Originally titled The United States of Uhh-merica, Judge is sending a strong message about our potential quality of life if we continue this way. Unfortunately, the format Judge has chosen to discuss his views is film. Unfortunately again, he forgot to include a continuously leading plot line.
While the movie Idiocracy is pretty sharp around the edges, the tale that goes with it is dull, doesn't push the story along, and lacks in continuity. I know you can't always get what you want but there are so many odd twists and turns and repeats of events in this film that is seems some of the "adventures" that happen to the main character are merely the means in which to get to the other societal jab Judge wants to make. Now, it's his film, so I don't fault him for wanting to make the jabs, I just wish the presentation was a little more subtle in transition and useful. The main character, Joe, played by Luke Wilson ends up in jail about three times, Maya Rudolph's character floats conveniently in and out of the story, and towards the end the most obvious and predictable events do take place.
If we look back, most 'man trapped in another time' stories we've seen in the movies involve the story of a man on a mission. This movie has that: Joe wants to go home. The problem is that Joe really wants to go home and then gets distracted, over and over again. Joe has an ADD ability to concentrate and yet the audience is expected to follow the film through the whole duration. There are great, funny moments in the film; Justin Long plays a hilarious doctor, David Herman is the Secretary of State, and Luke Wilson paired with Maya Rudolph have great comedic timing. It's clear the characterization is there, but the story is weak in comparison to the strength of Judge's intention.
In spite of all this, the movie isn't entirely bad, it does have its good points. Anytime Joe talks about water, either to drink or to use on plants, someone inevitably states, "you mean like out of the toilet'" These are great bits of wit and stings the beverage industry at the same time. All fast food service has become the job of a machine that while taking your order ridicules you for not having enough money. The best show on television is "Ow, My Balls" where one man continually falls into situations that, guess what, nail him in his junk. There are tons of subtle slams littered throughout Idiocracy and they're great, and fitting, and perfectly placed, but the plot takes away from all of these and makes the movie tough to get through.
Idiocracy has a lot to offer as far as social commentary goes and Mike Judge keeps up his opinion without pausing to worry about what others will think. That's what makes him so good. But, unlike his other film and the lasting effect of Office Space and its cast of characters, Idiocracy won't be so loved and memorable. It's a good film for the time that it is running, but after the movie is over, it is not so endearing. Idiocracy is definitely a film to watch, but not necessarily a DVD to buy. |
Idiocracy - DVD
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