I'm watching "I now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry", which I've avoided cause I generally don't like Adam Sandler movies, and the idea of watching yet another movie that pokes fun at gays and lesbians with low brow humor wasn't exactly something I wanted to watch.


However, even though so far, the movie has given very few laughs, it struck me that the vast majority of the movie is actually pointing out the ridiculousness of homophobia and straight men, rather than poking fun at gay men.

I just got finished watching a scene in which Larry is up in an elementary school class and he's trying to tell the kids in school about how fun and exciting being a Fireman is.
But all the kids have questions about his sexual orientation. One of the kids even says, "Do you have two jobs? Cause my daddy says you're also a butt pirate". Most folks in the audience when watching this probably assumed that it was a poorly executed joke (albeit, most folks who watch Adam Sandler movies in the theatre probably aren't looking for high brow entertainment ).

But I thought the scene was brilliantly executed. It was not meant to be a funny scene at all. It was meant to show the audience what it's like to be gay, bi or transgendered. Here's this man--a fireman--who defines his life as a courageous person, performing a duty for society who is trying to convey to the audience what it's like to be a fireman. Yet nobody cares that he's a fireman... That he loves his job...that he wants to help society. They only care that he's a "butt pirate".

The scene , I felt, was handled with great care, and was (at least to me), one of the better scenes in the media that shows what being "different" is like. It doesn't matter that YOU define yourself as a hard worker, or a great dad, etc. etc. You're being perceived for your sexual orientation when you're not "straight".


Overall, I'm not finding this movie all that entertaining, but I think Sandler at least makes attempts to poke fun at straight people, rather than just taking cheap shots at gay people all the time.



Do you think movies like this, where gay stereotypes do INDEED get thrown into the mix for a few laughs, but at least shows how alienating it is to be different and how discrimination can hurt, are more helpful or hurtful to the general public's overall perception of homosexuals?


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[Edited 8/28/08 18:14pm]

it sucked...and not in agood way either

i think there's a conception that you have to pander to the lowest common denominator in order to sneak in a progressive moral or two, and i think that's what this movie tried to do - and failed miserably.

the whole conceit of the film - the "bait" that was supposed to bring in lunkheads by the droves to see this film - was that it WAS one big gay joke - with sandler and the king of queens dude, at that - so you have the set-up for douchebag humor paradise. then of course, the trick was that they pull the ol' bait and switch, and after a few "i didn't mean to touch your penis, dude" jokes, everyone learns a valuable lesson about tolerance. awwwww.

this movie was widely panned by critics and audiences who had actually made the effort to sit through this crap. it's pretty bad when people who went to see this movie ostensibly for the fag jokes ended up complaining about the movie being too insulting.

i think the swishy stereotypes have become a thing of the past, though someone should cc the movie industry on that memo.

Anxiety said:

so...u didn't like ving rhames in the shower?

Fury said:

is that who that was? my vision was blurred from the housekeys i jabbed into my eyeballs after the opening credits.

Anxiety said:

how did you get in your house?
[Edited 8/28/08 18:34pm]

I love when Imago gets all inspired and earnest.



YES WE CAN!

Fury said:

i made out with the damn doorknob, what do you think?

I think Rob Schneider's portrayal of an Asian person has to be the worst caricature of Asians I've seen yet. I can't believe Hollywood is still potraying Asians using the same old streotypes: Charlie Chan voice & mannerisms, thick-rimmed glasses, pronouncing words with R instead of L. Disgusting, Rob Schneider shame on you..fucktard.
[Edited 8/28/08 18:41pm]

Anxiety said:

you're easy like sunday morning...

SilverlakePhil said:

he's just continuing in the fine tradition of folks like mickey rooney in breakfast at tiffany's, which in itself was another landmark stride in gay culture.

I agree with you, Imago. I was dragged into this movie and expected to leave furious.

I came out (eh, pun) pleasantly surprised and genuinely impressed.

I thought it dealt with the subject really well, although I remember being bothered with the treatment of the little boy. Can't quite rmemeber what happened...

I don't know why people hate this movie so much, it got quite deep towards the end.

Although the dropped the soap bit was kinda low.

FunkMistress said:

This movie was pretty much a rip off of the Aussie movie "Strange Bedfellows" Watch that first and you will see what I'm talking about

Imago said:

sadly, both. i think, as with racial satire (Chappelle Show for ex), it's "success" is gradual. those who see the ignorance in prejudices will understand completely what's being said and be reminded where they stand, but those who are just plain ignorant will laugh at what they had already found funny. but those (second) type of people will never change, they'll just slowly die off until they are the minority and then whatever change that can happen will happen. i think it'd be interesting to see what a group of 3rd graders thought of the movie

I haven't seen the movie, as I generally don't find much of what Sandler does funny. (But I love the Hannukah Song! )

What I've heard about it pretty much amounts to what you've said. Not that funny but clearly well-meaning. Maybe I'll rent it one of these days.

I think movies like this can ultimately end up helping, even if the approach is a bit bumpy or it contains stereotypical elements.

I almost refuse to sit and watch mainstream movies that deal with gay content. It's SOOO 90's.

I have not seen the film as the premise alone insults not only my intelligence, but the gay community as well.

SilverlakePhil said:

Rob Schnieder is the STAPLER!

For some reason this movie really offended me. The guys were hot, but at the same time it was pretty offensive.

I quite liked it

This was a remake of an Australian movie with Paul Hogan, which was much better than the Adam Sandler one

You're gone for like a week and this is how you return? Disappointing.

Janfriend said:

It wasn't a remake, at all.

purplesweat said:

Well, they changed some things, but it's basically the same premise

at the end of the day would this beat Crash for an Oscar?
I doubt it.