First of all, watch this fucking trailer for The Dilemma (as long as it’s posted) and tell me a gay joke is the worst thing going on here…
Okay, so while I’m more concerned by the fact that Kevin James continues to be successful despite molesting the very idea of comedy, there’s a controversy a’brewin around Ron Howard’s new pandering comedy, set to be released in 2011. While Universal claims that the trailer was shown to GLAAD and a number of internal gay employees to a “positive response,” the reception in the wider world has been much less accepting.
The trailer opens with Vince Vaughn pitching to a group of car executives and he makes a fairly terrible joke about electric cars being “gay.” The joke includes context that is obviously trying to be funny while also diffusing any offense that might be taken, but ultimately it’s a dumb line and it was a dumb way to start a dumb trailer. Message Boards, comments, and blogs caught on quick and Anderson Cooper even mentioned it in a segment on Ellen that covered bullying in schools.
In response, Universal is apparently ready to pull the trailer and modify it (no shit they will) but it’s unclear if the joke will be yanked from the film itself.
I don’t feel like a joke of this nature is ever really verboten, but it should have some kind of genuine value, actually be funny, or probably not be in the fucking trailer. Arguably a joke like this could say something about the immaturity of the character or have some other useful purpose, but the way it’s delivered in the trailer (the first thing we hear no less) is done for a cheap, lazy laugh, so I’m not going to go out of my way to defend it. The marketers should have known this was going to piss people off, and ultimately it is irresponsible to put more of the same tired, damaging verbal laziness that keeps the public dialogue so dumbed down in a trailer that’s going to be incessantly looping on TV and everywhere else. Amateur hour.
17 comments
I was absolutely blown away that this was a finished trailer when I saw it in front of The Social Network, not because of the (bad) gay joke, but just because it had no rhythm, pacing, or life. It felt like it was about a month long.
You know what? Fuck GLAAD. There a bunch of uppity assholes that have nothing else to do other than bitch and moan. Jesus Christ, it's a fucking comedy. It's a joke. FUCK YOU if you can't take a joke. That's your problem. This is a fictional movie meant to make people laugh. If someone goes on live TV and declares death to all Gays and Lesbians, then fine. Get mad about that. But this? It's a fucking joke. OK, I'm done ranting.
I was really surprised that the gay comment made it in the trailer as well. As soon as I saw it I was like, oh boy, now GLAAD is gonna make a big deal out of Vince Vaughn saying something was gay. I'm personally more worried that Ron "The Hack" Howard is in charge of The Dark Tower Series. I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.
#2. GLAAD, had a FAVORABLE RESPONSE. I know, Kneejerk reaction…
I dont see how the joke is offensive, except to parents that chaperone dances… Its just not a strong joke. Definitely concerned about it being the best of the movie…
Love the cast though, probably see it, despite Latifah and Tatum…
But, I dont see what the problem is. People need to stop, looking for something to complain about in everything. cause thats all it really is. People just love to complain.
@2…do you have trouble with reading comprehension? According to this article GLAAD didn't have a problem with it. All that ranting for nothing….don't you look silly.
@1…yeah I stopped the trailer above about half way through. The first time I've been bored in quite some time.
To me, the most offensive part of the trailer was that it's labeled a comedy…and found the whole thing tedious. Didn't laugh once, and I'm the easiest slapstick-dumb-comedy mark there is.
BTW, Chud, going on 5 captcha attempts…let's go #6…
Electric cars may not be gay but for sure only huge fags drive them. Wanna stop bullying in schools? Too bad. Its called growing up and Waanderson Pooper has a tonne of it to do. Also Ellen isn't funny. That movie looks great and I will see it. Also this site is gay. The word captcha never works right. Its so blowjobballsbutt gay. Nunziata touches boys in the park and Devin moved to AICN because he has a fetish for people who are somehow fatter than he is.
Yeah number 3, I started getting worried about the Dark Tower more than anything else. Howard's produced a good TV show and "Splash" and "The Gift" show he has some competence with fantasy and westerns, but this and those DaVinci code movies really blow.
Homophobia, yay! Hey moi, I take it you were one the bullies in school, not the bullied? How's life in the deep south, you fucking redneck moron. The jokes in this trailer were better than your pitiful attempt at comedy, and that is saying something because this looks fucking terrible. Also, you can't spell and must have never grasped the concept of proper grammar. Must be those changes to the curriculum in Texas schools, or you are just a child yourself. I should expose you on the internet and make a fool of you, but you already did that yourself. I have no problem with a joke that involves the word gay. I have no problem with a joke that involves racism, as long as it is a JOKE. But exposing someone as gay on line, causing him to commit suicide, is not a joke, it's cruelty. That's the kind of shit that is going on now. These acts of bullying are getting out of control and we need to do something about it. I don't think attacking a shitty Ron Howard movie is the way, that's childish, but something has to be done. Just wanted to give my two cents, and show moi how to bully properly.
I'd laugh so hard if moi were a black guy living in Ohio.
Going off on absurd tangents about backgrounds you make up for people is fun though, I'll give you that.
@#9: How's that white guilt treating ya? Boo fucking hoo, someone gets bullied online and because that person is gay it becomes a fucking hate crime?! "We need to do something about it" yeah, stop being such fucking pussies.
As a gay man I've just gotten used to the insecurity and stupidity of SOME heterosexual men so I think the joke is fine, I think it's like saying we shouldn't show violence in films because there's violence in the world. It's not movies that are the problem, hatred for gays and lesbians is a behavior that's learned at home and at church on sundays, not by Vince Vaughn in a crappy Ron Howard film. Parenting is a lost art.
Wow, what wasn't offensive in that trailer. It's like watching the death of cinema. Ha, #7 has victim boy written all over him. I bet he wore the porcelain hat many a time.
I'm not offended by the trailer. Its not offensive, nor is the movie. What offends me is the retards who were waiting for a "buddy movie" about K. James and V. Vaughn to be RELEVANT TO CINEMA. If you go to that movie your looking for cheap gags and 2 hours to turn your brain off and God bless you. If you have a real job sometimes that is all you want from a film. If you watch this trailer and say "This has no cinematic value this is the death of cinema!" Guess what? Your a faggot. And i don't mean "I hate gays" use of the word, i mean the Louis CK use of the word. Your just being a stupid faggy faggot. You already knew you'd hate this movie, you know damn well in 2 years no one will ever talk about it again, you just want to be a smarmy prick and show what a big "Cine-phile" you are. And THAT ladies and gentlemen, is being a faggot. (not sucking dicks and liking boys, that is homosexuality. And i have no problem with that)
Gotta love the fact that being gay seems to mean you get a free pass for being a douchebag. If you have a problem then you're a filthy dirty homophobe. God bless America. Soon the only accepted form of comedy will be making fun of straight white males.
The gays need to get over it. It was a joke. If they can take a dick, they can take a joke.
#9:
I'm against bullying in general and do not agree that it's part of growing up. Obviously, we don't want kids to be thin-skinned. They should not be suffering with mental health issues either. Bullying is not a good way to develop self-esteem and a backbone.
Glad we agree on that. As for your comment about some "redneck" in the Deep South, fuck you. I am from the region you mention and don't appreciate you using this area as a scapegoat for all of the hate in this country. As someone else said, the poster you were replying to could have easily been a black man in Ohio. It is also quite ironic that you would stereotype given the nature of the discussion (and I don't think you were joking in this case). Have a nice day, dick.
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