I heard the hype about how funny this was and maybe I got a bad version, but I thought it sucked.
Bill Murray plays a self absorbed washed up sea explorer who doesn't know much about his job. His friend gets killed by a mysterious sea creature and Murray sets out to get revenge. Along the way he rediscovers himself with the help of a man, Owen Wilson, who may be his son.
There are some chuckle moments, but nothing side splitting. The humor has no consistency. Some scenes try to be smart funny, while others rip off The Naked Gun type of humor. In fact, one scene is a direct ripoff of a Naked Gun gag, remember when Frank walks around the set instead of going through the prop door?
Overall, the film is just weird. The film's version of nature is right out of an acid trip. I'm sure the film is a lot better if you're high.
I can't really recommend this to anyone except for Murray diehards and those who are just curious.
3 out of 10.
The Life Aquatic
I haven't seen it yet but where would you rank The Royal Tenenbaums or Rushmore?
Well, I should tell you that I love smart or clever humor more than slapstick, but I don't consider either of the films you named or The Life Aquatic in the smart humor category.
I couldn't tell you one thing about Rushmore, but I remember not liking it. I thought it was one of those films that people say they liked, when they really didn't, but they don't want to seem stupid by not going with the flow.
As for The Royal Tenenbaums, I believe I reviewed it here, but it was wiped out in one of the server crashes. I believe I thought it was ok.
These three films all try to use a type of "dark, weird humor", and that's fine, but it has problems. For one thing, it has no identity. You can't go from one style to another. Mixing a sophisticated British type humor in with bits out of Airplane is ignorant because that's two different audiences. I mean, who are you trying to please? Everyone? That can't be done. Also, making people act weird in weird situations doesn't make something funny, it just makes it weird. Weird doesn't equal funny. Lastly, trying to use straight men for every role in your comedy doesn't equal funny.
And isn't that what these three films try to be? Comedies that are performed like dramas? In three months I won't be able to quote a single line from Rushmore, The Life Aquatic, or The Royal Tenenbaums, but I'll remember "Dear Ndugu".
Comedy is about timing, not about making people act serious while weird things happen around them.
If I hear people say a movie is funnier when you're high, then I know its not funny. I believe you'd need to be high to really get a kick out of The Life Aquatic. Sure, it has some laughs, but its not hilarious.
But hey, that's me. One man's Carrottop is another man's Seinfeld.
“Activism is a way for useless people to feel important, even if the consequences of their activism are counterproductive for those they claim to be helping and damaging to the fabric of society as a whole.” - Dr Thomas Sowell
Tannenbaums... wasn't there an attempted suicide? Been a while, I admit I could be misremembering.
Rushmore - kid likes woman, kid is scorned when woman has the affair with the married guy. (Again, could be misremembering. Been years since I've seen each)
Rushmore - kid likes woman, kid is scorned when woman has the affair with the married guy. (Again, could be misremembering. Been years since I've seen each)
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
What's the appeal of depression comedy?
That's a good name for it and a good question.
For those of you who are Wes Anderson fans, after you see The Life Aquatic, explain to those of us who don't get it why its so funny. I don't think his movies are terrible. In fact, I typically like his casts. I don't, however, think they're particularly funny.
I'm not saying that as some sort of challenge, I'm just curious as to what attracts you.
Then again, it may not be something that can be explained. I mean, there is porn dedicated to obese people, peeing on people, unspeakable things only Germans like, midgets, animals, etc. and no matter how much time someone spent explaining why they like that stuff, I'd never get it.
“Activism is a way for useless people to feel important, even if the consequences of their activism are counterproductive for those they claim to be helping and damaging to the fabric of society as a whole.” - Dr Thomas Sowell
Tannenbaums... wasn't there an attempted suicide? Been a while, I admit I could be misremembering.
Rushmore - kid likes woman, kid is scorned when woman has the affair with the married guy. (Again, could be misremembering. Been years since I've seen each)
I think the people are flawed, but not depressing. The movies are not depressing. Both of the movies you reference have basically happy endings.
And it's nice to see people with lives more f'ed up than yours at times.
Edited By TheCatt on 1118700781
It's not me, it's someone else.
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thibodeaux
- Posts: 8121
- Joined: Thu May 20, 2004 7:32 pm
I agree I've never been depressed. There are problems but like Catt said everyone ends up better off at the end. Except for the dog in Tennenbaums.
As for what is funny I would just say everything about Royal Tenenbaum himself and same with Max Fisher. Bill Murry's and his twins in Rushmore are funny too. I like all the charcters and the situations and stuff they say I think its funny.
Plus the style is just different and I enjoy that too. The introductions in Royal Tenenbaums are cool too.
As for what is funny I would just say everything about Royal Tenenbaum himself and same with Max Fisher. Bill Murry's and his twins in Rushmore are funny too. I like all the charcters and the situations and stuff they say I think its funny.
Plus the style is just different and I enjoy that too. The introductions in Royal Tenenbaums are cool too.
I didn't care for Tannenbaums but I can certainly see a similarity in the presentation style with Life Aquatic.
I kind of like Aquatic. It's quirky and interesting, although it does get off to a very slow start before it gets good enough to keep watching. I did like the music, though. The whole throw-back to Cousteau vibe was well done.
I kind of like Aquatic. It's quirky and interesting, although it does get off to a very slow start before it gets good enough to keep watching. I did like the music, though. The whole throw-back to Cousteau vibe was well done.
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Synopsis :
Bill Murray plays an extremely odd marine biologist on a quest to avenge his sycophant's death at the jaws of a rare (possibly unique) jaguar shark. Along the way, he deals with his rival (Jeff Goldblum), his wife (Angelica Huston), & someone who might be his son (Owen Wilson).
Review :
I have yet to figure out why someone said, "We need to write a dry, overly satirical screwball comedy like third-rate Monty Python rejects. And it has to be about an insane Jacques Costeau."
The actual humour in this thing is sprinkled infrequently among the normally uninteresting, go-nowhere dialog. The vast majority of the funny moments come from Bill Murray's character being a complete & total bastard. Owen Wilson again convinces me that he's got to be at least mildly mentally retarded. Watching him try to wade thru his lines reminds me of a first grader trying to find his way thru a treatise on cold fusion. The writing just wasn't nearly as entertaining as it thought it was.
Verdict : 3 of 10. There were about four or five chapters on the DVD that were unplayable. I really didn't care.
Bill Murray plays an extremely odd marine biologist on a quest to avenge his sycophant's death at the jaws of a rare (possibly unique) jaguar shark. Along the way, he deals with his rival (Jeff Goldblum), his wife (Angelica Huston), & someone who might be his son (Owen Wilson).
Review :
I have yet to figure out why someone said, "We need to write a dry, overly satirical screwball comedy like third-rate Monty Python rejects. And it has to be about an insane Jacques Costeau."
The actual humour in this thing is sprinkled infrequently among the normally uninteresting, go-nowhere dialog. The vast majority of the funny moments come from Bill Murray's character being a complete & total bastard. Owen Wilson again convinces me that he's got to be at least mildly mentally retarded. Watching him try to wade thru his lines reminds me of a first grader trying to find his way thru a treatise on cold fusion. The writing just wasn't nearly as entertaining as it thought it was.
Verdict : 3 of 10. There were about four or five chapters on the DVD that were unplayable. I really didn't care.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."