hapgilmore

a new major studio release from MIKE JUDGE should be heavily promoted and released on at least 2500 screens, I mean Office Space is HUGE, everybody loves that movie and you would think Fox would want to make the most out of it even if it does suck

Seantn

Well, looks like you were wrong (at least in my mind you were). I saw the film tonight, and damn it was funny as hell. My 4 friends and I had tears running down our cheeks during a few scenes from laughing so hard.

I honestly have no idea why this film is getting no publicity. It's a very good comedy. They actually did make a trailer for this film, they just didn't release it (according to a Mike Judge interview). In other words, Fox actually DID go out of their way to simply not promote this movie. They dumped it, and I just...I have no idea why. They must have a problem with Mike Judge.

This film will probably not make money in the theaters. Our theater at the night time showing had about 10 people total.

Seantn

And also, the title was changed from "3001" to "Idiocracy" because in the original screenplay, the movie took place in the year 2974, almost the year 3000. However, in the film that was released in theaters, the movie takes place in 2551, so the 3001 title wouldn't make any sense.

deadlax

The movie takes place in 2505. It was okay, a few great gags, but nowhere near the level of Office Space. I can definitely see whay it was canned. The public response to this would not have been great. I'd give it a C.

Seantn

oh, ok. I just remember it was 25__ something, couldn't remember the actual year.

As far as the film, i've seen much worse movies (especially in recent weeks) getting released and opening at number 1 at the box office. This movie could have done well with the right push. Not huge, but it would have made a nice amount of money. I don't get why Fox was so scared to release it.

hapgilmore

Damn it FOX, you couldn't release this in ONE theater in Indianapolis??! One of the reviews on rottentomatoes says its one of the best films of the year....even if this had gotten terrible reviews I would still see it but now i'm PISSED I have to wait until dvd, unless it opens wider in the next couple weeks which I doubt

Seantn

Yeah, I really don't think it's going to be getting released wider. I did read about showings getting sold out at the Arclight in Hollywood (one of the nicest theaters in LA) and the Alamo Drafthouse in Texas...but everywhere else has been very empty. My theater was nearly deserted at a night showing, and from other reports I have been reading, many other theaters had less than 5 people in them at each showing.

I hope it does get a wider release, but nothing will help the film unless it gets promoted properly.

hapgilmore

The more I read about this, the angrier I get. I mean seriously, a movie like this markets itself..."FROM THE WRITER/DIRECTOR OF OFFICE SPACE" attached to some clips for a trailer and tv spots, and BAM, 20 mil opening weekend at least. I'm reminded of another great film Fox dumped several years ago...FREAKED anybody?

wergo

It's not that it's awful or anything, it's just a not-very-funny, sloppy, half-baked mess that looks like they filmed the first draft. Both Luke Wilson and Maya Rudolph give it their all, but there's just not much to work with.

It basically feels like watching a 20-minute 'Futurama' episode stretched to 90-minute length. The laughs are few and far between and there's narration throughout to carefully explain to the audience what's going on. Which would have been great if assuming the audience were stupid was part of the joke (I can only imagine what the 'Arrested Development' writers could have done with this) but it wasn't.

This thing needs another re-write BADLY. 'Office Space' was carefully plotted and very clear in its aim. This, by comparison, is an undiciplined effort. I wouldn't even classify it as professional. It may not be gay cowboys eating pudding, but it's close. A fourth act would have been nice, as well. It just keeps going until someone realizes they ran out of steam a while back and then stops. Run credits.

The whole thing feels like a wasted opportunity. A world where everyone's stupid? What's the point if you're not gonna throw in any cultural signifiers? There's been no shortage of shows that make fun of the culturally retarded; 'King Of The Hill', 'The Simpsons', 'Futurama' and 'South Park' have ALL covered this material with much greater success. Why Judge couldn't come up with much for this effort is beyond me. It's as if he decided that it would be fun to make fun of stupid people, but didn't bother to decide WHAT about them he should make fun of, or what he could do that Hank Hill & co. hadn't already covered repeatedly.

Seriously, if your town isn't one of the ones showing this, just go see 'Talladega Nights' again instead. You'll have a better time.

mdc3000

I liked it... I certainly didn't love it, but overall I had fun. I thought the first 20 minutes or so were brilliant, but then it kind of stalls, then treads water for the duration. It's got a few really great moments (Costco, The Time Mashine, Brawndo) but the rest just kind of hums along. I think if it was given another cut or if they had done some reshoots, it could have been terrific, but as is, it's a slightly better than average comedy. I don't think it deserved to be treated the way Fox has handled it, but I think with a bit more time and effort, it could have really been a classic.

MATT

U-P-G-R-A-Y-E-D-D!!!!!!

berserker37

Saw this last night and I think I've gotta agree with wergo and mdc on most of their points. Starts off decent enough, but then just kind of meanders the rest of the way. Some funny stuff scattered here and there, but it never really rises to the occasion. Might still be funny for repeat viewings, but I probably won't be in a hurry to pick it up on release date.

I've gotta admit, several times during the movie I just started chuckling at how stupid it was, so maybe it was so bad that it was kind of good, you know?

DJLinus

So, has Mike Judge said anything publicly regarding Fox's treatment of the movie? I'm just curious.

The Bus

Finally got a chance to see this. It's a very odd movie. It was too short, but it was too long as well. It could not have worked as a TV series but also not as a skit either.

Futurama and Talladega Nights both go to better lengths to skewer the dumber parts of American culture. This needed some sharper writing. Mike Judge does the Mike Judge material justice and there's some genuinely hilarious moments (the plant discussion). It needs more to be a good movie though. At worst, it feels like a pastiche between the worst parts of Freaked and Brazil. This has been handled so much better (and so much worse) in the past that the movie comes out as average as it's main protagonist: top-of-the-bell-curve Private Joe Bowers, a rock-solid C.

harpo787

I guess it's due on DVD soon...here's a review here at DVDTalk. Sounds like a very positive review to me!

MGR

DVD is out in a couple days.
According to the DVDtalk review, Judge didn't do a commentary or anything for the DVD supplements.

It would have been interesting to hear if he unloaded on Fox, or at least dropped some inside hints on why this movie was buried...

porieux

This film can't possibly be worse than 85% of what comes out of Hollywood.

madcougar

Surprised no one mentioned it but I read an article where the writer speculates the movie was buried due to its ungracious portrayal of cooperate America. IE Fox got nervous when it realized the movie was spoofing many of its advertisers.

RichC2

They must have stock in Starbucks, Carl's Jr. ("You are an unfit parent, fuck you!"), and Costco. Not to mention the semi-nude Fox News Broadcast.

I think , beyond that, it just isn't a very good movie. I enjoyed watching it, and the beginning (as well as a part near the end) was great, but it was really, really stupid. I know that was kind of the point, but the characters were just too dumb, even for this.

It didn't have electrolytes.

Evad

I remember when the movie was being shot in Austin. On again/off again, fights with the studio which ended up changing the name to the Untitled Mike Judge Project. Looks like it was completed to satisfy requirements and then dumped by both sides.

Fincher Fan

I found the voice-over to be annoying and unnecessary.

The Bus

It was necessary. You can tell they cut like 30 minutes of the movie and someone needed to explain it. Plus, it's voiceovers. It's what audiences crave.

MaK10

Ill be pickin it up today, hope its decent.

d2cheer

I thought it was funny as hell, it should have been released. It would have made more than the Super Ex girlfriend movie Luke was just in...

porieux

Doesn't Mike Judge have anything to say?

sherm42

My favorite line was the Carl's Jr. tagline:

"Fuck you, I'm eating."

Or how about the cigarette ad:

"If you don't smoke this cigarette, Fuck You!"