Friday, April 16

Only in America...


I wasn't going to post anything today but then I read this: "Opening this weekend, the Hollywood remake of "Death at a Funeral" with Chris Rock, Martin Lawrence, and Tracy Morgan"

WTF America? Why are we remaking a film that is not even 3 years old? Is there really such dearth of originality in Hollywood? - I'm sorry, I probably shouldn't ask such obvious questions.

No wonder the rest of the world thinks we are nothing but a bunch of morons. A remake of the perfect British folly that is Death at a Funeral?

If all of the resent floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions haven't made you at least ponder the end of times, the news of this abomination has to. Why do Americans feel the need to destroy everything? A huge part of what makes the original film hilarious is that its filled with British humor. I know that in this day and age we aren't suppose to generalize, but I don't think I'm over stepping when I make the observation that British humor is better than American comedy. British people know how to be subtle. They know how to address a ridiculous situation in an intelligent way with class and grace. In America everything is coarser and more obvious, aimed at a lowest-common-denominator. If British actors meticulously etch their performances, American comics scrawl theirs in crayon.

What made the first film funny – aside from an imaginative and jam-packed plot - was the contrast between the repressed British characters and the wildly inappropriate things they were forced to do. These characters were embarrassed at the mere idea of being embarrassed, which added a layer of humor that this version lacks. The British characters’ fear of being discovered and their horror at having to commit various acts seemed to multiply geometrically; the more outlandish the plot got, the more laughs there were.
I can't imagine the same would ring true in the American remake packed with over the top performances. The really depressing thing is, most people who see the new version will probably laugh. They will laugh and they will love it and they won't even know the original exists. As for me, you count me as one who will not be rushing to theaters this weekend. I will just sit in my little corner and morn the state of the world from my armchair.
*Oh, and the above poster is from the original. If you haven't seen it, I'll let you borrow my copy, or you can just add it to your Netflix cue.

3 comments:

Iota said...

I'm adding that one (the original) to my Netflix cue.

Jo said...

Omigoodness, I agree completely...! Chris Rock, Martin Lawrence, and Tracy Morgan are not even funny -- at the best of times.

Have you ever seen the original British version of The Office with Ricky Gervais? Much better than the American version.

Katy said...

Yes! The Ricky Gervais The Office is MUCH better than its counter part.