Further Media Ponderings

Recently, I caught on television the tail ends of two movies that impressed me. It's difficult to discuss the merits of these movies with many folks because both movies exist behind a sophomoric facade.



Here, I shall explain what I think many people entirely miss about National Lampoon's Van Wilder and 50 First Dates.



I've been a huge fan of Van Wilder for a few years, and this may have something to do with watching the sanitized version aired on Comedy Central. The gross-out humor certainly isn't necessary to facilitate my enjoyment. Furthermore, it likely takes away from what lies at the heart of the film.



Van Wilder is ultimately a coming-of-age story. Rather than using some metaphoric vehicle such as football or a globe-spanning quest (both of which are quite good) the main character struggles, grows, and overcomes his demons through introspection and social support systems. The result is a refreshingly honest story about a man learning how to grow up. I think that maybe gets lost in the dick jokes, though.



50 First Dates is also a sneaky sort of movie. Adam Sandler is known for getting hit with a bat and shouting a lot, generally making a fool of himself. That dynamic is not absent from Dates, but it is icing on a much more substantial cake. Sandler's character demonstrates immense commitment and profound self-sacrificing love, but he doesn't get whiney or burdened by it. He eagerly puts himself through a titanic degree of effort and struggle simply to be with the woman he loves. Love, compromise, and self-sacrifice are to be treasured in this story, not simply tolerated. Naturally, there are some just plain sweet moments of sappy romanticism; for example, Sandler has one of the best lines in recent Romantic Comedy:

"You thought you were holding me back from having a full and happy life. But you made a mistake. Being with you is the only way I could have a full and happy life."

Come on! That's freakin' sweet! And I mean sweet in the "aww, puppy dogs" way, not the "dude I just pwnzored that noob in Halo" way.

These movies, with their sophomoric approaches to compelling dramatic content, are indicative of a bizarre trend, which can be interpreted in two opposing directions. Either the standard of sophistication the common movie viewer demands is on a downward slide OR filmmakers are attempting to broaden the appeal of their projects to grab the frat-boy demographic.

One way or another, I think it's important that we take a moment to consider all the angles of our entertainment. There's typically more than meets the eye. Ironically, Transformers was little more than a cheap action flick. Whatevs. :-p

Out.