Saw it for the 2nd time last night. First time I laughed as I had a lot of anticipation and followed the production. The jokes did not stand on their own this time around. The Pancakewich line had my buddy looking at me like "is this how the whole movie is going to be"? I really wish they would have brought on a comedic screenwriter because the verbatim quotes did not translate well. Also, the dialogue sounded like a bunch of Dawson's Creek kids.
After the pancakewich rant it's "Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast" by Airbourne. I can't find anything on the song that was playing right after they left Dan's.
Plain and simple, it was not a funny comedy. Coupled with no un-intentional humour, it can't even make it as a funny drama. Or even a good movie. The style in which it was shot I didn't mind though. I might consider buying it when it gets in the $5 bin, which shouldn't be long. Emphasis on might. Edit: I liken it to new Simpsons episodes, you might get a chuckle or two out of it, but overall it's bad, and painful to watch.
I've watched it twice now, and while I don't think it's "unwatchable" as I've seen many reviews claim, there are a few terms that do describe this film to a tee. "Forced", "Awkward" and "Unrealistic" spring to mind immediately, and noticing this so often precluded me from relaxing and letting myself laugh involuntarily. While I understand what the writers were going for with the dialogue, I don't see how they couldn't imagine that text from a book being said aloud sounds strange and wouldn't work. I laughed my ass off at the real Slingblade's McGriddle post way back when, but the pancakewich shpeel was utterly cringe-worthy. The reason the realism aspect is such a sticking point for me is: (1) the movie was proclaimed to be more realistic than all other "comparable" films (i.e. The Hangover) and (2) the main reason the book on which the film is based was midly successful is because it has been repeatedly trumpeted by the author to be fact. In what reality does a guy walk up to a group of girls, cruelly mock one of them, and all the girls laugh and love the guy for it? Am I missing something here? I know it's been said in defense of this kind of thing that "you just don't lead the life I lead where all of this happens", but I'm not some close-minded naive hermit. It may seem less conspicuous in the book (which I enjoyed), but a lack of any reaction to the verbal abuse and people literally walking away without any protest had me thinking "are you fucking kidding me?" instead of enjoying the banter. I won't even get into the shit Drew says that would, in real life, have the police called and or someone punch him in the face. In all honesty, I really didn't find it to be awful, but I will say I never laughed once (though I'm the type that needs to be worked up to burst out in a laugh-fest). The acting by the secondary characters was decent, and I didn't see/hear any problems with the lighting or audio. It felt like a normal movie. The content, however, was mediocre at best, and I firmly believe that is why the movie failed. Not marketing, or lack of money, or any other excuse I've been hearing. It wasn't a good movie, and that's why people have and will continue to avoid it.
I bolded the part I have a question about... I haven't read the book in awhile, but what redeeming qualities did he have in the book? Don't get me wrong, I thought the book was hilarious, but I don't recall many parts of it where he was a good guy in any way. As for the movie, I saw it at the premiere tour. I thought it was ok. Some of the lines were really funny, but some of them I thought were terrible, and just made me cringe. But still, I plan on either renting the DVD, or watching it OnDemand, and seeing what I think of it the second time. That's better than I can say for most comedies I watch. So my first impression was probably a 7/10.
It's been a while since I read the book. I loaned out my copy when I went to go see the premiere in DC to a buddy and I've not seen it since, but if I recall correctly, several of the stories have a self-deprecating element involved, such as when he wonders how many women he's taken out on dates, when only minutes or hours before they were swallowing someone's unborn children. Or when the nurse fools him into getting an STD test for no reason. Or maybe I'm just confusing the overlying theme from the RMMB of "Be yourself and follow your dream to personal happiness, etc. etc." with the bravado of the book. Anyways, his antics in the book made me crack up. On screen, not so much.
Tucker at least had the humility to share the times that he was figuratively fucked (Stephanie, The Worst Conversation Ever, etc.) I wouldn't like him nearly as much (and eventually would probably be bored of him) if he wrote exclusively about how much he fucks, without ever sharing the bad times. We at least know that not even Tucker Max is invincible.
I remember when Tucker was giving a critique of Kevin Smith on the old boards and he asked a kid who claimed that Kevin Smith wrote "real" dialogue, "If you think Kevin Smith characters talk like people do in real life... then I'd love to meet your friends." What this movie lacked, and what it really needed, was moments of unscripted bantering to give that believable impression that these guys are really friends. That first scene at the campus bar could've used a jolt from that - when they're all discussing a change of venue for Dan's bachelor party and busting on each other, they played it way too close to the chest. Think of that scene in Swinger's when they're playing video games together - it was great because every word was shot from the hip. I loved the movie, and I still do, but it's not without its flaws. Things like not casting a-list stars I can understand (in theory), but I'm often left wondering - are these guys funny in real life? Vince Vaughn can make you laugh without a script. When Matt Czuckry wrote that story for the production blog, it was painfully unfunny. Great actor or not, the guy wouldn't make you laugh on his own. Anyway I'll end this rambling, and mention that College Humor is doing their part to promote the film by being real life douches - <a class="postlink" href="http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1927807" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1927807</a>.
I got it off a torrent and watched it Monday night. I laughed exactly once (At the same thing Blue Dog found funny.) I thought since I was in a pissy mood that night it could of affected my sense of humor, so I watched it again last night. One slight chuckle at a line I'd missed the first time. 2 watchings and I had one brief laugh and one chuckle. It wasn't the worst movie I've ever sat through, but I'm sad to say it comes pretty damn close. The movie just didn't flow. Some scenes were drawn out much longer then they should've been and left me staring around the room for something shiny to amuse myself with until the next scene came along. Many times when the next scene arrived I was scratching my head wondering "What. The. Fuck. This has nothing to do with anything I just saw." The writing wasn't bad, the acting wasn't bad, but the way the whole thing was put together just didn't work. Much of it may have been the director....so many of Drew's lines were spoken directly into the camera and that annoyed the shit out of me. I think Tucker's narcissism may have gotten the best of him on this one. He should've hired people that know more then him and then LISTENED TO THEM instead of going balls out thinking he knew everything. I'd give it a 3/10. It's a pity because with a bit of tweaking of the script and a bit better editing it could've been a pretty damn good movie.
I'd like to see Tucker and Nils get another shot at it too, but they're going to have to go in another direction then redoing Tucker's stories. Personally, for the material he was given I think Czuchry did an admirable job with his acting and attempting to bring Tucker across as a big hearted, somewhat likable asshole. Whether it was the editing or the script I don't know, but it failed on many levels. He just comes across as a dick with absolutely no self awareness beyond his pecker. Czuchry may be able to overcome this movie, but it would be career suicide for him to reprise this role unless the next script has him surfing a tsunami and saving an orphanage from an alien attack in an effort to save Drew's upcoming wedding.
I just showed the movie to my baby cousin. Guest commentary from my 16 year old cousin (Female) about the movie: So what did you think Baby Girl? American Pie aint got shit on this movie! I laughed so hard, I almost pissed my pants. (not kidding either) This is the stupidest, most hilarious movie I have ever seen! My new favorite one as well! I loved the character Drew with his smart, yet negative ass comments on everything. They're not true, but they were funny as hell! The real Tucker looked rather short however. But this movie was all around amazingly funny from start to finish! Apparently good taste and intelligence don't run in the genes. Either that or I'm just really fucking old.
The ending was thuper touching, guyth. That College Humor video is a bunch of actresses, in case you didn't realize.
I'll admit I egged her on to write the "Tucker is short" comment, but everything else she wrote was hers. She loved the movie and I actually laughed a few times more watching it with her. If he was aiming for a 16 year old audience that isn't old enough to watch an R rated movie, apparently he hit the mark.
This is not really in defense of the movie or anything but, it is high time you learned that, with a good smile and the right attitude you can get away with just about anything... seriously.
Yeah, I really used a poor choice of words. It's not that good a movie, my opinion changed shortly after Bill Dawes left the vicinity.
I was at that Toronto screening too and walking out of it I thought it was pretty damn good, while my friends kept telling me it was mediocre at best. I downloaded it the other night and half way through it hit me that they were right. I was so emotionally invested in it before that I refused to take note of its major faults. Regardless, I hope it makes enough on DVD to give him another shot at writing a spinoff. I remember reading somewhere that Nils is already working on another movie project?
Just watched it. Oh man -- I guess exactly the same deal. This movie had the chance to be a ballsy, dirty, tell it like it is comedy about what real life for guys is like. Nope. I think basically it was just trying too hard. It tried too hard to make sure everyone knew that these characters were smart. The dialogue was stilted and mock-intellectual... I hate to make the comparison, but it's like all those WB teen shows where 13 year olds sound like Harvard grad students. It tried too hard to be edgy, and it just came off as mean. It tried too hard to be shocking, and it just came off as gross. It tried too hard to be real -- and it just wasn't real. There is hardly anything real about this movie. The friendships aren't real, the dialogue with girls isn't real, the consequences aren't real, and the story isn't real. I don't know. It's just too bad.