You People -movie review by (me!) ~topps
i am fresh off watching this movie; last night..
reasons for watching: 1. Netflix (commercial free/uninterrupted stories) 2. Comedy 3. Julie Louis-Drefus
everyone else was bonus.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus still in, 2023, remains the reigning champion for the scenes that have made me laugh my absolute longest and hardest. i love her!
and she is excellent in her role here, to be sure; the parent who means well, but is just always trying too hard.. three parts anxious; one part ignorant; and ever painfully sincere. wonderful comedic scenes because of her expressions, tone, delivery and perfect timing.
but the scene in this movie that had me laughing the hardest and longest.. like, tears did come out of my eyes, and i missed several scenes that followed because i was so caught up laughing from, what i'll call, the piano scene
-but it is just shy of the actual piano scene; the build up.. watching the back to back awkward moments by the parents, and the heightened embarrassment of the kids.. and then
it is the expression on jonah's characters face, when, in the distance he thinks he might hear...
and then he leans in closer toward the sound with expressions of such dread.. [can't stop laughing even write now] and reluctantly races toward the sound of music in a different room with his eyes wide open in terror and expressions of utter panic that what he thinks might be happening; is happening
and that got my deep laughter started...
and then you have david duchovny's character.. singing ordinary people, and the saying in our family, is i just went into one! laughing til i cried, taking a necessary breath and then laughing some more. and, oh my God, i could watch these scenes over and over and laugh just as hard every time.. the very definition of comedy!
anyway, i'm grateful the movie exists and grateful i watched it for that scene alone. and there were several other giggles here; giggles there throughout
-couple things threw me though
like, the plot itself. is this not 2023? is this not set in California? USA? 2023?
because, that any big deal at all is being made out of an interracial relationship -the black/white thing..
i reminded myself throughout, this is just a comedy.. but, even still, in our actual real world here in the bay area, northern california, 2023.. interracial and interfaith and mixed this or that.. these romantic relationships, marriages, divorces, 2nd marriages, etc. are so mainstreamed and common place from middle school through AARP, that to see a big deal being made of it seems highly outdated.
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner is a 1967 film! and this you people comedy, for me personally, just doesnt succeed on that front; because of all that has taken place between 1960's and 2023.. the narrative is past its expiration date. -within our own family trees, both of us, there are multiple marriages, romantic relationships which are interracial and it is literally a non-issue. the analogy for me, is if there were a movie made and released today that made a big deal out of a woman being a doctor.
then we have the part of the story that pits the jewish and their sufferings of evil, against the blacks and their sufferings; in the 'who wins for having experienced the most injustices and evil' contest, and again, i had to remind myself, this is a comedy.. see it for what it is.. a comedy.. comedy...
but, again, for me personally, -the, who has the monopoly on pain and suffering/evil & injustices narrative, is also past its expiration date. i'll be 57 years old in a matter of weeks, so.. i've heard it ad nauseum; nothing fresh, interesting, insightful -or funny, for (me!),
and its a comedy; it's a comedy.. i know, but.. the vegas scenes, strippers/drugs -mainstreaming/celebrating that behavior; i dont find myself smiling or laughing or in the least entertained; i recoil and fast-forward.
and then, i am a fan of eddie murphy's stand-up and prior comedies -genius! and it just felt like a missed opportunity here in this you people movie.. i've seen 'mean dad' roles that yield laughter, because mean can be very funny, but this was played so -just mean- and flat and straight.. the deadpan delivery didn't translate as it may have been intended
-i was anticipating maybe we'd subtlety/subliminally hear that song playing in the background, ... why you gotta be so rude... but i never did.. -because it was too perfect a fit? it could be anticipated and therefore not funny.. or, did they miss a great opportunity to slip it in?
when i create my own imaginary scene.. and jonah's character is in the car with the dad.. -at some point he looks write at his future father-in-law, and whisper sings, "why you gotta be so rude.. i'm gonna marry her anyway" -in my imagination; that works for a laugh!
and there was dialogue and the 'i know an asshole' scene that served to justify and explain the -straight mean dad- .. but, i would have preferred (knowing full well they could not care less what i prefer) that eddie murphy be funny-mean instead of just mean. -because it was a comedy, and his talent for the serious would fit better in a serious genre movie.
the fun, funny and relatable; the tried and true.. awkwardness/insecurities/over-compensating mannerisms between two people reluctantly risking falling in love; awkwardness/anxiety of meeting your romantic partners parents; a couple's parents meeting each other for the first time; people trying too hard.. kids being embarrassed by their parents existence... generational & music taste culture gaps..
i will no doubt watch it again sometime though, and will no doubt laugh just as hard at the piano scene and then probably change the channel.
amen.
Public "Thank You!" to (kari lizer!) -from (me!) sandra, tvgp
it remains the hardest and longest I have ever laughed. -and, -ive heard reports that laughter is a social thing, -that people will laugh more in the company of other people
but I was alone watching tv
and I doubled over, fell off my daybed..
curled up on the floor, laughing so hard, tears..
-no one could have played the scene better; no one.
Julia louis dreyfus, as the old Christine, in what I am identifying as the 'unsend' scene, -where she chases the cord in a panic to the outlet in the wall and yanks it unplugged in a desperate effort to unsend an email..
and then, the scene where she describes to her son's teacher about what her son found in the drawer .. "...
for my neck pain..."
***
and when I need to instantly transport my mind, mood and attitude.. I pull these scenes up in my imagination. so, "thank you!"
***
In I even heard Jesus' laughing's name... amen!
steady diet of documentaries, shows, movies and interviews.. for (me!) sandra, tvgp
botany of desire -loved it. -obviously cannot help but see diversity within human-beings as originating, evolving and serving up the exact same life saving traits as the apples example.. and monoculture of anything, as being more vulnerable for the exact reasons learned/shared... and easy to see humans as a part of nature vs. a~part.. but separate and distinct, in that we can observe/assess/self-govern our own innate instincts
I will watch this one again
"thank you!" to greg zollars: finding vivian maier -obviously; loved it! and thought here and there about how... how I've written/tried to express: every fake flower has authentic roots..
without being specifically suspicious to this film.. only to note:
at one time, it authentically happened:
* an unknown artist; and then the previously unknown artists work becomes ridiculously valuable in the marketplace posthumously -and then the path, the steps, the formula for that success is appropriated...
and once a system/path/formula is identifiable.. it is replicated exponentially, (change only artist, type of work, time/place) so as time passes it becomes harder and harder to distinguish real from fake.. authentic from appropriated...
and this applies to artists themselves; and their work; and the path itself; to success...
and to anyone giving testimonies...
/side note: so recently exposed to what I think was an authentic... where a woman cheated on her husband, and then was blackmailed.. and the blackmailer person profited quite a bit..
but then, -this path: intentionally manipulating spouses toward a downfall for the profit...
it is exhausting.. unless you have the spiritual gift of discernment
-when so n' so [insert famous person] had an (authentic) car accident [got married/got divorced]; an onslaught of media attention.. so, the path for getting a lot of quick media attention....
***
I still
care if things are real or not...
***
maudie: -loved it! and will remember how... utterly.... quiet.... long periods where there was no music playing softly in the background, or loudly in the foreground -quiet scenes... silence..
I'm pretty sure that was a first for me.. and it was brave! of the movie makers.. so counter-culture..
and a treat for me.. because I think ive mentioned before... music in the background of any and every scene.. my consistent exposure to that, has made it so that, sometimes I hear music in real life when people are walking in and out of doors, or I think... gosh you need some music..
anyway, it was so quiet.. it felt wrong, like a dishonorable thing to do, to eat or drink anything during those scenes and interrupt the silence. I ate my popcorn much slower.. just one or two at a time, and I let my saliva soften them before I started chewing to reduce the noise factor..
and no way for me to know, what part authentic/accurate; what part Hollywood, creative license.. but I sure liked the cast, the life stories, the arch/evolution of the relationships... and the evolution of their residence most of all, from bland/bleak to true colors.. artists are to empty walls and windows as sound is to letters..
***
happened across tom hanks.. talking about talking to the real life people he portrays in movies:
paraphrase:
"i'm going to be wearing clothes you've never worn, going places you've never been, and saying things you've never said... " -but he is after the 'essence' of the person...
and I like to think, I have witnessed the essence of maud.. her spouse.. her family/friends..
and hope, I will see, the 'essence' of Jeannette walls.. and each person portrayed in the glass castle..
***
its been years since I've seen any 'inside the actors studios' but.. incredibly similar on Netflix now:
Hollywood masters.. and to watch Julia louis dreyfus -they should be seen as a double feature.. her interview on each show.. God bless her for repeating stories, and answering questions as if everything was fresh and new... a very generous spirit. charm and energy unwavering...
they should all be seen as double features; back to back; side by side.. anyone interviewed by james lipton, and currently by host of Hollywood masters...
-that would be its own lesson, very valuable lesson about acting..
not only does my memory prevent me from acting; not only my total lack of any talent/gifting in that area, -but honestly,
I don't want to tell even a good story twice in one day... i'd rather just record something, and then hand given person a recording and go,
"here.. I've already answered that one...
***
speaking of masters...
endears me further to Stephen Colbert.. interviewing the already over-interviewed celebrities in fresh, creative, enchanting, engaging and entertaining ways -plus, there have never been more intelligently~funny monologues by anyone..
which brings me to -even higher appreciation levels, because I also happened across a new program where actors are interviewing other actors.. and, it felt like...
i'll tell you how fabulous you are, and now its your turn to tell me how fabulous I am.. so dripping with obligatory ego-strokes and blatantly lacking anything of value/interest..
where is my Charlie rose.. he could save you! /and I pictured him as an interviewing super hero, leaping in through the window, like Spider-Man.. looking into the camera and addressing the audience,
"... from the brink of boring... i'll get this soaring!"
the thing is.. a good interview requires a lot of practice and experience.. just like writing, acting..
when they make it look easy,
its not because it IS easy... its because they've put in a lot of time, effort, energy, practice, mastering the skill..
this point is driven home in Barbara walter's autobiography, -audition.
***
In, what if -Jesus- were to interview you? 's name... amen.
