You're supposed to think that the jokes in I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell are so shocking, so offensive, that you laugh because you forget being PC for a moment. And if you don't laugh, you're the kind of square that Tucker Max, the lead character, takes aim at.
The real story is that the movie is offensive, but not because it's just so edgy. It's offensively unfunny — that is, the movie's jokes are not so offensive that they're not funny, they're such bombs you're shocked someone got paid for this. To see why I thought this movie was so terrible, just read more.
The Tucker Max of the movie (played by Matt Czuchry) is based on the real-life Tucker Max, who wrote the memoir the film is based on, which was based on his blog. I read the blog a bit and found it mildly amusing — so what changed in the film version? Nothing, really, I just think the larger scale of a movie can't validate the boringly immature Max. There's a plot, here, sort of: Tucker wants to give his best friend an epic bachelor party and whisks him out of town, where hijinks ensue (sound familiar? More on that later).
Tucker is supposed to be totally boorish and offensive, but his crudeness and raunchy jokes are not shocking; they're just lame. He talks about killing a fat girl and brags about having sex with a deaf girl. Yeah. Laughing at the inappropriate is not the new territory this movie acts like it is; five minutes of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia provides more laughs than this movie does in its 105 minutes.
The one emotion I had watching I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell that wasn't disgust or boredom was sympathy. I felt bad for the poor actors, especially Gilmore Girls' Matt Czuchry, whom I've rooted for — I hoped he would land a great role that would invigorate his career. This is not that role. (All is not lost: he's in this Fall's The Good Wife.)
Even the adorable Czuchry can't make Max charming, nor can cute Jesse Bradford make Max's best friend Drew anything but abhorrent. It's painful watching him force out such pathetic one-liners. By the time Max and Drew are supposed to be redeemed, you don't believe any of it (but it does signal the end of the movie, so that's a relief). And I have to mention: there's the grossest fecal scene I've ever seen in a movie (it puts the poop monster in Dogma to shame).
Pouring salt in the movie's unfunny wounds is timing — The Hangover was released earlier this summer with a similar storyline, and it was a huge hit. But to call it a poor man's The Hangover is too generous; The Hangover was funny.
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Heals
They made a movie out of that book?! How ridiculous. That book was only funny because it was so outrageous. But you don't actually want to hear someone say those things or do those things to people!
1At least the title is funny.
2agree brian...it's just uncomfortable when you hear a real person say something so offside
3Of course you are looking at this from a woman's perspective. I'm sure you aren't the target audience for this film.
4Tucker Max is a liar and a douchebag.
5Wow, I just looked up Tucker Max, and he represents eveything I hate. Why do women sleep with him?
6I loved the book, but I don't know if I'd like the movie quite as much. But he really was outrageously funny in the book.
7Anonymous, I think a lot of men would take issue with your claim that men would like this film because they're the supposed target audience! I'd give most men a little more credit — this movie sounds awful.
8I actually think this movie looks hilarious. I really liked The Hangover, but it was definitely "hi-jinksy." (tiger, chickens, Asian guy, tooth etc.) For me the appeal of this is that even though it's typical gross out humor kind of stuff, Max's humor is esoteric and intelligent and just rings true to me. It's how people who are funny, fun, intelligent and like to have a good time actually talk to each other. It reminds me of how my roommates and I used to talk to each other when I lived in a group house as the only girl with 4 other guys.
There are so many preconceived notions when it comes to this guy, it's just hard to take any review, positive or negative, with much more than a grain of salt.
9@ TresSugar: Wait, so you're trying to correct anonymous for making an assumption that the alleged target audience would enjoy this movie when you haven't even seen it? Who has the dumber assumption here?
For all the sh*t this movie is catching in the reviews, it seemed to be almost universally enjoyed at all of its premiere stops, which there is video evidence of.
10I agree with HaterTot, spend some time living with men (or a particular strain of guy) as the only girl and you will find out WAY more than you ever wanted to about the male mind. I too found the hangover funny, but a bit predictable with its incorporation of everything Vegas. I LOVED Matt as Logan on GG and because this character does not sound to far from the pre-Rory, Logan I don't think it will be to big of a stretch. As a woman and not the target audience of this film, i still want to see it.
11I found a free copy of this book and read it after having read a story or two on his blog. It was, like his blog mildly funny and read like an old fisherman tale.Instead of exaggerated stories of aquatic catches there were plenty of trumped up tales of skanks and body fluids. The first few are funny and shocking but after a while it sounds like a bunch of gross out lies, true or other wise.
12HaterTot — I would actually like to hear what you think of it when you see it. I didn't read his book but knew a lot of people who did and actually enjoyed it, and the trailer didn't look half bad. I was surprised by how bored I was though — it wasn't about me being offended by the humor. Seriously, if you see the movie, let me know what you think.
13Will do, Buzz!
14Saw it twice and for good reason - this is an excellent, smart, total blast of a movie which knocks Hangover out of the ballpark, but probably only if you are smart, funny, and hot yourself. Fat girls, dogs, and the humorless will not like it for good reason - its fun rests on releasing the disgraceful ego, id and utterly non PC truth in all of us. What makes it work is the smart and fast polish of its storyline, which is not original overall but all its twists and turns make sense and arises out of character as much as situation.
Anyone smart with a big sense of humor who is put off by the nose holding reviews inevitable with something like this especially with the over the top toilet scene will be missing a classic which is not going to go away. This is a hypocrisy Rotorooter which shows that comedy can get away with anything if done right,
15loveandmusic, the fact that you think yourself superior to everyone else in intellect and humor because you enjoyed this movie seems to suggest the complete opposite. (Not to mention that your second paragraph made absolutely no sense.) The film sounds horrific and, from what I've read, it is. Even people who appreciate crude and raunchy humor (and films with similar premises, like The Hangover) are repulsed and/or bored by it. I would venture to say that it is probably enjoyed primarily by those with a taste for the most unintelligent, unoriginal and pointlessly offensive humor. (Whether or not these people are "hot [themselves]" is not for me to say.)
I usually wouldn't call someone out like this, but the fact that you insinuated that everyone who didn't enjoy this movie was ugly, stupid and/or humorless really got on my nerves.
16Movie is little bit funny. But according to book movie should have to funny. In the book so many things that create laugh, it ll be more better if follow the book properly.
17Watch I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell movie and give ur views...
Movie is little bit funny. But according to book movie should have to funny. In the book so many things that create laugh, it ll be more better if follow the book properly.Watch I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell movie and give ur views...
18The arrogance is in the movie and whether you want to share it for 90 minutes or not is up to you. anonymous, but someone who thinks my second paragraph doesnt make sense should read it again, and stop commenting on whatever you imagine the movie that you haven't seen to be. The proof is in the pudding - and the sad thing is that people like yourself , honorable, upright people with decency and good manners exuding from every pore will be put off by bad reviews from people without a sense of humor.
Its like the Monty Python scene where the fat man explodes - I avoided going to see that disgusting boorish sounding movie and when I did see it found the funniest thing I had ever seen. I leared it is a big mistake with comedy to listen to those that didnt like it, and it is often because the fun is being made of them, though they may not realise it.
19The Movie was awesome! I loved the book and the movie was hilarious. I'm a girl, and I enkjoyed this movie. But you wont like it if you didn't read the book first, if your a girl. There were alot of unhappy girls in the theater, exceopt for a few.
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