To anyone making a parody movie: fucking stop. There's only enough material for one good parody movie every two or three years, tops. The late 90's were a golden age of sorts for the parody movie, with gold coming out fairly regularly (Scary Movie 1 and Not Another Teen Movie) and absolute cinematic shit (Shriek if you know what I did last summer, etc.) coming out much more rarely. However, Get Smart is the only good parody movie to come out since 2001. And the rules don't really apply to it because 1) it is a remake and 2) it doesn't rely on jokes based on spy movie stereotypes to be funny. It gets the point across with a good story and actually funny material.
And a hefty dose of Anne Hathaway's talent.
Now, Get Smart is not the only parody movie to come out this side of '01-we have a slew of pop-culture infested cinematic stillborns polluting the market. Riding the wave of questionable popularity Scary Movies 2-400 have enjoyed, everyone seems hell-bent on cashing in on the low-budget high-return formula. They usually don't even bother changing the title. Date Movie. Epic Movie. Epic Movie 2. Superhero Movie. Disaster Movie. I saw Epic Movie and it made me want to carve out my fucking eyes with a cheese grater. I want to find the producers, writers, and directors responsible, and punch them all in the collective dick. However, that is both impractical and unconstructive, so instead I will create Pappy Dickhead's Commandments for Making a Good Parody Movie:
1) No Pointless Pop Culture References
Worst offender: Tie: Disaster Movie and Meet the Spartans.
Let me be frank: I am assuming these are the worst offenders because there were YouTube references in the damn trailer for MTS and the Disaster Movie trailer prominently featured Amy Winehouse. I don't know this firsthand because there is no damn way you could drag me to that movie. If I want to watch YouTube, I can do it from the privacy of my own living room, with a scotch in one hand and my dick in the other. I would rather deep throat a frozen turd than watch this shit.
2) There shall be titties.
Best example: Not Another Teen Movie.
Let's face it: with the exception of Get Smart, you aren't here to see an original concept. You are here for lighthearted entertainment, and what could be more lighthearted than boobs? I want a bed made out of boobs. (note to self-look into patent options for "tittybed")
3) No Unnecessary Sequels
Worst offender: Scary Movies 2-4, with 5 slated for release in 2011.
Best Example: again, Not Another Teen Movie. The material was used up, so they stopped.
I realize that Hollywood is run by the Almighty Dollar, and if someone thinks it'll make money, it's going to get released. Maybe I should have titled this post "Shitheads who watch movies they know will be terrible are Dicks."
4) Have a plot
Best Example: Scary Movie
We are talking about parodies here. I understand you don't have Jim Uhls working on your screenplay, but at least have something the audience can follow. I went to see Epic Movie and spend the entire movie scratching my head (read:my balls) and wondering what the fuck I was supposed to be watching. It doesn't have to be an original plot; Scary Movie used a mostly Scream-esque plot while NATM was mostly She's All That, but you have to have a starting point.
People Involved in Parody Movies, I give you a 6/10 on the International Dickhead Scale. Do something useful.
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