Julian RuncanIdiocracy: I'm Scared Stupid
April 9th 2010 09:22
I can understand why Idiocracy didn't get a wide release. The movie is weird, kind of depressing, and to be perfectly frank does nothing but ridicule everything mainstream audiences have come to worship. It's both funny and terrifying, which is probably the most complimentary way you can describe a satire, but at times feels just short of greatness.
The performances were all-around average with some exceptional deliveries here and there, especially by Luke Wilson who is a great fit in the lead. The effects left much to be desired, and even though this wasn't the focus of the film, it was still distracting at times. Certain parts of the plot could have been handled in a smoother manner, but that can happen when the entire movie is as preachy as this one is. In the end though, the concept of Idiocracy is strong enough to forgive most of these minor gripes.
What really stands out about the film is that the future it depicts, while incredibly stupid, seems more plausible than the flying cars and British accents we're used to seeing. Mike Judge, especially in King of the Hill and Office Space, has always been great at holding up a mirror and showing us how silly our daily lives have become. Idiocracy takes this impulse and runs with it, coming off a little heavy-handed at times, but only because it feels like a genuine plea to prevent humanity from continuing down its current path.
The movie should be seen my everyone, if only to make more people aware that it exists. Idiocracy is carried by the strength of its concept, and although it doesn't have that charm that made Office Space such a sensation, the message is much deeper and far more important.
7.5/10
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Comment by ShaunK
Screen Adventure
I really hated myself for watching this film - it was as stupid as the stupidity it was portraying, yet I saw it through to the end - go figure.
A small attempt at social commentary doesn't mean a film has something worthwhile to say, especially when it's this dumbed down.