Film review:
The Comedy - Entitlement Tragedy
Rick Alverson's 2012 film The Comedy is a lyrical critique of the so-called "entitlement generation." Starring Tim Heidecker as Swanson, the anti-hero protagonist, the film proves itself far superior to the other Tim and Eric film, Billion Dollar Movie, which came out the same year. However, The Comedy is more of a tragedy than the title suggests. It is a character study primarily, but also a poignant critique of so-called "hipsters" who have too much money and time to know what to do with. There are a few remarks made by Swanson and his friends that are worthy of a laugh, but the awkwardness and uneasiness that Tim and Eric's comedic efforts are known for takes a dark turn in this film. For example, he makes references to slavery and rape in his jokes that are pointedly unfunny. These offensive themes that shows like Family Guy and South Park make light of are exposed for what they are in this film: not funny. Actually, one of the things I have always liked about Tim and Eric's tv-shows is that they never crossed the line in this sense, particularly on racial issues and violence against women. The edginess of their comedy owes more to scatological humor and absurdism than pushing the boundaries of political correctness.
Alverson uses alienation as a trope throughout. The scene where the protagonist is wandering around a hospital combing the hair of random patients speaks to his longing for a human connection. There is an uneasiness as the viewer wonders, "What will Swanson do next?" Although he never actually does anything violent necessarily, there is a feeling that this individual is indeed dangerous. The underlying danger of the character's behavior is exacerbated by his boredom and lack of need for resources.
The scene where he goes into a bar populated exclusively by African-American men and proceeds to mock and stereotype them reveals a duality in the character. On the one hand, there is an interest in diversifying his community and "getting out of his comfort zone," but also a profound disconnect from reality and an inability to transcend his prejudices or even to understand others. Another example of this disconnect in the film is when he is talking politics with a woman at a party. When asked if he is sympathetic to socialism he says, "I think we gave up on feudalism too soon," and then proceeds to defend Hitler.
This film is incredibly relevant as there are in fact individuals in this country who find themselves in a similar position as Swanson and his friends. I wonder if the so-called "hipsters" who have seen this film have taken it as an opportunity for self-reflection or if they have just passed it off as a boring indie film worthy of forgetting. Perhaps people looking for scatological, absurdist humor were disappointed and eager to dismiss the film.
The Comedy - Entitlement Tragedy
Rick Alverson's 2012 film The Comedy is a lyrical critique of the so-called "entitlement generation." Starring Tim Heidecker as Swanson, the anti-hero protagonist, the film proves itself far superior to the other Tim and Eric film, Billion Dollar Movie, which came out the same year. However, The Comedy is more of a tragedy than the title suggests. It is a character study primarily, but also a poignant critique of so-called "hipsters" who have too much money and time to know what to do with. There are a few remarks made by Swanson and his friends that are worthy of a laugh, but the awkwardness and uneasiness that Tim and Eric's comedic efforts are known for takes a dark turn in this film. For example, he makes references to slavery and rape in his jokes that are pointedly unfunny. These offensive themes that shows like Family Guy and South Park make light of are exposed for what they are in this film: not funny. Actually, one of the things I have always liked about Tim and Eric's tv-shows is that they never crossed the line in this sense, particularly on racial issues and violence against women. The edginess of their comedy owes more to scatological humor and absurdism than pushing the boundaries of political correctness.
Alverson uses alienation as a trope throughout. The scene where the protagonist is wandering around a hospital combing the hair of random patients speaks to his longing for a human connection. There is an uneasiness as the viewer wonders, "What will Swanson do next?" Although he never actually does anything violent necessarily, there is a feeling that this individual is indeed dangerous. The underlying danger of the character's behavior is exacerbated by his boredom and lack of need for resources.
The scene where he goes into a bar populated exclusively by African-American men and proceeds to mock and stereotype them reveals a duality in the character. On the one hand, there is an interest in diversifying his community and "getting out of his comfort zone," but also a profound disconnect from reality and an inability to transcend his prejudices or even to understand others. Another example of this disconnect in the film is when he is talking politics with a woman at a party. When asked if he is sympathetic to socialism he says, "I think we gave up on feudalism too soon," and then proceeds to defend Hitler.
This film is incredibly relevant as there are in fact individuals in this country who find themselves in a similar position as Swanson and his friends. I wonder if the so-called "hipsters" who have seen this film have taken it as an opportunity for self-reflection or if they have just passed it off as a boring indie film worthy of forgetting. Perhaps people looking for scatological, absurdist humor were disappointed and eager to dismiss the film.
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