Can a joke still be funny if you don't laugh?

Jan 20, 2021

"When’s Your Birthday?
22nd Of February.
What Year?
Every Year.
Get Out."

PINNED: this newsletter is supposed to be a friendly recapping of the movies in, and coming to, theaters. But things be real weird right now. So until that changes in earnest, I'll either be suggesting old favorites to revisit, pointing out recent flicks you may have missed or calling out notable new VOD / streaming options.

Quick! What was the highest box office earner at last year's box office?

I guess you don't really need to answer quickly. I just wanted to get your attention.

COMEDY AS CATHARSIS

(from top, left to right)

The White Tiger: While many may see this movie as a bit of a stretch to be considered a comedy - especially since it deals with such a complex and fraught topic: the Indian caste system - dark humor is still humor. It may just be in the "that's so messed up" head shake kinda way. But if one was in the position Balram (aka The White Tiger) sees himself in, they'd probably understand why. See, Balram is an ambitious guy, but he grew up in a village where the natural thing to do is serve those "above them," and accept that fact. Balram does the serving part as a means to an end, but never the accepting part. Like I said, ambitious guy. When he's betrayed by his "master" (Balram's word), it sets him off on a different path. Or maybe it was the same one all along... But I don't need to tell you the whole story, that's Balram's job, well, one of them. He becomes a busy guy along the way. He'll narrate the story of his rise (and fall?) and how he used the system that once oppressed him, to secure his position in an unfair world. Making sure to drop acerbic observations along the way.

Note: based on the book of the same name and directed by Ramin Bahrani (to whom the novel was dedicated - the writer and Bahrani went to school together). Bahrani also made 2014's 99 Homes, another probe into class structure.

Watch On: Netflix
Trailer | PG-13 | 2 hrs 6 mins
Rotten Tomatoes: 89% (Certified Fresh)

The Climb: Man, it really has been a tough one recently, hasn't it? And with all that's been happening, you know who could really use a little love right now? Straight white dudes.

....?! 😀 Look. I get it. A movie about the problems of two best friends who are chillin in the presidential suite of privilege may not seem like the most necessary thing right now. But The Climb does get at something universal - friends you love, but sometimes would love to punch right in the throat. Mike and Kyle are the protagonist buddies, who turn into (always were?) frenemies after Mike sleeps with Kyle's fiancé. Which seems like something that might be a spoiler, but is actually the first few mins of the movie and the kick-off for a dissection of friendship and the question of whether sometimes "toxic" friendships (much like toxic romantic relationships), should end. It's worth noting this is supposed to be a funny movie too, and reviewers say its jokes land way more than you'd think for a movie that looks like a (slightly) more grown-up indie version of Step Brothers.

Watch On: VOD
Trailer | R | 1 hr 38 mins
Rotten Tomatoes: 89% (Certified Fresh)

Baby Done: Taika Waititi didn't direct this New Zealand set, sweet looking comedy where a long-term couple have vastly different reactions to an unplanned pregnancy, but he did produce it. And Mr. Waititi, he doesn't really seem to involve himself with bad stuff (see: Thor: Ragnarok, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, What We Do in the Shadows, Jojo Rabbit). But if you're still needing persuasion, apparently the male lead is the dude that played Neville Longbottom, who is... I don't actually know. But I hear he's a fairly big part of those Harold Pottmore books and movies; I can't say for sure as I've never read / watched 'em. 🤷‍♂️But if you're in the mood for a somewhat non-traditional traditional (<-- intentional) romantic-comedy where a gender reveal party is cause more for eye-rolls than celebration, and a woman can be the one afraid of having a baby for once (*sigh* we have a long way to go, don't we?), maybe give this one a shot.

Watch On: VOD
Trailer | NR | 1 hr 31 mins
Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
Note: it's a "premium" rental, so gonna be a bit more like a theatrical ticket price

Highlights

I Care A Lot - black comedy where Rosamund Pike is a care taker for people deemed by the court as needing a legal guardian. But she focuses on the taker part, and less the caring, essentially stealing from her charges - until one of them (Dianne Wiest) has some nasty connections (Peter Dinklage).

Boogie - first movie written and directed by Eddie Huang, who wrote the book Fresh Off the Boat (yup, TV show is based on it). Story about a kid from Queens trying to make it to the NBA while dealing with cultural pressures at home and otherwise.

Judas and the Black Messiah - second trailer. LaKeith Stanfield infiltrates (under duress) the Black Panther party in Illinois to help the FBI "neutralize" their leader (Daniel Kaluuya). Based on true story.

Breaking News in Yuba County - one of those "small" movies that gets a ton of name actors to star. Looks like a goofy anywhere-town America take on people's desire for fame and attention (plus some other stuff too).

What's In Theaters +

Discussion about this post