I
used to blame Hollywood producers, directors and actors for causing the dumbing
down of America. But, after reading Stephen Holden's scathing review of the
latest, mindless movie from Adam Sandler, I realize we have no
one to blame but ourselves. We get what we deserve.
In
discussing the dreadful content of 'Grown Ups,' Holden opines, 'The movie is
symptomatic of a social attitude that might be called the security of incompetence.
There's something reassuring about a bad movie that doesn't ask you to think or
feel or even pay attention; we can all be happy D-minus students huddled
together in communal self-disgust in a D-minus world.' That, my friends, is an
A-plus observation.
The
pabulum served up by the likes of Sandler, Stiller and their ilk is atrocious.
But, the great, unwashed masses pay to see it, so why shouldn't they continue
churning out one tired wretch of a movie after another?
I
feel the exact same way about Howard Stern and his T&A/flatulent-obsessed,
shock jock peers. My business partner, Ed, will sometimes liken my caustic
comments to Stern, but I prefer to see myself taking the higher, satiric road
of, say, a Johnny Carson or Don Imus. Their wit carries a rapier-like message
with it. Stern's content, on the other hand, is exactly like Sandler's flicks:
one doesn't need to think or feel or even pay attention to it.
And,
so, the ongoing dumbing down of America continues. There are myriad reasons why
our country is on an increasingly steep downside of greatness. One can argue a
lack of political leadership, a loss of confidence in business & industry
and a complete betrayal by the church. But, one should not overlook the
contributions made by the entertainment industry.
There's a reason moronic comedians such as Adam Sandler have become multi-millionaires.
And, that reason is staring right back at you in the mirror.
The
fault lies not in our stars (Hollywood, or otherwise), but in ourselves.
I appreciate the thought that went into your comment, Sullivan, I’d agree that every generation has had it share of mindless humor, going back to the Three Stooges and, god know who, before that. My point is that there seems to be a disproportionately larger percentage of garbage now than ever before. Airplane, Fish, Animal House, etc., were one-off wonders as opposed to being part of a larger genre. Today, the vast majority of first-run Hollywood movies are the Sandler-type garbage. Belushi was an anomaly. Sandler is mainstream. And, that’s the difference.
I’m with you Repman, to an extent. I found “Happy Gilmore,” “the Wedding Singer” and “the Waterboy” to be hysterically funny. The reason I brought up “Animal House” is that the appreciation of sophomoric humor may be a generational thing. Your Bluto Blutarski might be my Bobby Boucher.
You did say:”The pabulum served up by the likes of Sandler, Stiller and their ilk is atrocious. But, the great, unwashed masses pay to see it, so why shouldn’t they continue churning out one tired wretch of a movie after another?” and: “That said, the film also launched an entirely new genre of mindless comedy.”
I’ve yet to see it but for every “Grown Ups” I give you:
“Blazing Saddles”
“Snatch”
“A fish Called Wanda”
“Tommy Boy”
“Saving Silverman”
“Anchorman”
“Airplane”
“The Hangover”
“Caddy Shack”
“Stripes”
“Something About Mary”
“Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels”
“The Princess Bride”
“Ace Ventura, Pet Detective”
“Something About Mary”
By the way, each of the movies listed above had an absolutely scathing review associated with them.
“…the film also launched an entirely new genre of mindless [movies].”
And the “Godfather,” “Jaws,” and “Saturday Night Fever” didn’t?
Not sure if I get the immediate connection to Animal House since, compared to the Sandler drivel, it can at least lay claim to originality. That said, the film also launched an entirely new genre of mindless comedy.
David Ansen wrote in Newsweek, “But if Animal House lacks the inspired tastelessness of the Lampoon’s High School Yearbook Parody, this is still low humor of a high order”. Robert Martin wrote in The Globe and Mail, “It is so gross and tasteless you feel you should be disgusted but it’s hard to be offended by something that is so sidesplittingly funny”. Time magazine proclaimed Animal House one of the year’s best.
How true. Btw, an interesting movie, but ponderous at times.
We are truly heading to an idiocracy.
Bingo, Julie. Same holds true for unacceptable behavior from the likes of such sleazy characters as Lady Gaga at the recent Mets-Yankees game. If we patronize dumb movies, and even dumber entertainers, they’ll just keep lowering the bar.
Agreed, Linda. But, they’re are more of them. And, they’re gaining on us everyday.
Point taken, Sullivan. But, can sophomoric humor be side-splitting? In this blogger’s case, the answer would be a resounding no.
“Give the people what they want.” If no one paid $12 to see these pathetic films, Hollywood would stop making them.
I agree completely. I liken the low-brow comedy to just reaching for the low-hanging fruit – they aren’t even trying.
Compare that to the rapier-like wit of Jon Stewart, or the affable humor of Ellen DeGeneres and Jerry Seinfeld. Their comedy is on a high intellectual, high-hanging fruit level, and much more enjoyable.
“But if [guess the movie] lacks the inspired tastelessness of the [guess the source] High School Yearbook Parody, this is still low humor of a high order”. “It is so gross and tasteless you feel you should be disgusted but it’s hard to be offended by something that is so sidesplittingly funny”
That character was awesome. As was Estelle Harris as his wife.
If it helps at all, Lunch, I am a huge fan of Jerry Stiller and loved his portrayal of Mr. Costanza, George’s dad on Seinfeld.
It’s a supply-and-demand scenario, Bob. The more unintelligent the great unwashed masses become, the more unintelligible the programming that Hollywood serves up. As Stephen Holden wrote, we’re quite comfortable being a ‘D-‘ society.
I believe it was Newton Minnow who called television ‘a vast wasteland.’ And, that was in the late 1950s. One wonders what phrase he would employ to describe today’s arid landscape.
I agree with lunch and bob whole-heartedly. Who has the time. If I have extra time in my day, I would much rather pick up a good book. The drivel that is on the television for the majority, makes me feel as if brain cells are disappearing rapidly.
My ever-present thought when it comes to “entertainment” is this: where in the world do people find the time to sit and watch this dreck?
full agreement here. sandler, rock, james, schneider are all terrible. same with stern and his brethren who rely on lame stunts, guests and T&A to keep listeners.
i do, however, still think you’re including stiller here is not fair. i also like spade’s new show, “rules of engagement.” it’s pretty funny and worth a 30 minute test drive (19 or so if you DVR it).
but, overall, your blog post is spot on. this crapfest will continue lest we stop consuming it…and that goes for comedy, our government, our religions, business and reality TV. the consumer has a voice, he/she is just too lazy to use it.
And don’t forget reality tv! Celebrity fit club, all those bug-eating things, the beginning episodes of american idol. I have never seen any of these programs but can only say listening to co-workers talk about them in the morning is truly nauseating! Once again, an on-point great post and it is a sad state of affairs when people are more interested in who got kicked off the island than the fact that the island will probably be sludge in a matter of years.