Posted on 10/05/2008 6:08:07 PM PDT by andrew roman
David Zucker’s An American Carol finished at number nine at the box-office in its first weekend of release – somewhat disappointing, I must admit (considering I saw it twice) – but fortunately ahead of Bill Maher’s anti-religion film “Religulous.” The movie took in $3.81 million in sales, just ahead of Maher’s masterwork, which snagged $3.5 million. The film “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” finished in the top spot, pulling in $29 million.
As many weekend filmgoers have already expressed – far more eloquently than I could hope to - “An American Carol” wasn’t the funniest film ever made. To be fair, it would probably be iniquitous and intellectually dishonest to suggest that it was supposed to be. It was, however, remarkably entertaining, very well-done, almost always politically incorrect (thankfully!) and on more than a few occasions, a laugh-out-loud, belly-busting riot.
It had many of the comedic trademarks of other Zucker films, like the Airplane and Naked Gun series’ – sophomoric absurdity, classic slapstick, clever wordplay, downright rudeness. My wife and I laughed hysterically numerous times. However, “An American Carol,” for all its hilarity and schoolyard silliness, possesses a very different and deliberate undertone that infuses every second of the entire film - namely an unmistakable foundation of unabashed patriotism that wraps itself around the viewer and slaps his or her face (a running theme in the movie) in some of its more poignant and reflective moments.
It actually works quite well.
In short, it is the story of anti-American filmmaker Michael Malone (played wonderfully by Kevin Farley, uncannily resembling Michael Moore), spun by an old grandpa (Leslie Nielsen) at a Fourth of July barbecue to a table full of eager kids, to the beat of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” As told by Nielsen, Malone decides that the Fourth of July holiday is a bad thing and should be abolished. At the same time as this, a group of Islamic terrorists in Afghanistan decide they need a top-shelf, professional, anti-American filmmaker to help them create a brand-new, pro-Jihadist recruiting video. Their old training film has clearly lost its effectiveness (one of my favorite segments in the film, by the way) and needs to be replaced. Malone, of course, is the perfect choice.
Malone’s nephew, meanwhile, has enlisted in the United States Navy and is being shipped out to the Persian Gulf the same day that Malone is to lead a huge anti-war rally outside of Madison Square Garden in New York, where a “Support the Troops” music concert is to take place inside.
Madcap hijinx, indeed.
Malone is subsequently visited by ghosts of America’s past - John F. Kennedy (Chriss Anglin), George S. Patton (played stupendously by Kelsey Grammer) and George Washington (a brilliant and all-too short performance by Jon Voigt) – in an attempt to deliver him from his misguided and destructive ways.
Robert Davi, it should be noted, does a tremendous job as the lead terrorist.
In one of the movie’s best sequences, General Patton leads a counter-attack against ACLU lawyers who are invading a courthouse. Patton is assisted by a feisty judge (played by Dennis Hopper), shotguns at the ready. Too funny.
In another, Rosie O Connell (coincidentally enough, a dead ringer for the enchanting Rosie O Donnell) appears with Malone as a guest on Bill O Reilly’s television program. O Connell airs a segment of a documentary that illustrates the dangers of radical Christianity. It is so hysterically funny, it easily could have gone on for another minute or two.
The film, too, has some very powerful moments.
In one particularly moving and affecting segment, George Washington invokes the attacks of September 11, 2001. In another, Malone looks upon a small congregate of America’s fighting men, chronologically depicted, one after another, dating back to the Revolutionary War. It was very touching.
The film’s ending is, admittedly, a bit schmaltzy – but it is effective.
With all of that said, let me point out that the movie is not perfect by any means. There were, indeed, moments when a gag didn’t come off as it could have. Some jokes simply fell flat. As I alluded to earlier, it was not a laugh-a-second, knee-slapping, non-stop, side-splitting yuk-fest.
It didn’t have to be. And I don’t think it was meant to be.
I really did love the film, and it was better than I anticipated ... primarily because it was a bit different than I expected it to be - and I mean that in only the most positive sense.
“An American Carol” is a pro-American comedy (which by definition makes it a unique excursion into the world of modern cinema), filled a host of familiar faces (James Woods, Paris Hilton, Gary Coleman, etc.), that will absolutely bring on the laughs. It is, indeed, a very funny movie.
Don't be surprised, however, if it also makes you cheer boldly and clap resoundingly – as it did for the audiences I attended it with during the “ACLU/Subway” sequence, where after General Patton was asked by Malone if he had a problem with privacy rights, Patton responded, “Yes. When they interfere with my security rights.”
Damn right.
The conservatives sure got out to support this one this weekend. Maher’s anti-Christian movie did just as well as this pro-America movie. Pretty disappointing. I guess we’ll continue to see the liberal version of America from Hollyweird. At least it makes money.
I just came back from seeing it. It was cute and I’d buy the video too.
Busy this weekend...have to go next. Had to work Saturday, don’t do movies on Sunday. Give us conservatives alittle time. :)
I live near Stamford CT and the nearest theater that is playing An American Carol is at least 10 miles away. They are not making it easy for us to see it!
We discussed seeing “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” this weekend, but my mom thought it looked dumb.
One of the problems is its limited release.
Many of us will have to travel to see it.
I am going this week.
I can’t wait to see it and will enjoy hearing from those who did this weekend....
By the way, here in Brooklyn - a borough of over 2.5 MILLION PEOPLE, there is only ONE - count ‘em ONE - theater showing this movie...
Even in Staten Island, the ONLY borough in New York City that is majority Republican, only one theater is showing it.
Andrew Roman
Brooklyn, NY
Not yet showing in my area. Maybe next week. Or the week after. Or whenever it is finally shown out here, in the hinterlands.
Decent turnout for the film in Johnson City, TN, but not as much as I’d hoped. I enjoyed the film.
We just got back from the 3 PM showing.
Only 19 people in the house, but it was funny.
The ACLU zombies slew me.
Sit through the credits for the last word from Grandpa.
I don’t need to rush out and watch a movie on opening weekend to validate my ideology, unlike the supporters of left wing Hollytripe.
I agree with your mom.
You go to see a movie if you think you’ll like it, and if you don’t have anything you’d rather do at the time.
The bright spot is that both ‘An American Carol’ and ‘Religulous’ make fun of Muslims from different sides of the aisle. The Anti-Religion Left should really get behind the fight against Radical Islam.
Eagle Eye was good.
An American Carol fell flat. It was funny in spots, but that was it. It seemed kind of blah.
You don’t want to see “Beverly Hills Chihuahua?” I thought it looked cute, just from what was on the Charlotte Observer’s movie notes :-).
I doubt we’ll see it, though, now that Mom’s gone home. The little children only go to the movies if Grandmama takes them or if we’re on vacation. Since Anoreth can drive, she takes Bill to movies sometimes.
Saw it, loved it, and highly recommend it. It was fascinating how they worked so many angles and evoked so many emotions. This was produced by people who really get conservatism.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.