I’ve commented before, on my moderate to significant affection for the new trend in spoof films. Movies like Date Movie, Epic Movie and Meet the Spartans. Now I know there’s criticism of these films, and I don’t argue that they hardly represent the ultimate in great comedy. But, the casting of these films has also brought to light some amazing talent. Individuals like Adam Campbell, Sean Maguire and the incomparable Jayma Mays; have come to the table, thanks to these films. And you know what, they are just getting started. Of that I’m sure. Plus, they got Sorbo half naked again! Come on, that has to count for something. I also think these movies have far more to offer than people give them credit for. And I think they have some interesting things to say, if you dig just a bit.
To illustrate one of the reasons I really do enjoy these movies, I’d like to talk about just one plot point (for lack of a better term) from two of these films. I promise not to be all dry and boring, even though that last sentence makes me a bit full of shit already. But I do think it’s the best way to illustrate my point.
So we all know the scene. Sean Maguire, in an imitation of Gerard Butler in 300, kicks 13 people (Seacrest tossed himself) into the pit of death; which prompts a great dead pan delivery from Diedrich Bader.
TRAITORO: Stop kicking people into the pit of death! Really!
On the surface, the joke is obvious, but let’s take a closer look. Sure, we see the slow mo (repeatedly) of Sean’s leg going up, and another person jumping backward like they’re going into a pool for a cooling dip. Looks familiar. In fact, it looks too familiar. Like perhaps we’ve seen it so many times our eyes are rolling back in our heads.
Think back, my friends, to the media frenzy around 300. How many times did you see Butler give that slow mo kick? It was a shitload more than 13, I’ll bet you that. That’s what Sean Maguire is so deliciously (oops, did I say that out loud?) imitating. Not the one time it appears in the film, but the times we had to see it before the movie even came out.
Get it? Ok, moving on now.
For those who don’t know, Kal Penn’s role in Superman Returns was not supposed to be so negligible. There was an entire subplot around his character, wherein he was more than just one of Lex’s lowly henchmen, but more of his partner. This was cut from the theatrical release of the film, most likely for time reasons. Subplots are easy fodder for editors, and more power to them. Perhaps it did interrupt the flow of the story. But seriously, don’t you just think that having Kal Penn in such a limited role is a waste of great talent?
I suspect the writers of Epic Movie did. I can’t decide though, if it was an intentional joke that they cut a lot of it out of Epic Movie too, or if once again Kal fell victim to the blade. Maybe a little of both. No bother, all the jokes are in the Unrated edition. Kal even curses the plot which he was cut out of, more than once!
Notice a pattern here? These scenes aren’t making fun of the movies; they are making fun of what happened in and around these movies. They’re talking about what was hyped, and what was hidden. They are poking fun at us, at what we buy into, and what we let them sell us. They say, to us, “It’s so compelling to watch Butler kick that dude over and over again, that you want to pay to see it again on the big screen? Well, Ok, if you say so. Here you go.”
I know, some people think I see subtext where there is none. But seriously, even the basest comedy has subtext. Writers love to put inside jokes into a script, of this I can attest. I’m not saying everyone should love these movies. Obviously, just like the films they toy with, we’ll have our preferences. But for those who see no point and nothing to laugh at; I think there’s more than meets the glazed over eye. And that always intrigues me.
The horror movie genre, in my lifetime, went from Nightmare on Elm Street to Hostel. Think about that transition. Remember when Depp’s liquefied remains, gushing from a mattress, grossed us out? We shift and change, in what we can appreciate as entertainment. Personally, I have no interest in watching any of those types of horror movies. I have not seen a Saw, and I won’t. If that’s your thing, so be it.
This change in perspective hasn’t destroyed the horror genre. So guess what? I think the comedy genre can take Date Movie. It’s not Jackass or anything, but it has its audience.
Oh, and apparently I’m not the only person who got this point. Check out the vid, and listen closely to the audio track. :)
Meet The Spartans Recut© CleverTitania.com 2009
