Film Reviews as Advocacy: the 'Times' on 'Bad Teacher'
"The story spends the requisite time on Elizabeth’s man-baiting and chomping ways, but it’s her relations with these women that help make Bad Teacher into something more than the latest in big-screen giggles and flatulence…. A funny woman with too many unfunny movies on her résumé, Ms. Diaz was born too late for the kind of rich Hollywood career she deserves…. It’s painful, though, watching her slum through What Happens in Vegas, playing off an unworthy foil like Ashton Kutcher, another reason it’s a relief to see her surrounded by the talent packed into Bad Teacher.
—This Manohla Dargis review is a great case of criticism as advocacy journalism! It might as well be addressed to "Dear Hollywood." This is a good thing! Also I am going to see the holy heck out of this movie.
Alright, gay guys! We're next!!!!!
Both of these women still annoy me.
Wait, does anyone actually expect Bad Teacher to be good? Watching it made me feel embarrassed like it was Diaz's Star Wars Kid video shot in the back of her garage. Play-acting at comedies.
She is EXACTLY like those lady cashiers at Walmart that got fucked by the Supreme Court.
Didn't we have a women's comedy last month? I thought more than one a year was illegal.
@keisertroll It's like speeding or weed. Illegal but actual enforcement varies.
Let's not forget The Sweetest Thing.
@Clarence Rosario: Actually, let's.
Kasdan! I'm in.
Where did we get the idea that Diaz was funny? I watched Knight and Day (I KNOW – slow night) and I could barely stand her.
@winchesterwolcott That's a lot like judging Peter Sellers for his performance in Casino Royale.
Plus, it's probably hard to be funny or develop chemistry with your costar when he's being carried on and off set by four teenage boys in Sea Org uniforms.
[I'm not going to respond to any replies that involve some form of the argument, "How dare you compare Peter Sellers to Cameron Diaz!?!?" She's great in Being John Malkovich, charming in Charlie's Angels (which is genuinely underrated) and I more or less agree that Hollywood just needs to make better movies for her.]
I find her kind of annoying, but Being John Malkovich gives her a free pass.
They showed the trailer for this before Bridesmaids and it looked awful. Can't stand her, either.
Cynics! I saw the commercial for this, and I laughed so hard I peed! Not a little bit, either – full release!
@Charismatic Megafauna I'd see a doctor about that, Mega.
@Charismatic Megafauna KEGELS!
I am going to see this strictly for Phyllis Smith.
@semiserious I am going to see this because I can't resist the hilarious stupidity of the trailer, but I will tell everyone that I saw it strictly for Phyllis Smith. Phyllis Smith is my beard.
Your enthusiasm is the best endorsement this movie could get. I have been wondering if I should bother and now I will.
Judging from the trailers I think there's a slight chance Dargis and I might actually agree on this one.
But I could be blinded by my irrational love of Jason Segel.
It is just ok.