Are we the only ones who want to shoot the TV every time an ad for this execrable piece of shit pops up?
But perhaps we're being hasty in our judgment.
Look, we'll be the first to tell you that there's nothing sacrosanct about gay people and we're just as ripe for being the butt of jokes as any other group out there. We can laugh at ourselves and even if the joke isn't funny (or borderline offensive), there's nothing inherently wrong with making a joke about gay people. The problem we have with this movie is that it takes an issue that is solely the purview of gays (marriage rights and domestic partnership benefits) and removes gays from the story altogether, substituting the gay people with two morons who - horror of horrors! - have to act gay in order to further the plot.
Everything about it is so painfully stupid, starting with the stereotypical straight-guy names - oh, who could ever believe a Chuck or a Larry could possibly be gay?! And they're firemen?! Comedy gold! Even the poster is stupid. See, it's funny because Adam Sandler has to be the "woman" because he's wearing white and Kevin James is holding him, which is - exactly what gay people are like! We can't wait to watch the endless scenes of them having to touch each other's asses to prove to everyone that they're a couple - just like gay couples do! But uh-oh! There's a pretty girl with a smoking bod in this movie! How will our boys keep up their hysterical charade if they keep getting erections in front of her? We're so thrilled that Hollywood is taking on the tough social issues of the day with humor! We only hope there's an ABBA song on the soundtrack!
Don't get us wrong, we have no doubt that there will be an Important Lesson Learned by the end of the movie. We're sure Adam will stand up and make some Heartfelt Speech about how We Shouldn't Make Fun Of Gay People or maybe it'll be Gay People Are Just Like You And Me. Whatever, frat boy. We'd be impressed by such a revelation if it wasn't preceded by two hours of trading in the absolute worst gay stereotypes you can think of without actually having any gay characters of any substance in it.
Hollywood, we would love to see a funny movie about a gay couple trying to make their way in the world. Believe us, there's PLENTY of material to work with. This crap, on the other hand, is the cinematic equivalent of Pat Boone re-recording "negro music" to make it more palatable to the masses. Call us when you have the balls to show the real thing.
90 comments:
Amen, boys! AMEN.
this movie makes me ridiculously sad to see. And I agree with you on every point you make. I have lost faith in hollywood a long time ago because of stuff like this.
thank you for your post. everything about the thought of this movie offends me. i cant even stand it when the commercials are on. i am sure it will make tons of money cause adam sandler seems to have a huge following of stupid teenage boys that think he is the greatest.
sometimes i am embarrased to be a straight girl.
xo
I was blissfully unaware of this crap until just now.
One of the many sad things about this debacle is that the un-evolved morons who generally see Adam Sandler movies are the very people who, encumbered by ignorance and its bastard, fear, could use a little enlightening. Instead, Hollywood exploits these unwashed masses (with a silent "m") to fill its greedy coffers. And as has been proven time and again, Mr. Sandler knows no shame.
At least when "The Gay Deceivers" came out, it was the sixties. This is 2007.
Sing it, Sistahs! Can't you just hear the pitch meeting?
"Okay, so we have these two guys pretend to be gay, and wait, we need something else - gay and Jewish! And then we have them go for counseling with a really hot Shiksa. We have Biel signed on, and Sandler's a sure thing."
"Okay, let's greenlight it for, say, 75 mil."
"Done!"
Knuckle knocks and high fives all around the table.
Sheesh, yet another must-miss movie for me.
ugh, why did I have to know about this? My mute button really keeps me sane.
i'm applauding you boyz, but I'm thinking you're preaching to the choir.
They are laughing at us, not with us, in this one. That's why it's wrong.
For a couple of straight and conservative (Sandler is a large, openly Republican supporter)dudes to put on gay-face and mock our lack of rights is shameful. I'm suprised there isn't a drag scene in the film - we all know that we queers can't stop ourselves when an empty dress is around!
This just proves again how much Hollywood DOESN'T like gays, even though it's filled with them.
Unfortunately, this will make a ton of money because of Sandler. All of our moral outrage isn't going to stop a dime of it. Sigh.
Marty the Wizard
Feeling impotent in Seattle
Thank you for putting words to what I was thinking. I assure you, I won't be spending any of my money or time on this revolting disaster.
agreed, and thanks for posting about this...i was feeling yucky about the movie last night during Kathy Griffin, when jessica biel kept popping up to shill for it.....
the premise, it seems to me, is actually quite dangerously homophobic: look, these gays get rights that single straight white dudes don't get!
poor oppressed white straight men. my heart bleeds for them.
the only adam sandler movie i ever saw was punchdrunk love (it was good, too). otherwise, i think he's a tool - and i didn't know he was a Republican - ewwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!
Bravo listens to their gay audience POV and they are making money. Why is Hollywood still so scared? Sandler is a Republican? Does he know that the rumor mill is now very busy outing him as a closet homosexual?
Sigh...it's disheartening when I have to be lumped into the stereotype of being "un-evolved" because I generally watch Adam Sandler movies. Even though I think the topic of gay marriage is something that needs to be discussed in today's society, everyday, and I'm still absolutely clueless as to how anyone can believe there's a distinction between being gay and being a person. How anyone can restrict the love between any two people and question its morality is beyond me. How anyone can oppose the rights of someone because of their sexual orientation is shameful and degrading. Is this movie a horrible, inane Hollywood creation? Absolutely. But what else do you expect from something that keeps hiring Lindsay Lohan? I think the key is to have frank, honest discussions amongst our peers, our friends, our politicians--obviously Hollywood isn't going to facilitate such discussions. And to stop stereotyping each other is a key to such open discussions--please don't assume I'm unaware or afraid of gay rights because I watch a few Adam Sandler movies a few times.
Back in the 70's it was considered "funny" when a straight character named Jack Tripper pretended to be gay so that he could share an apartment with two girls.
That was thirty years ago. I believe that the American public has evolved since then - at least I hope so.
My daughter and I were waiting for our movie to begin when the trailer for this came on the screen. It really bothered me. Kaitlin leaned over and said "You hate this, don't you?"
"Yes I do..." I replied, but I couldn't quite articulate the problem.
Thank you for doing it so well, gentlemen.
Bless you.
Emma P.
You're absolutely right....I've been hitting the mute button on this.
I find most of what comes out of Hollywood to be unwatchable, so I tend to ignore this kind of crap. I find that the hype machine goes into overdrive on the really mediocre fare, too. The fact that this garbage is being so heavily promoted should be a big red flag for anyone with any sense.
From the minute I first saw a preview of this movie, I was kind of shocked by how ballsy it was. It's offensive and harmful on many levels. I had hoped maybe it was more ignorance than any sort of anti-gay agenda that propelled the production of this thing, but, finding out Sandler's a republican, now I know - it's a wolf in sheep's clothing attempting to steer the country against gay marriage rights. Very disappointing.
I always thought Adam Sandler was vulgar, and not funny at all, so this type of movie doesn't surprise me (unfortunately)
I think you nailed it with your words, and I agree 150% with them, but like macasism said... I think you are preaching to the choir.
Those idiots who claim Hollywood is run by liberals are just plain wrong. This movie is another prime example of pandering to the least common denominator.
....but kinda surprised to hear Sandler's a Repub.
It HAD to be said, thank YOU, Tom & Lorenzo for putting it so eloquently!
T&L: With your wit and entertaining bitchery, why don't you write that screenplay, or a book? Seriously. Think about it.
damn straight!
I'm so glad you addressed this "film." When I saw the previews at my local theater, I was reminded that we still have a LONG way to go. Come on, Hollywood I think you can do can much, much better than this. Is this type of crap really what the mainstream movie going public wants to see? I sure as hell hope not. As if anyone would buy those two as gays...so NOT fabulous!
Amen, Sistahs!
Hands in the air and let those little gay cherubs play their harps and sing to the heavens!
Then, get out the shovel to bury this nasty pile of film-making and let it die a painful death ... hopefully buried alive at the box office.
Give me Die Harder shoot 'em ups over this trite and vile attempt at backhanded "gay face" humor.
I mean every one got offended when Ted Danson did "black face" humor at the Friars club in 1993, yet this kinda flick not only gets the green light, but a major marketing push and is seen as "enlightened."
Puh-leaze!
I'm just afraid that it might turn into box office gold.
No one has ever gone broke by underestimating the intelligence of the American people.
I agree with you that gays are good material to make fun of and I have great respect for shows like the Simpsons that DO make fun of EVERYTHING, but it is offensive to sit and watch a movie with "butt pirate" jokes in it so the 15yo straight boys now think they can run down the street screaming it at guys. I loose respect for actors that are in movies like this, that is why I don't like Cuba Gooding Jr anymore after seeing Boat Trip.
If you want to see a cute movie about a gay couple there are plently. Adam & Steve comes to mind right away, filled with sterotypes and shit jokes but funny and honestly a nice movie about two people who try to make a relationship work (no matter what gender they are)
MT
This wouldn't be as offensive if Gays actually had civil rights & marriage rights. What these chucklenuts don't get are these rules of comedy:
Minorities & oppressed people mocking the powerful: Funny
Powerful white guys mocking minorities & others who have no civil rights: NOT funny.
--Gotham Tomato
P.S.- I didn't know that Sandler was a republican. Guess we all know what that means: He's either a closet case or he's got hookers on speed-dial.
THANK YOU!
Not funny.
The premise doesn't make sense.
Adam Sandler looks fat in white.
Yes. Awful looking garbage. I was truly shocked that something like this was actually made. I know I shouldn't be, but I was! I can't believe Kevin James is in ANY movie. Yuck, I cannot stand him.
Agree with all you said, Boys. As always, you nail it perfectly.
I took a gander at the credits on the IMDB and was floored to find that two of the writers of this movie are Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor, who gave us "Sideways," "About Schmidt," "Election" & "Citizen Ruth." It gives me some hope that there might be something blackly comic and okay in this movie...but I'm sure I'm being overly optimistic.
Hopefully everyone will head to see a little M-U-S-I-C-A-L called "Hairspray" this weekend (hooray) and bury this thing at the box office.
I hear ya, T & L. Sadly, it's all about the money. That's what American audiences seem to want (remember Blades of Glory?), and the studios will gladly give it to 'em. But, honestly, you also see tired stereotypes in movies directed by and starring gays. I think it's a problem with the entertainment industry in general.
You guys it's just another dumb summer movie, get over it.
Are we the only ones who want to shoot the TV every time an ad for this execrable piece of shit pops up?
No, not at all. Thank you for writing this post; you've summed up everything I've been feeling since I first heard of this movie.
I felt the same way about Shallow Hal. Gwenyth Paltrow kept giving interviews about how it was a love note to fat people.
Whatever, Skinny Bitch. Following two hours of jumping-in-the-pool-and-causing-a-tidal-wave humor, I'm not in the mood to read it.
Anne
I didn't find the trailers so much offensive as just incrediably lame and predictable. There's been a premise like this in just about every tv sitcom, for example when Spencer and his roommate posed as a gay couple for a free tv on King of Queens. I actually like Adam Sandler's early movies and enjoyed him on snl, but his whole annoying whiney voiced man-child thing is getting old now. The only really annoying thing about the commercials is when Kevin James hold up the maxi pads. I mean how stupid, just because they're both men doesn't mean they MENSTRATE!!!!
One of my OTHER favorite bloggers (and favorite Bear)went and saw it for Movies.com and said that they really bend over backwards to say "Oh no, NOT THAT THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT!" Al la Johnny Knoxville in "The Ringer"." He said even more offensive was Rob Synder in Mickey Rooney style "Stereotypical Asian" drag.
The the whole premise just kills me. Because, you know, the worst thing in the world is to have to be GAY. How ironic that Kevin James is a HUGE sex symbol in the Bear community. Hee.
Kevin James is an unfunny loser. Half of the jokes he makes are on the count of he's fat and therefore funny. If he was skinny he wouldn't even be a comedian.
This and Hairspray (due to Travolta) are two Coming Soon movies that are on my never-will-see list. I gag a little every time I see the TV commercials for C&L, and not the kind of gagging that will be brought up in the movie I'm sure.
"How ironic that Kevin James is a HUGE sex symbol in the Bear community."
EEEEWWWW...I think I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.
I agree with you T&L about this movie. The ignorant gay stereotypes I've seen in the commercial previews are too stupid for words.
Nevertheless, I can't help but notice the irony of some of the comments people have posted stereotyping Republicans in response to the offense taken at stereotyping gays.
Perhaps all still have a way to go in losing the broad generalizations and moving towards judging people as individuals.
Girls, calm down.
Anyone who is interested in a more balanced review of the issue should go to this link:
http://www.afterelton.com/movies/2007/7/chuckandlarry.
My favorite quote is this: "Despite its many flaws (see our upcoming review this Thursday), Chuck and Larry will probably do more for the national debate on gay marriage than every book written by conservative gay writer Andrew Sullivan and every letter you've sent to your senator put together. Red-staters of every stripe who wouldn't watch a Logo documentary on a bet might very well rush out to see this movie, based on the comic appeal of Sandler and co-star Kevin James alone."
im calling it. they get caught in the end yet sandler still gets the hot girl because she is amazed by his honesty and willingness to protect his friend and his friends children. oh and the fat guy still gets his money.
ick.
Guys,
Rah rah rah! You wrote what I've been thinking for weeks!
And, sorry, I don't see this crap changing any red stater's viewpoint anymore than Some Like It Hot opened the door for the feminist movement. (Not that that wasn't funny, which I really doubt this will be.)
Boat Trip, anyone?
As someone who is gay, the previews for this kinda made me want to see it. Not in a hand-money-over-at-the-cinema way but might-be-fun-dvd-rainy-day kind of way.
Am I bad gay for not seeing any kind of agenda in this?
I have a couple of things to say one which I think you will not be happy with. First, I agree with you on this movie. I think it is a degrading stupid movie. I will not see it and I think it is bad to make fun of and to stereotype gays. Now for what you might not agree with. As I read the responses here they are also stereotyping. Not all republicans are anti-gay. I support all gay causes and yes I am republican. Why? Because real republicans feel the government should stay out of your business in ALL things, socially and fiscally. Republicans are not just the religious zealots. Plus believe it or not there ARE republican gays. That does not make them evil as some comments are implying. So I have no idea if either of these guys in the movie are Republican or not. It has nothing to do with the idiocy of making this movie.
Thank you guys! My sister and several friends are super excited about this movie, but I can't help but roll my eyes (and suppress the urge to throw my lamps at my TV during the commercials).
I just shake my head when I see the commercials for C&L...but not out of disgust. It's from seeing the waste of good talent and how heavy-handed the scenes are handed.
When the tampon question scene comes up, it just makes me groan. Perhaps that'd been considered "funny" in a knowing way back in the early 70's, but now it's just terribly dated.
(steps off the soapbox)
There's a French film from 2000 called The Closet, where a middle-aged divorced man pretends to be gay in order to keep his white-collar position in a corporation.
This movie handled the man's deception and situation with his co-workers, friends and family members with some sensitivity, warmth and good amount of awkward humor.
People believing he was gay actually made him a better person overall after he was found out...
See Hollywood? A decent movie that happens to have straights pretending to gay CAN be made!!
"execrable piece of shit"?
You are too kind.
SHAZZZAMMM !!!
Way to flame them!! Now send a copy of this to the studio execs who funded this craptastic waste of film.
Of sourse, you two know that the gay equivilent of "Sex In the City" is waiting for you to write and get on the tube/big screen? (take your pick) Right?
Lord knows that you can out write Candace any day of the week....
There is no rationalization for this dreck. None whatsover.
Not even to make it okay for Sandler/James fans (I would guess he-man 'phobe types) to make two guys pretending to be gay for whatever reason, while actual gays fight for the rights of straights, is beyond inexcusable.
As the older sister of a drag queen (I knew he was different when I was about 7, he 4), who has had to live most of his life in the closet for fear of our uber religious parents' reactions, this is beyond inexcusable.
Thank you for stating what I feel when I see this shit much more eloquently and level-headedly (is that a word? well it is now :-) ) than I ever could.
Anon 6:57, people who want the government out of their lives (bodies, bedrooms, freedoms of speech, et al.) are known as Libertarians. They come in both liberal and conservative stripes.
I'm sorry that the far right of the REPUBLICAN party of the Newtie congress made it so that it was a sin to be a member of the opposing party, whichever one it may be.
I know some of the conservative variety who support the causes a traditional Pub wouldn't champion, such as those I outlined above. Traditional Pubs seem to be more about big business and marginilization. I don't see that in your post at all. :-)
If you're offended by this stereotyping, then you must also be offended by the stereotypical "boy meets girl, girl plays hard to get, boy and girl are happy by the end of two hours" movies that straight couples get, right? You must also be offended by Steve Carrell as Noah, and Christina Ricci in chains because all of these things are equally as wrong. I see no blog entries about these movies, boys. I'm just saying, it's a little disappointing that the thing you choose to speak out against is exactly what people expect you to speak out against.
Isn't Adam Sandler's fifteen minutes over yet?
Kevin James did a great stand-up bit on choosing a greeting card in a store. Adam Sandler's earlier work (Happy Gilmore anyone?) was hysterical, and some of his later work was cute (I really liked Wedding Singer). At this point I have little opinion of either of them, but I don't outright hate them.
But this movie just looks stupid. I'm not quite as offended as some others here, although the premise does put me off a little. It's just that it looks like a really poor formula movie. Boy meets girl under false pretenses, boy falls for girl, boy has to keep up lie, girl finds out and gets mad, boy apologizes and gets the girl. The whole "pretending to be gay" is just support for that stupid formula. I'm sure James will be the "fat guy comic relief". I feel not quite right criticizing a movie I haven't even seen, but I just wrote this one off as "not worth my time."
Kinda sad that Jessica Biel's on board for this kind of crap. Happy Gay ending would have been to her pretend to be straight to catch the numbnuts and then kick them both to the curb revealing herself to be a lesbian.
But that's just me.
So true, but then what do you expect from Hollyweird..non "christian coalition" material? Surely you jest! Hollyweird is not interested in bringing "enlightenment" to the masses, all they want is butts in the theater seats at premium prices. I mean lets face it, when did you ever see people stand in line for a documentary (besides an IMAX)?
The movie on the other hand looks boring--not just stereotyped bullshit, just boring, tired, done to death.
I have a theory about movies (well actually, its my husband's theory)...the more the movie is advertised the more the movie sucks. And so far its true. Castaway was hailed as the epitome of movie making and it sucked. Remember all the crud about Waterworld? Nother movie that bombed. The greater the hype the greater the fall and stain when the movie bottoms out at the box office.
I saw the trailer for this movie in a crowded theater, and the reaction from the audience made me lose all faith in the human race . . . again.
You know, I once thought that straight men pretending to be gay was funny. But I was also 12 yrs old. Then I grew up, and Three's Company just wasn't the laugh riot it once was. But here I was in this theater, and adults were laughing it up. I firmly believe that everytime a person laughs at such lame, soulless comedy, an angel dies of pancreatic cancer.
The following Monday, a co-worker was telling me how funny the movie looked. I said, "But don't you think it looks offensive?" She returned, "Oh, yes, but that's what makes it so funny!" I understood what she thought she meant. However, when I said "offensive" I really meant that it was offensive to my intelligence, not to my sense of decorum. Yes, "good" offensive humor is funny. Mel Brooks movies, South Park, John Waters, etc. "Bad" offensive humor is just embarrassing. But how do you point out the difference to people who have no comedy barometer?
On the positive side, it lowers the bar for anyone wanting to break into show biz. Now all of us can swish around with limp wrists, pursing our lips, and we'll ALL be oh so hilarious and cute that we won't be able to stand ourselves.
Sorry for the rant. It was just so damned cathartic to read this post. All of my stored up hostility toward simple-people-comedy came pouring out.
Rage on!
Beyond the comments on the movie itself (I probably won't see it BECAUSE of Adam Sandler, don't like him at all)... I love your suggestion at the end about making a movie about a "real" gay couple! Has there ever been one - I mean a mainstream movie like that? I think that's a great idea! Fight with the truth!
"brilliant said...
I agree with you T&L about this movie. The ignorant gay stereotypes I've seen in the commercial previews are too stupid for words.
Nevertheless, I can't help but notice the irony of some of the comments people have posted stereotyping Republicans in response to the offense taken at stereotyping gays."
Far be it from me to stereotype the republican race, but the reality the republicans are the ones who are always screaming (both literally & figuratively) that if you don't think like them you're going to hell and aren't patriotic. (oh, and they want to revoke your constitutional rights). That's just reality in 2007.
Some generalizations are simply true, (ie; conservatives have the biggest, funniest skeletons in their closets. Also, people with religious bumper stickers are always bad drivers. Just thought I'd throw that in because I was just driving on the turnpike)
--Gotham Tomato
Hmm.
I will admit that my first reaction to these commercials was something along the lines of "How is pretending to be a gay couple going to get this guy MORE help/aid/rights? I'm missing something ..."
However, I wholly second Mindy, who said, "... it's disheartening when I have to be lumped into the stereotype of being "un-evolved" because I generally watch Adam Sandler movies ... please don't assume I'm unaware or afraid of gay rights because I watch a few Adam Sandler movies a few times," as well as the readers who've spoken up about the reverse stereotyping that's appearing in some comments. It's true that the Republicans who make the most noise and are the most well-known are the ones who usually showcase the worst characteristics, but that doesn't mean that we're ALL horrible bigots. I'm a conservative, Christian Republican. I'll probably see this movie, because I think that Adam Sandler and Kevin James can be very, very funny. That doesn't mean that I can't see or understand how some people are offended by it or might not want to see it. It doesn't mean that I'm going to tell you that you should lighten up or that it's just a movie. Just don't condemn me for seeing it as such. After all, you don't generalize and assume that everyone who reads this blog is gay, do you?
[Whew! Sorry for the novel, everyone.]
Oh, and I forget who said it, but having Jessica Biel turn out to be a lesbian WOULD be a hilarious and perfect ending.
for the record, i hate romantic comedies of all stripes, genders, sexualities, whatever. they depress the shit out of me.
but i suppose i haven't seen any really good gay romantic comedies, so maybe i can't judge. all i know is, hetero romance plots are damn boring as hell.
Not sure if I agree... this movie seems just like the other stupid, vulgar, let's-make-offensive-jokes-'cause-it's-so-EDGY, idiot "comedy" coming out of Hollywood these days. As if that's not enough to take offense at....
The trailers for this movie seem to be aimed at the "Larry the Cable Guy" crowd, which makes it really hard to understand why they are being aired on Bravo and other more enlightened places.
Since when did firemen have to marry other men in order for their children to get their pensions? I don't get it.
I agree with frogboots that this movie reflects the attitude that gays and blacks get all this special treatment while straight white guys are the truly oppressed segment of the population.
Although I'm sure this movie will be as bad as we all expect, the L.A. Weekly, our alternative paper here in Los Angeles, didn't think it was too bad. The reviewer planned to hate it but didn't.
I am 100% convinced that airing the commercial on Bravo is a direct response to the backlash this movie has been getting from around the country. They are doing what ever they can to make sure this is known as a "PRO GAY" movie (really guys, I swear, we like you!" And from one gay who actually saw it, they seem to drive that point home a lot in the movie.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19815488/
I think the term most people participating in the political debate are missing is the term "Goldwater Republican" ie: the pre Moral Majority small government Republican. There are lots of them out there, but they just aren't as loud, or, elected. It's hard not to be judgmental of a party when their platform has changed to include anti gay sentiment. No, not all Republicans are anti gay right, and I can assure you that not all Democrats are pro gay right. However, it just seems that the ones that are are the ones that have been getting elected into positions of power within the party. Which makes it harder to fight the stereotype. And the reason man Goldwater Republicans, like my parents, left the party years ago.
Sorry, keyboard sucks, just add the missing letters where you see fit....
Great post, T&L, but people, please, enough with the Republican stereotyping! Brilliant, you nailed it.
Sheesh; have most of you no appreciation for diversity? Republicans are no more all the same than a particular gender or race designation defines every single person who meets that demographic.
Blame the people you want, sure, but give me names rather than casting stones with wild abandon. It cheapens you and gives them much too much credit. Resist the temptation.
Look, I think this movie looks amazingly vapid, and I'm no Adam Sandler fan, believe me, but casting aspersions on large groups of people doesn't help anyone's cause.
Focus the anger where it belongs, on the people in Hollywood who wrote, pitched, made, and produced this movie. Then vote with your wallets and ignore it.
Hey, if there's an ABBA song in the soundtrack, it would only improve it. I still have no desire to see the movie, though. I didn't find Adam Sandler funny before this, and certainly don't at this point.
the commercials are doubly painful when you watch with a transsexual as the "tampon" joke comes up.
note to screenwriters: mtfs don't menstruate. ever. thanks for rubbing their faces in their biological tragedy a few times every hour.
ignorant assholes.
I thought it looked dumb too.
My local newspaper critic thought is was bad and pretty much said the same thing about the movie that T&L predicted:
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/entertainment/reviews.nsf/movie/story/FCCDC72A3A3ED78D8625731D0070C847?OpenDocument
Worth a read.
Bravo, as usual T&L!
You go guys!
I have to say that it really is so interesting that stereotyping republicans in the broadest, knee jerk way is so enlightened and acceptable. I am capable of discerning the philosophy of the political parties in general, and I agree most often with that of the republican party. I do not think you are going to hell if you don't agree with me, I think that anyone who wants to should be able to get married, and I don't believe that Newt Gingrich is the antichrist.
They're not being stereotyped; and a political party cannot be compared to an ethnic or minority group, because they are not republicans because of birth - it is something they chose based on their philosophies, opinions, etc.
You cannot vote for, and support, people who support discrimination against vast groups of fellow citizens, who seem to think that the constitution is an inconvenience, who continually obstruct justice in all investigations involving members of their party, and who have destroyed this country by handing it over, wholesale, no-bid, to corporate campaign contributors and bible-thumping inbreds without expecting some of that to stick to you.
It's not stereotyping. It's reality.
--Gotham Tomato
brilliant, i can't believe you can say that stereotyping Republicans is the same as stereotyping gays.
gay people, for the most part, are born that way.
republicans CHOOSE to follow a defined set of beliefs as espoused by a political party.
as an analogy, it's not even close.
What GT said.
When I mentioned stereotyping republicans, I certainly didn't compare it to gay stereotyping at all, but stereotyping by definition really just means assuming everyone within a particular group behaves and believes the same way. What does that have to do with whether you are born into a certain group or whether you choose to be in one? Are you saying that stereotyping is more valid and reasonable if the object has chosen to be in a group that you have predetermined to have certain qualities as opposed to having been born into it? It is still stereotyping, regardless. And GT, your stereotyping is just really not very clever or original namecalling, and that really surprises me coming from you.
Bullshit like this movie just makes it harder for young men (and women) to come out and makes it easier for assholes to make fun of them, especially those who typify the stereotypes. Blatant insensitivity for the sake of a laugh is just disgusting. I can laugh at a lot of un-PC things, but when it brings innocent kids into account - that REALLY pisses me off. I mean, kids don't choose to be gay, but most gay people I've spoken to have really horrible memories from when they were in their early teens and they were mocked for being "fags" and other choice words, of course. Adam Sandler should have stuck to the one and only character he is capable of portraying accurately: the loser who somehow magically manages to win over a pretty, if dim, girl.
PS While I see what GT is saying, I don't follow his (her?) logic. In fact, sexual orientation and political views are pretty much apples and oranges -- at least in the context GT is comparing them. "It's not stereotyping, it's reality" ?? Oy, I don't want to get into some politically correct tirade here, but geez. Lame comment, GT.
I haven't seen this film, but its message really seems to be (or should be) that marriage itself is a farce. When contracts between two individuals based on love become a matter of government red tape-- gay or straight-- then something is seriously fucked up. And I agree with that....but that said, there's no way in hell I'm going to see the movie because it looks idiotic. The thing people seem to be missing, however, is that it really has nothing to do with being gay-- it has to do with going to bizarre lengths to comply with unreasonable regulations in order to get benefits.
" Meg said...
PS While I see what GT is saying, I don't follow his (her?) logic. In fact, sexual orientation and political views are pretty much apples and oranges -- at least in the context GT is comparing them. "It's not stereotyping, it's reality" ?? Oy, I don't want to get into some politically correct tirade here, but geez. Lame comment, GT."
I WAS saying that they were apples & oranges as well. I was disagreeing with the person who claimed that people were stereotyping republicans and claimed that it was similar to stereotyping gays or members of other minority groups.
I was saying, (clearly,I thought) that a political party is NOT the same as a minority group (be that group ethnic or sexual orientation).
People who belong to a political party do so by choice, and because of shared ideologies with other members of that party. Stating what that group stands for is NOT stereotyping.
Being a member of a political party has nothing whatsoever to do with being a member of any oppressed minority group. While republicans may now want to distance themselves from what they have wrought upon us all over the last six years, the pretense that they are somehow the victims of stereotyping just doesn't wash.
--Gotham Tomato (herself)
Gotham Tomato, it's just not that easy. While people have a choice about what political organization to belong to, it's also not fair to pretend that every member of the organization feels and acts the same way about everything. I choose to call myself a feminist in spite of the fact that a lot of people associate it with trying to make people feel badly about males and being male, because I think that gender equality is a larger part of the meaning. I don't understand a friend of mine who is Catholic in spite of the child molestation/denial of birth control fiascoes (respectively), but she thinks that the Church is more about something good-- something that binds people together to help others. Any social group, including the political ones, can be thought of the same way. Not all Republicans support the war. Not all Republicans support Bush. Not all Republicans oppose gay marriage. And so on. Guilt by association is not always the best way to go about treating people.
I guess the problem I have with your logic GT is that YOU are describing (inaccurately) the idealogy of a political party that you obviously despise, and proclaiming it as indsputable truth and reality. You, apparently, consider yourself a moral authority, and anyone who doesn't agree with you politically as immoral.
Exhibit A:
"You cannot vote for, and support, people who support discrimination against vast groups of fellow citizens, who seem to think that the constitution is an inconvenience, who continually obstruct justice in all investigations involving members of their party, and who have destroyed this country by handing it over, wholesale, no-bid, to corporate campaign contributors and bible-thumping inbreds without expecting some of that to stick to you.
It's not stereotyping. It's reality."
That simply does not describe what I believe, and I certainly don't need you to interpret the republican platform for me.
Other than this totally off the subject discussion, I really enjoy your comments on T&L's blogs.
amen, sister.
If this has been brought up I apologize but seems to me the worst thing about this movie and something the stars and apologists don't seem to acknowledge is that it reinforces the inane notion that gay people get extra rights that straights don't.
Who you calling a stereotyper you sterotyper? Someone hiding behind anonymity way back up there wrote, "I support all gay causes and yes I am republican. Why? Because real republicans feel the government should stay out of your business"
Sounds like a stereotype to me.
You can try to use that argument but every time you do someone will catch you using a generalization or a stereotype. When are people gonna get off that band wagon anyway, it's how the human mind works. We lump information in to categories and generalizations to make the huge amount of data managable.
So, here's Kat;
"It's true that the Republicans who make the most noise and are the most well-known are the ones who usually showcase the worst characteristics, but that doesn't mean that we're ALL horrible bigots. I'm a conservative, Christian Republican."
Then she says, "I'll probably see this movie, because I think that Adam Sandler and Kevin James can be very, very funny."
Oh, never mind it's just too easy...
NEWSFLASH:
An "enlightened" republican who supports gay rights is still voting REPUBLICAN!
So pardon me if I don't buy your claims of support.
I think that they're being stereotypical and very obvious in kind of a satirical way. Yes, it is hard to believe Adam Sandler would try to do something like that, but in a way I think it is making fun of the stereotypes and not wholeheartedly trying to perpetuate them.
...Unless I'm just desperately hoping that's what they're doing. :S
It's about a big paycheck not altruism.
Anonymous at 5:52 .. what's your point? Also, if you're going to quote me, it'd be nice if you had added the next three sentences I wrote instead of editing my comment to try to prove some obscure point (which I guess my conservative mind is just too narrow to grasp, seeing as how I have no idea what was "just too easy").
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