Is it just me?
Bookworm on Oct 03 2008 at 10:54 am | Filed under: Uncategorized
Is it just me or did the New York Times not even bother to review An American Carol? It’s just as well, of course, since its review would no doubt be vicious no matter the movie’s virtues or failings.
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Hello Book,
I believe that ‘American Carol’ was withheld from early critical review.
My review after having seen it:
- More ‘Robin Hood: Men in Tights’ than ‘Blazing Saddles’
More ‘Scary Movie’ than ‘Airplane’
- Everyone’s reaction to a movie is unique. ‘Citizen Kane’ bores me, for example. Comedies in particular provoke wide reactions. For me, ‘American Carol’ often had bad pacing that made the jokes flatter than they could have been. I fully expected to enjoy every “Michael Moore” slap, but they were funnier in the trailer’s pacing than in the movie’s.
Slightly more specific:
- As a comedy, I found it mostly flat, which was very disappointing, but there were enough guffaws and belly laughs and genuinely funny moments to justify the price of admission. 2 out of 5.
- Dramatic moments: I had tears in my eyes by the end of the movie from an emotional response, I truly did. I had not expected anything like that.
- Kelsey Grammer as Patton stole the show. Spot-on perfect timing and tone for the entire movie.
- Jon Voight had very limited time as George Washington. In a very understated and highly classy way, his time onscreen was deeply enjoyable.
I hope others enjoyed it a lot more than I did! I’m glad I saw it and it was worth the price of admission for me, but I was hoping for more.
Very much on the same page as Mike. Here’s what I wrote to Kathryn Jean Lopez at NRO, after she suggested the Corner was quiet because people had gone to American Carol:
We enjoyed it at the Friday matinee.
I would not have wanted to pay full price.
There were moments of laugh-out-loud, knee-slapping hilarity, and others so surprising they elicited sudden bursts of laughter.
However, the middle drags a bit……
Don’t get me wrong – definitely worth seeing, and LOTS of fun in many places.
Do NOT leave until the last of the credits rolls……don’t ask – just hang around.
Cheers,
EARL
Like Mike, one of the scenes near the end almost made me lose it emotionally — incredibly moving.
Did you stay to the end of the credits, Mike? If not, maybe the same thing will appear on the DVD…..
After the trailers I saw on-line, I also expected more. But, I’ll take this, until something better comes along.
Anyone see Fireproof, yet?
Jo and I saw it this evening. And I’m still having flashbacks.
Yes. There were parts that were laugh out loud, and some unexpected laughs. And of course the movie dragged at times. And the story is contrived, but in a rather innocent way.
There was obviously much thought expended on the evolution of the story. With intentionally gratuitous slapstick episodes easing the emotion of the deadly serious segments.
The scene in the Chapel is the one that remains in permanent memory for personal reasons.
The major satisfaction I take from viewing the movie is the free and unfettered expression of love for the USA. No one (aside from the leftist characters) looked over their shoulder when stating we are the best country in the world. That was refreshing to see in a movie in the early 21st Century in the United States.
From an analytical viewpoint, the movie seems to attempt to educate the as yet unbrainwashed liberals about the country.
I am sure there are inferences I missed. Have to see it at least once more.
Al
The media finds it more effective to pretend that such things don’t even exist. That way they don’t inadvertently provide free advertisement for it.
Watch for this: Expect Beverly Hills Chihuahua and Eagle Eye to be #1 and #2. Even if American Carol shatters all preconceptions by coming in at #3 (unlikely I know), watch for the media to mention solely what wins out at #1 and #2. That’s my prediction.
You can go to Boxofficemojo.com to keep tabs on movie rcpts. The BevHillChi is opening in about twice as many theatres as American Carol and it’s aimed at family audiences so it’s likely to draw at the box office. I’m curious to see how Oliver Stone’s W does.
Considering that my daughter loves cute little dogs, and the fact that my dog is part chihuahua, we’ll probably be part of that audience.