comment #1

D.Z. says ...

It's just a shame Rambo didn't have similar success against Meet the Spartans. But hey, Faris is an up-and-coming star; those parody movies didn't typecast her; and Smiley Face would have been successful, if it got better advertising and distribution, right Richardson?

comment #2

D.Z. says ...

Kind of feel sorry for The Longshots, though, but that's more Weinco stupidity at work.

comment #3

Carl LaFong says ...

I've posted it here before, but my when Jeff asked, "did you ever write a buoyant article-review that reflected positively on a film that you knew in your heart of hearts was absolute plastic trash because you fell in love with the lead performance?" I immediately thought of this classic:

http://tinyurl.com/5wl826

comment #4

Richardson says ...

DZ - you don't get to be sarcastic about the points that I was making after you've been proven wrong.

(DZ predicted that it's total gross would be $10 million, and I guaranteed it would out-gross that in the first weekend.)

comment #5

Richardson says ...

"Smiley Face would have been successful, if it got better advertising and distribution"

And, just to be clear, since I wouldn't want anybody to take your interpretation and think I had said it, what I said was that your comparison of 'Smiley Face' to 'Harold and Kumar' was idiotic because 'Smiley Face' had been released to one theater with no marketing budget by a tiny distributor which has, to date, never had a film gross one-third of what 'Harold and Kumar' made.

I can't say it *would* have been successful, but I can definitely say that it never had the chance to be successful.

comment #6

George Prager says ...

Prediction: New York Film Critics Association Circle (whatever it's called) will name Ana Faris Best Actress for THE HOUSE BUNNY.

comment #7

D.Z. says ...

Richardson: That was the only point you proved right, and you still didn't manage to connect it to Faris. Also, Smiley Face had a more recognizable lead than the first H+K, so it should have at least had a higher per-theater average, if not gross.

comment #8

Richardson says ...

"That was the only point you proved right"

It was the only point on which you gave me something to disprove. Everything else you say is fucking stupid shit that makes no sense.

"it should have at least had a higher per-theater average"

Like this. Not only does this not make sense on the face of it -- the comparison is just flat-out stupid -- but you're also wrong, in that 'Smiley Face' did make more per theater. 'Smiley Face' was out for 2 weeks and made $9397 in one theater. In the first two weeks, 'Harold and Kumar' made $6664 per theater.

So just SHUT THE FUCK UP with your stupid fucking shit.

comment #9

Richardson says ...

Just to recap for everybody who missed the previous conversation, DZ believes that 'The House Bunny' will be a financial failure because Anna Faris, far from being the up-and-coming star many of us believe, had her shot at comedic stardom with 'Smiley Face'. Since that movie failed, 'House Bunny' must surely also fail.

comment #10

George Prager says ...

8 HEADS IN A DUFFEL BAG made $3000 per theater so SHUT YOU MUGFUCKIN CUM CUNT FUCKHEADED TRAP YOU MOTHERFUCKING PIECE OF SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!

comment #11

alynch says ...

Also, Smiley Face had a more recognizable lead than the first H+K, so it should have at least had a higher per-theater average, if not gross.

Wow, every once in a while D.Z. says something of such absolute idiocy, that I am put in a state of awe. For example, he's citing per-theater average figures on a film that was released in theater. Amazing.

comment #12

Richardson says ...

"every once in a while D.Z. says something of such absolute idiocy, that I am put in a state of awe."

I really think he has seen people advance these arguments about other movies, and doesn't understand what the words mean or anything, but saw that they convinced somebody of something previously, so he just mouths them like a parrot.

comment #13

George Prager says ...

And I thought TROPIC THUNDER was going to bomb because THE JACKAL only made $54 mil.

comment #14

alynch says ...

In my previous post, that should be "in one theater," not "in theater."

comment #15

Richardson says ...

"Also, Smiley Face had a more recognizable lead"

DZ said this in the last argument and I have to point out, again, that he is the one who is arguing that Anna Faris is not a star.

comment #16

D.Z. says ...

Richardson: "'Smiley Face' was out for 2 weeks and made $9397 in one theater. In the first two weeks, 'Harold and Kumar' made $6664 per theater."

So what you're basically saying is that H+K kept a more consistent PTA than Smiley Face.

"Just to recap for everybody who missed the previous conversation, DZ believes that 'The House Bunny' will be a financial failure because Anna Faris, far from being the up-and-coming star many of us believe, had her shot at comedic stardom with 'Smiley Face'. Since that movie failed, 'House Bunny' must surely also fail."

It won't fail. It'll just keep her in Typecast Hell, even though it'll make money on DVD.

"DZ said this in the last argument and I have to point out, again, that he is the one who is arguing that Anna Faris is not a star."

Sorry, I meant, in theory, she should be more recognizable. Of course, even if she was recognizable, that doesn't make her a star, either. After all, people recognized Tom Green, too.

comment #17

Richardson says ...

"So what you're basically saying is that H+K kept a more consistent PTA than Smiley Face. "

Nope, but after the second week, Box Office mojo doesn't have daily stats anymore, because 'Harold and Kumar' dropped so fast. But, looking at the remaining gross after those two weeks, it's virtually impossible that 'Harold and Kumar' could've overtaken 'Smiley Face' in per theater grosses.

So even assuming that there was any sense in comparing the two -- and believe me, you're the only person that it makes sense to -- you're still fucking wrong.

I am so anxious to see how much more idiotic you're going to take this. I'm looking forward to seeing how much more you gloat, even though you're openly and publicly wrong.

comment #18

Richardson says ...

"It'll just keep her in Typecast Hell"

Yeah, imagine the hell of alternating between the highest-grossing R-rated comedy of all time and appearing in two movies nominated for Best Picture. One more success like this and she's likely to become the highest paid comedic actress in Hollywood. What hell!

comment #19

scooterzz says ...

re: anna faris being 'in typecast hell'
faris is execitive producer on 'hb'...she came up with the story and she commisioned lutz & smith to write the script.....
if she's 'typecast', it's by her own design....and, if it's hell then hell looks like a pretty good place......

comment #20

Richardson says ...

"did you ever write a buoyant article-review that reflected positively on a film that you knew in your heart of hearts was absolute plastic trash because you fell in love with the lead performance?"

Didn't pretty much every critic give a good review to 'Iron Man' this summer? I mean, listen, I liked 'Iron Man' fine, it was fun, but it was basically a second-rate by-the-numbers plastic superhero movie with a great lead performance that carried it completely.

comment #21

Chase Kahn says ...

How did THE ROCKER flop that badly? 2.7 million for the weekend finishing 13th!?!? That's crazy.

comment #22

Richardson says ...

Chase - even Jack Black has trouble opening Jack Black comedies nowadays, let alone Rainn Wilson trying to do it.

comment #23

Doug says ...

"The House Bunny" is a feel-good movie that's FUNNY! Most people will take that and be grateful. And Anna Faris does deserve awards consideration. The gushing is earned.

comment #24

Mr. Blood Vessel says ...

Chase Kahn [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

How did THE ROCKER flop that badly? 2.7 million for the weekend finishing 13th!?!? That's crazy.

well, no one really knows who Rainn Wilson is..unless you say "that nerdy guy from the office-dwight" and they say "he's in a movie?"

same thing happened with HOT ROD.
Who the hell knows who Andy Samberg is besides the few people who are avid followers.

The comedy scene is a lot more varied than it use to be.
In the past, someone like Bill Murrary could easily open a movie based on what he did on SNL because that's the only place really (besides radio) you would ever see him or anyone like him.
Today, there's endless outlets for comedy so anyone trying to get their name out is going to have a tougher time because it might get lost amid the clutter.
What I'm really wondering is what will happen to Jenna?
http://freejennanow.com/

comment #25

D.Z. says ...

Richardson: "But, looking at the remaining gross after those two weeks, it's virtually impossible that 'Harold and Kumar' could've overtaken 'Smiley Face' in per theater grosses."

Considering H+K remains consistent in PTA, while Smiley Face had a huge drop, I disagree.

"Yeah, imagine the hell of alternating between the highest-grossing R-rated comedy of all time and appearing in two movies nominated for Best Picture."

Only the first two in the series were rated R, and no one saw any of either type of film for her.

"One more success like this and she's likely to become the highest paid comedic actress in Hollywood. What hell!"

Yeah, she's a regular Amy Poehler and Molly Shannon.

scooter: "faris is execitive producer on 'hb'...she came up with the story and she commisioned lutz & smith to write the script.....
if she's 'typecast', it's by her own design....and, if it's hell then hell looks like a pretty good place......"

That's what they said about Eddie Murphy once, too.

Chase: The Rocker flopped, because it looked like a spin-off of That 70s Show, and because it suffered from the same in-joke humour which kept Spinal Tap and The Pick of Destiny from being major hits.

comment #26

Richardson says ...

"Considering H+K remains consistent in PTA, while Smiley Face had a huge drop, I disagree."

Fine, DZ, you're totally right, 'House Bunny' clearly has no shot of being a hit and will only gross $10 million total. What was I thinking arguing with a brilliant never-wrong prognosticator such as yourself.

"Only the first two in the series were rated R"

You say that as if it is somehow a point which counters the fact that the first one is or was the highest grossing R-rated comedy of all time. Don't just respond to everything, only respond where you have an actual point to make, it will save you time, and maybe you can use you malformed brain more efficiently and make a real point or two.

"That's what they said about Eddie Murphy once, too."

Now that's what I call a brilliantly thought out point!

"she's a regular Amy Poehler and Molly Shannon."

I was actually prepared to argue that Molly Shannon had literally never been in a popular movie until I saw that she was in 'Scary Movie 4'.

comment #27

alynch says ...

D.Z. believes that This is Spinal Tap is a film comparable with The Pick of Destiny. D.Z. believes that Amy Poehler's current career status is comparable with Molly Shannon's current career status.

Someone mind explaining why the fuck we ever even respond to this guy?

comment #28

D.Z. says ...

Richardson: "Fine, DZ, you're totally right, 'House Bunny' clearly has no shot of being a hit and will only gross $10 million total. "

I'm just saying Faris won't be a hit. And I didn't say it'll only gross $10 million, just that it was likely to do that number.

"You say that as if it is somehow a point which counters the fact that the first one is or was the highest grossing R-rated comedy of all time."

Actually, the highest grossing [I'm assuming unadjusted for inflation.] is Wedding Crashers. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/genres/chart/?id=r-ratedcomedy.htm

comment #29

Richardson says ...

Sometimes I go on a kick where his responses amuse me... I'll see one of those long posts and savor it like fine wine.

Like the two examples you picked. Brilliant. Flawless.

After a while, he starts to annoy the shit out of me. But that's fun to, because the only thing he'll never disagree about is when people call him an idiot. He's gotten used to people realizing he's an idiot.

comment #30

Richardson says ...

"I'm just saying Faris won't be a hit."

What does that even mean? You should try to keep track of what you're arguing, DZ; when it started out, you were disagreeing with the statement that this movie was going to be Faris's breakthrough "star making" role as far as Hollywood was concerned, and you said that it wouldn't, that she had her shot with 'Smiley Face'.

"And I didn't say it'll only gross $10 million, just that it was likely to do that number."

I'm sure there's a meaningless OCD distinction there that I'm not seeing; you predicted $10 million total "probably" "since people will end up seeing Death Race, Tropic Thunder, and TDK instead".

I'm just going to cut and paste some classic lines you wrote in that thread:

"Anna Faris had her chance with "Smiley Face". She's done."
"Faris is just gonna be forgotten like Jenny McCarthy."
""Smiley Face" was clearly banking on the "cult" audience for "Brick" and "Doom Generation", just as Sony is hoping people who saw Scary Movie and those other parodies will go for House Bunny."

He also said that Ang Lee and Sofia Coppola both cast Anna Faris only because they were on a budget and couldn't afford anybody better [which is weird, because you would think a no-talent actress who's had a bunch of mid level hits and one huge comedy franchise would be *more* expensive than a high-talent indie actress], but I can't find that quote.

comment #31

D.Z. says ...

Richardson: "But that's fun to, because the only thing he'll never disagree about is when people call him an idiot. He's gotten used to people realizing he's an idiot."

No, I've just gotten used to people who name-call, when they can't win an argument.

"What does that even mean?"

It means she'll never be associated with anything outside of a comedy where she plays a dumb blonde.

"You should try to keep track of what you're arguing, DZ; when it started out, you were disagreeing with the statement that this movie was going to be Faris's breakthrough "star making" role as far as Hollywood was concerned, and you said that it wouldn't, that she had her shot with 'Smiley Face'."

Yep.

"I'm sure there's a meaningless OCD distinction there that I'm not seeing; you predicted $10 million total "probably" "since people will end up seeing Death Race, Tropic Thunder, and TDK instead"."

I made an estimate, not a gross and profit ceiling. That's the difference.

"He also said that Ang Lee and Sofia Coppola both cast Anna Faris only because they were on a budget and couldn't afford anybody better [which is weird, because you would think a no-talent actress who's had a bunch of mid level hits and one huge comedy franchise would be *more* expensive than a high-talent indie actress]"

Given that she had nothing to do with the success of those comedies, it's not surprising she was cheap to hire.

comment #32

btwnproductions says ...

The much-disputed SMILEY FACE airs tomorrow on Showtime, 8:30pm EST.

comment #33

actionman says ...

Smiley Face is ONLY FUNNY for people who smoke daily.

comment #34

D.Z. says ...

action: It's also funny for people who like laughing at said individuals.

comment #35

scooterzz says ...

ok, dz...NOW YOU'VE GONE TOO FAR

comment #36

D.Z. says ...

Ok, I'll narrow it down to said individuals with a sense of entitlement.

comment #37

Richardson says ...

"I've just gotten used to people who name-call, when they can't win an argument."

It's impossible to win an argument against somebody who doesn't have the intellectual capacity to know that they are even making an argument, let alone winning it.