as i understand it, there was bit of a furor over the non-release of this movie -- mike judge's idiocracy (2005) -- what the fuck was that all about? seems there was a dispute or something between mike judge and the fox uber-producer set, and while the reality probably has to do with promotional issues and/or profit-sharing, the internet likes to think it was because the movie was mean to fox news and corporations.
it ain't that offensive. it's a poor fucking movie as cinema goes -- it has no real characters that aren't giant sight gags, and no real plot (luke wilson, as a flavorless rekit of futurama's fry, gets awakened from cryogenic sleep in 2005 only to find he is the smartest man alive). the cg work is pretty hokey. there's no real message or metanarrative beyond "stupids are breeding, smarts are not, and there's fuckall you can do about it." the points when it tries to message anything more subtle -- there's some babble about being a leader arbitrarily worked into there -- are embarrassing, not engaging.
still, as a collection of mean-spirited but on-point attacks on american culture, it's fun. taken as an illustrated guide to mike judge's comedic contempt for american low culture, it's absolutely hilarious. 2505, in this movie's vision, is simultaneously distinguished mentally-challenged beyond belief and awesome beyond reason: brawndo (nee gatorade) -- aka THE THIRST MUTILATOR -- owns the fda and most of the world's workforce, having had water declared unhealthy as "that stuff in the toilet," and now the water fountains (and farm irrigation) flow with EXTREME SPORTS BEVERAGE. hey, we are told, "it has electrolytes!" elected officials are pro wrestlers and porn stars, and the president is both. civil trials are decided by whether or not the accused "sounds like a fuckin' taco" and punishment is meted out by giant monster trucks with metal penis attachments. the most popular movie of the day is "Ass" -- an eight-time oscar winner that consists of a single 90 minute shot of a naked man's butt farting volubly. carl's jr has changed its corporate motto to "FUCK OFF I'M EATING." police cars have neon trim, giant spoilers, flaring ground effects, and a faux-gangsta marketing aesthetic. costco is the size of a state and sells law degrees. starbucks has "happy endings" with the purchase of any venti mochaccino. people are named after products.
really, this movie is just 90 or so minutes of sight gags. it's mike judge's rage against our collective cultural distinguished mentally-challenged; it's a comic act, right down to the timing. it's not a movie.
i give idiocracy a 5 out of 10, or a B+ on the Willco Transformers Scale. it is very funny to watch and nothing else.
