unsophisticated on the surface, but strikes a surprisingly solid balance. Most importantly, you will laugh... hard and often.
-- Capone
capone@aintitcoolmail.com
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This movie actually looks pretty funny. I always wonder what it would be like working at one of those factories...screwing the caps into the toothpaste tubes and such...must be boring as shit!
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Sep 04, 2009 12:50:29 AM CDT
Remember that episode of Roseanne with Fred Thompson...
by gibsonusa returns
Where Roseanne stands up to the evil boss (played by Thompson) and the whole team quits out of pride? Yeah right...that so fake. Get back to work, bitches!
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You work all day long in an office, and then, you really want to watch a movie about one?
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Sep 04, 2009 12:54:53 AM CDT
(and I wasnt making fun of people that work at factories)
by gibsonusa returns
Was just referencing the Wonka movie, thats all.
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the thing about Kunis' character is pretty big, yeah?I am excited for this though, definitely seeing it this weekend.
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very off topic, but can someone tell me what happened to mirajeff? did he get fired for some reason?
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...for IDIOCRACY.
But I, too, find most office-based comedies to be pretty boring. Except for UHF, if you can count that. -
"What the fuck does that mean?"
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I think it will get my money.
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Unfortunately, this is getting pretty bad reviews so far. Shame - Bateman has perfect timing and Office Space is a classic. It is getting hard to trust aicn reviews for anything, but for comedies in particular they are useless. The best reviews on rotten tomatoes were tepid, but somehow Capone was "doubled over" laughing? Even that dummy from USA Today said it was weak. Ever notice that only flops advertise aicn reviews?
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I know people that say it's great, but thankfully the majority of movie goes think it's a piece of shit.
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Wow, that was downright spooky. I was just about to close the page when I saw your comment. For the record, you can't get fired from something you never got paid for... But Harry, come on, brotha. It's been years and the fans are still asking about me. Take me back. Expand the scope of the site and let me help you cover awards season so you can cash-in on those coveted ad dollars! We could help each other Head Geek...
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Beavis and Butthead Do America - I had never watched the tv show and I really enjoyed the film. Office Space - Man it feels good to be a gangsta. Idiocracy - The last 8 years told as a fairy tale.
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It's about a guy losing a ball. No, it's about Bateman's wife's sweat pants. No, it's about the hot temp. No, it's about Ben Affleck getting Bateman stoned. I want to see it cause it's Judge and he's great, but general audiences like to know what a film's about in a sentence. This won't do well, unfortunately.
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It's not really about anything. Plus, Mike Judge did it,
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Plus he's a fucking creep. True story.
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Sep 04, 2009 2:32:41 AM CDT
And I'm all for it, but general audiences won't embrace it.
by juansanchez
Sounds to me like the ad guys should have focused on the nailing Kunis storyline with Affleck guiding him and the pot smoking thrown in. That would have fit best with what sells raunchy comedies these days. Whether it's true to the movie doesn't matter - they need to sell it. And Judge needs it to do well to get more movies financed.
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I'm sure that isn't a relevant plot point at all. Way to go Capone. J.K. Simmons really needs something to dig his teeth into. Underrated. No judge movie has ever been criticly acclaimed. It's good. I know it is. Capone why don't you just tell me the rest of it and save me $8.50.
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That's very insightful, how did you come up with that figure again? Oh, what, you say you pulled it out of your ass? I assumed just as much, because speaking for the majority of movie-goers is a pretty ballsy movie. Yes, whether you like it, or love it Office Space is a classic. Next time you have the audacity to speak for me you should definitely proof read your shit; I'd hate being represented by a fucking retard that can't even put the word moviegoer together. Jesus Christ Almighty... somebody fuck this guy.
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so fuck you again for getting all happy about getting to correct me.
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The only criminal he can`t catch...IS HIMSELF!!! whoooo sounds great huh. Hope he doesn`t start jerking off in this one:)
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Nic Cage's hairpiece gets paid. It's been in plenty of movies and it is actually a better actor than him.
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Stop crying out for attention! Oops, it looks like I just gave you some!
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Sep 04, 2009 4:20:41 AM CDT
Actually - Office Space is one of Fox's biggest selling DVDs.
by juansanchez
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Sep 04, 2009 4:39:51 AM CDT
Mike Judge should make a make a movie on SLOW DRIVERS.
by gibsonusa returns
Talk about grounded in everyone's reality. Those f'n Toyota Corollas slugging along and turn so slowly that you almost rearend them. Or the ones that slowly try to cut two lanes to make a turn. Or the ones that never turn off their turn signal so it just keeps blinking along. Or the ones that dont signal.
Or the ones that stop to let a car in front of them pass, while 10 cars get stuck honking from behind (they only pay attention to whats in front of their car).
There's so much attention paid to stopping aggressive driving. Well what about slow and stupid driving?? -
...you bet your balls I'll be there.
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Sep 04, 2009 4:42:23 AM CDT
Make a movie called HIGHWAY TRAFFIC WHILE NEEDING TO PEE.
by gibsonusa returns
Slow drivers suck ass!!
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...jackass. Thanks for explaining Kunis' story arc.
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Iron Man 2 Trailer... http://tinyurl.com/nczpxd
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You may not like Office Space, but it has a huge following. I will admit the first time I watched it I was less than impressed. Now I actually work in a cubicle farm and I can relate to humor so much better than it has become one of my favortie comedies of all time. Pretty much everyone I work with also finds it to be a very funny movie. So in this case office workers tend to enjoy Office Space because we can relate to the stupid shit in that movie because it really happens.
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Not the best quality, but cool to see.
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...take it from Beavis and Butthead. Yes, Mike Judge made a new B&B clip to sell his new flick. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuTjLSW9k94
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The studio dumped Idiocracy for a reason....it sucked. Judge is my guy, don't get me wrong. Before seeing Idiocracy, I thought that Judge could take a shit and it would be comedy gold. Unfortunately he tried doing just that and it was just shit. Idiocracy was ambitious and I could see what it was aiming for but Luke Wilson fell flat and Maya Rudolph is just un-goddamn-funny-as-hell. She's an SNL cast member, nuff said. Here's hoping Extract puts Judge back on the right track, I would know for sure by now but you didn't pull my card for the Chicago screening. No worries, Capone, you still blow all the others writers on this site the fuck away on getting screenings, so I know there will be other chances. For all of you who have site writers in your cities that aren't in Chicago, I feel bad for ya, because Capone fucking goes out there and gets em. Harry and the rest of the boys are just lazy fucks in comparison.
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Making fun of the familiar is the point of satire.
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I got that from the lackluster review.
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http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/satire?jss=0
1. the use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule, or the like, in exposing, denouncing, or deriding vice, folly, etc.
2. a literary composition, in verse or prose, in which human folly and vice are held up to scorn, derision, or ridicule.
3. a literary genre comprising such compositions. -
at the top of aicn, did anyone expect anything other than glowing reviews?
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The trailer was damned funny, I just hope the whole movie is too. Sometimes the trailers are funnier than the movie. Sometimes the movie is funnier than the trailer. It all depends on whether the movie is funny or not, and how the trailer editor edits the trailer to make it funny, or not funny.
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"For the freaks who liked Office Space." That puts my butt in the seat opening weekend. Guaranteed.
Mike Judge is always solid, no matter what anyone tries to say about him or his projects. -
This review doesn't spoil Kunis' storyline because they show you she's a con artist in the very first scene of the movie.
I saw this at a sneak preview screening on Wednesday and as much as I loved Office Space, this is nowhere near as good (I'd even rate Idiocracy better). There are a few laughs, sure, but the plot is all over the place and there are just too many storylines going on and it sort of ends up feeling like a bunch of skits strung together. I was pretty disappointed. -
He's frustrated because his WIFE hasn't slept with him in WEEKS? Shit I haven't gotten any in a couple MONTHS so he can fuck off and quit his bitching.
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Seems like when a movie is right on the fence and most reviews are negative, AICN blasts right in with some positive reviews for the "quotables". The reviews aren't completely glowing, but they give the movies just enough of a pass to maybe earn a check. I saw this and it ain't no OFFICE SPACE. Not by a mile.
Call me crazy. -
"I was especially disappointed in Kunis' storyline as a drifter/con artist who targets a couple men in this story and essentially vanishes from the plot for huge chunks of the movie."Nice one man. I suppose I should be glad that the internet wasn't around in '80."I was especially surprised to find out Darth Vader is Luke's father."
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Coincidence or something more?? Find out, on next week's MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE!!!
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And Affleck = skinny Peter Jackson
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Office Space and Idiocracy had many funny ideas, and many quotable funny lines, but the slow pacing and lags in decent humor drag the films down. I would have to be proven wrong before going to see a Judge film in a theater.
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My condolences.
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Sep 04, 2009 10:50:14 AM CDT
"sick, twisted and drug-fueled enough for all the freaks who too
by brodiebruce_405
Have you even SEEN Office Space?
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finishing topic header
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http://www.thomasgray.org/materials/gllitterms.shtml#Satire
"Satire is a mode of discourse or genre defined by its use of irony, sarcasm, or ridicule for mocking, exposing or denouncing the frailties and faults of mankind. As a literary manner, quality or function of an author's writing, it blends humour and wit with a critical attitude toward human activities and institutions" -
I can't believe this movie is getting a good review.
It's a meandering, pointless, boring piece of trash.
Judge should not be allowed to make any more films after this disaster. -
Sep 04, 2009 11:11:08 AM CDT
BSB offers Free handjobs to homeless and wifeless
by hey_kobe_tell_me_how_my_ass_tastes
What'a guy!
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Extract was unentertaining. I'd say more, but that would just require more attention that this film deserves.
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you idiots.
Mila is shown to be a scam artist in the very first scene.
Jeezus. -
I truly hope you never have kids.
The world can only handle so much fail. -
What can I say. I'm a giver.
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That's why I offer free handjobs only to guys.
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That was oddly refreshing. Too bad B&B were funnier than the actual movie clip. That can't be a good sign.
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and TB man-whore. ; )
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yeesh....
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No tickee, no yankee
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AICN - "My Favorite Comedy of 2009!"
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Oh, you were not talking Beisbol were you? *snicker - snicker*
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Sadly no. And I can't even remember the last time she blew me. We're not even really married, just living together. In fact, I'm going to dump that bitch today.
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I should be done with Kobe by then.
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Geez, Capone, what the hell?
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Great! Now I don't have to watch the movie. Thanks a lot Cap.
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or anything, and I realize it must be a burden on your journalistic integrity to write love letter reviews for movies that buy ad space on the site, but how hard is it to either write a spoiler free review or tell people there are spoilers? Hopefully I will forget what you have written by the time this comes out on dvd.
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There have been countless posts stating that Kunis is revealed to be a con artist in the first fucking scene of the movie. Every single time someone posts that nugget, a few posts down is someone else whining to Capone for spoiling it. I know the writers for this site are illiterate but the TB'ers are just fucking stupid apparently. Wow, everybody I have heard from that has seen this movie that DOESN'T write for this site are really fucking trashing it. I'm hearing worse than Idiocracy which was pretty fucking terrible IMO.
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Okay, well, not so bad if its the first scene. I was a little taken back by the reveal in this article, as thats not at all hinted at in the trailer.
If it is indeed as you say, then all is forgiven. But Danceto you gotta understand, a lot of people don't read the talkbacks because they are mostly hateful drivel... don't ask me why they then post to them. -
I just read that a plot point is revealed in the first scene. My apologies Capone.
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Sep 04, 2009 3:20:13 PM CDT
Frustrated because his wife hasn't slept with him in weeks?!?!
by royston lodge
Gawd, I bet most talkback posters haven't had sex in years, if at all!
;-)
I kid! I kid! I kid because I love. -
Saw this one w/ the wife at midnight last night, which is way past my bedtime. God, what a letdown. "Judge really misjudged this one." Quote that, bitches.
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Lol, who goes to a midnight show of a Mike Judge movie?
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My god... Jason Bateman, dude, I understand... I'd get MY wife to sleep with a man whore just to have a crack at Mila Kunis.
Oh look, there's a shot of Mila Kunis and Elisha Cuthbert in Maxim... Pants... meet jizz. -
is too high...
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It wasn't as good as OS or the hangover but...
Considering it came out in September, a traditional time for dumping piss-poor movies on the unsuspecting public, this movie was pretty good. It was funny and interesting enough to go see. Plenty of laughs, and some well done characters by Jason Bateman and Mila Kunilingus. David Koechner is deeply annoying as always, but a decent enough character. Those of you hoping for "Office space 2" won't quite get that. But you will get a decent movie. -
I'd say it's probably the best comedy I've seen this year; yes that includes The Hangover, which I thought was decent but not fucking revolutionary like everyone made it out to be. Loved Office Space, didn't care of Idiocracy, loved Extract, so Judge is two for three in my book!
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Isn't the whole fucking movie, and shouldn't be a deterrent from getting your ass to a theater. It pisses me off that a lot of the people on this forum that trash this movie haven't even seen it yet, but paid hard earned money to watch that piece of shit Transformers sequel, and do so knowing it was a flaming turd.
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It was funny, but not consistently so nor at the level of "Office Space" or "Idiocracy" (which I love). Not sure what happened here, was it studio interference or Mike Judge just getting old? Overall I'd give it a C+ or B-. It felt more like I was watching a sitcom than a movie.
Also not helping was what has to be THE WORST preview I have ever seen for a flaming shit pile called "I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell". I kept waiting for this offensive, patently unfunny "Hangover" style movie trailer to turn into a slasher film or something but it never did. -
THANKS FOR ALL THE SPOILERS ASSHOLE
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...that I will pay to see in the theatre. My wife and I laughed out loud at the trailer. Bateman is perfect in this kind of role. This review has dialed down my hopes for another Office Space but still looks good.
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"...who goes to a midnight show of a Mike Judge movie?"
True. If you're that geeked there's no way NOT to be let down. I would suggest a dvd viewing with the wife on the couch after a doobie and a glass of wine for a more enjoyable experience. -
It was just stupid... I did chuckle at the fat chick joke though.
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EVERYTHING, yo!
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A lot blander than I would have thought from Mike Judge--I don't see myself watching this over and over again like I've done with Office Space and Idiocracy, but I'm glad I was able to support him at the box office.
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...didn't see IN THE LOOP. Now that is a funny film.
This just feels like random PG-13 outtakes from King of the Hill. I don't mind throwing money at it after what happened to IDIOCRACY, but it is pretty disappointing. -
I saw it last night- it was okay. There were some funny parts- like every time the kid/man-whore guy talked, this sentimental music started. I thought that was funny. But it never really came together all that much. It was just okay. Not horrible, not fantastic, just kind of alright.
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Sep 07, 2009 9:32:14 AM CDT
That said, I will pay to see a Mike Judge movie over and over.
by cotton mcknight
He has given us a lot of laughs over the last 15 years or so. And what they did to Idiocracy was a crime. Anything project he's working on, I will see it. And pay good money, too.
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I can't believe people are saying Brad was the funniest part. I mean his bit was the most obviously meant to make you laugh but it wasn't funniest. Bateman was. And Affleck had some great lines too. I think it's a pacing issue. If you can't get behind the pace of it, which isn't typical for a comedy, then maybe it doesn't seem that funny. I think that Office Space and Idiocracy had the same kind of pacing though. I don't know. I thought it was LOL funny most of the time. I mean you had to love that bong scene. Surprisingly, Wiig was off. I usually think she's hilarious. I mean it's not zany if that's what you were looking for. But I really enjoyed it.
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and so were most of the people around me leaving the Arclight tonight. I just can't see how this bland film got so many good reviews.
I like Judge a lot, but he seems to have lost his edge years ago.
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