Welp!
Back from the Premier screening in LA... finally after 3 years of this soul sucking project, I got to sit and watch it with an audience instead of me and the Editing supe in a small room.
It went over pretty well... lots of laughs, but since it was filled with people hyped to be at a premiere, it wasn't the best gauge...
So yesterday when I got back I went to the "Friends and Family" screening - to get a better idea of what humor lands - but this time there were fewer laughs. Turns out it was less friends and family and more just "The people currently at the studio... who have all seen it..." So no surprises.
SO, even though I've seen it an estimated 182 times, I decided to go for `183, and jumped into a 7:30 screening last night at the last minute. I walked through the dark theater, grabbed a seat in the very back (it was quite packed) and waited for the laughs.
The first "should make you chuckle" moment hit... nothing. There was laughing, but about the same as the earlier screening I was at.
Then the flick ended, and there was wild applause and cheering through the entire theater.
Yup, the entire theater was the studio again... this time the people who weren't at the earlier screening because they currently work at another studio.
So I have no gauge on how the flick plays... and after seeing it 183 times, I think I'm done. I can't watch it again.
I've lost all perspective on whether it's funny or not, so it'll be interesting to see if people review it here. I honestly want to know... but as much as I can, here's my review!
The PROS!
- Great animation. I'm not really an animation guy... I edit. I edit because when I got in the animation industry I didn't have a knack or passion for it so I bailed. I do know crap animation from good animation though, and there's some great animation in this flick. Especially for the budget, which was SMAAAALL.
- Micheal Cera's "Barry". Michael Cera came up with a LOT of the little weird things Barry says in the flick. He's friggin hilarious. Barry is by far the best thing.
- Good pace... moves quickly. I'm not talking editing... the story structure is solid for "High Concept" script...
- The kitchen scene. Over played in trailers and such, but if you went in cold, that scene would kill. Still really well done/directed.
- James Franco druggie - Funny. Good stuff all around.
- The montage... 90's "I would do anything for love"... who was the genius who picked that song?!?! (heh heh heh)
- Jonah Hill's "Carl" - Some of the funniest stuff. But I'm a Jonah Hill fan.
- Nitrogen Studios. I've been there 10 years and everyone who worked on this did a BANG up job. I mean really, for the time, and resources, not a lot of studios could pull off a film that looks this good! Great crew all around.
THE CONS!
- TOO MUCH SWEARING!! - And this is even toned down from what it was. But then at the same time, if it were live action I don't think anyone would really care that much... but it stands out like a sore thumb in this movie. I'm not AGAINST swearing btw... I have a pretty fowl mouth... but man.
- Still not a fan of the Character Design. Barry is cute... but I dunno about the rest... The designs don't bug me like on day one, but I'm guessing I'm just used to it.
- Kristen Wiig is sweet, but I don't really like the Brenda character.
- I REALLY don't like Teresa Del Taco.
- The end sequence (you'll know it when you see it) is not NEARLY as nasty as they make it out to be. There is a MUCH MUCH MUCH worse version that got chopped out. Things that would go down in history as "What the FRAK was that?!?! DID YOU SEE THAT?!?!)... but then it wouldn't have gone to theaters... just to back rooms of video stores (If it were still the 90's)
- The whole attempt to have a deeper meaning by attacking religion wasn't needed. As I understand, the original point was hotdogs trying to get laid by buns - that would have been good enough.
- It could have been funnier (I think?)... I feel there were funnier cuts that I would have liked a lot more, but then I haven't made millions on comedies, so what do I know? ha.
- My "Union authorized" credit (or whoever clears credits). Here in Canada I'm an editor. I have an editing supervisor. Rightfully, he got big the title credit, but I got dropped to "1st Assistant Editor". :angry . In animation, assistants usually don't edit picture. It was a tad insulting after THREE YEARS. I was also crammed with two other "Assistants" who only worked a few months. Ah well. I fought for my proper credit, or even "Picture Editor" credit... but nope.
Overall, having little sense anymore how it plays as an actual film, I would give it a 6.5 to 7 out of 10.
So yeah, anyone see it? Let's hear it. I may add more as it comes to me, but for now these are my main thoughts.
...it'll give little kids nightmares if the stupid parents don't realise what it's like before going:lol
