I didn't go into this one expecting all that much out of it. I've never been a big fan of Ben Stiller.
I was pleasently surprised. I really enjoyed it quite a bit. It's all about Vaughn and Rip Torn and that kid from Galaxy Quest and that guy from Office Space all stealing the show and making up for the annoyance that is Stiller.
Worth a rental.
Be sure to watch the "alternate" ending on the DVD. It was going to be the real ending, but I'm not sure if I think that would have been a good idea. I like it right where it is, on the DVD as an alternate, but it's the best part of the whole thing IMO.
"ATTENTION: Customers browsing porn must hold magazines with both hands at all times!"
I'd agree with Catt's 5/10, but I still enjoyed the hell out of it.
It was entertaining, simple, stupid humor.
“Every record been destroyed or falsified, books rewritten, pictures repainted, statues, street building renamed, every date altered. The process is continuing day by day. History stops. Nothing exists except endless present in which the Party is right.”
Just watched this last night, along with the special features. One of those was an "alterate ending" which was actually, according to the director, the original ending. In this original ending, the movie ends where Ben tags Vince at the end of the championship match...and that's it, they win. No foot fault, no sudden death. Ben hugs his giant black buttboy, and credits roll.
The director said that this ending tested pretty poorly, and the studio execs made him add the rest of the stuff. He objected to this, saying that the original ending was artistically better, and he had to take a sulk-break.
"Artistically better." What a pretentious jackass. Did he think he was making Citizen Kane or something?