Jeremy Piven's slick asshole routine was getting tiresome even before he faked his own poisoning to get out of that Mamet play, so I am ashamed to admit that I laughed at least a couple of times during this trailer for The Goods, the forthcoming comedy from Will Ferrell and Adam McKay's production team. I have nothing against stupid funny or crude funny, and the trailer offers plenty of both, but doesn't it seem like we've seen this movie, oh, about a million times before? Also, for your consideration: Jeremy Piven's smarmy douchebag persona is this era's version of what Bill Murray's cocky scamp was to the early '80s, i.e. the most common expression of male confidence in contemporary culture. (That theory probably needs to be developed a bit more, but fuck it.)
Friday, May 29, 2009
16
Car dealership comedy. How prescient. What's next, a madcap laugher about the newsroom? Then how about an updated Pauly Shore "In the Army Now?"
it's really hard not to watch this movie as a sequel of sorts to 'pcu.' i mean, c'mon, who can't see droz as a car salesman?
(and yes i loved pcu.)
Which part was funnier? The racist part or the misogynistic part?
That's like asking Balk to choose which is better, bourbon or cigarettes.
According to the Variety article that the Alaska pastor post is currently linking to (?), Piven's contract put a cap on the number of Mercury Sables he'd have to touch. SMART MOVE: IT IS A CUMULATIVE POISON (Mercury, not Piven)
"I have a slick asshole. So I've got that going for me, which is nice."
Sadly, Piven saying that he has hair on his balls only reminds me that he's losing hair where it actually counts.
We do need a genealogy of cinematic douchebaggery, surely. It has some overlap with the earlier antihero, but the douchebag persona probably comes into full force right about the time of M*A*S*H and Five Easy Pieces and gets ritualized with Saturday Night Live.
DOUCHEBAG STATUS PERMANENTLY SOLIDIFIED:
http://adsoftheworld.com/media/tv/jose_cuervo_be_yourself
he he he, you said "but fuck it", he he
You really are addicted to trailers.
the most common expression of male confidence in contemporary culture
If it involves the auto industry and financing, it's topical!
Play Again? No Thank you.
It's no routine - his asshole is quite slick.
Balk, have you seen Slasher?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0375073/
I watched it one night on IFC. Documentary about this used-car salesman...it is unintentional comedy mixed with pure tragedy. Opening scene is the 'slasher' leaving his wife and kids early in the morning (having snuck a couple of beers into his suitcase) to fly to Memphis to clear all the cars off of this lot. I STRONGLY recommend it.
meh, rent
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081698/
and watch it in the comfort of your own home where you can smoke and drink and actually see a good movie.
Spoken like a true cocky scamp, Balk. (Or was that a scampi cock?)