There is a stereotype about critics that we are sticks in the mud. We want our movies artsy and full of important messages, and we look down our noses on movies that are nothing but pure fun. Well, I have to admit that with National Lampoon's Dirty Movie, I looked at the front cover, sighed to myself, and thought, “I know this movie is going to be terrible.” Now, I wasn't completely wrong. National Lampoon's Dirty Movie is not a good movie. It isn't a particularly good comedy either. Actually, most of the jokes in this movie are extremely offensive, but I am shocked at how much this movie made me laugh. So far, National Lampoon's Dirty Movie is the biggest surprise of 2011 for me.
Charlie LaRue (Christopher Meloni) has a lifelong dream from back from his days as a misbehaving potty-mouthed boy at Catholic school. He wants to make a film made entirely of jokes. Racist jokes, sexist jokes, religious jokes, fart jokes, and every other kind he can think of are going in the film, just so long as they are dirty and hilarious. If he can find an excuse to get some naked chicks in the film too, he will be living the dream. The studio CEO (Robert Klein) is completely behind the film, but the director (Mario Cantone) is so afraid of offending people that he vetoes most of the jokes and butts heads with the writer (John Lavelle) constantly over dead baby jokes.
The plot is pretty much non-existent here, but a comedy like Dirty Movie lives or dies by its jokes, not by its story. Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer have tried a similar formula with Epic Movie and Meet the Spartans, and while they made a lot of money, they failed miserably at entertaining me for five minutes, much less ninety minutes. Dirty Movie actually shows that the formula of rapid-fire jokes tied together with a loose plot can work. I never got bored, and the only time I glanced at my watch was during a scene involving old people farting. Some people must get a laugh out of old people farting as evidenced by The Nutty Professor 2 and anything recent starring Mike Myers, but I don't get it.
My only warning to people thinking about picking up Dirty Movie is that this movie lives up to its name, and their jokes are equal opportunity. No person or people group is off-limits, so if you are easily offended, stay away. Then again, if you are easily offended and picking up a movie called Dirty Movie, then I can't really help you.
SPECIAL FEATURES
The DVD includes some more jokes that didn't make the cut, cast interviews, and theatrical trailers for other releases from Lionsgate.
"National Lampoon's Dirty Movie" is on sale February 15, 2011 and is rated R. Comedy. Directed by Christopher Meloni, Jerry Daigle. Written by Alan Donnes, Tanner Colby. Starring Adam Ferrara, Christopher Meloni, Cyndi Lauper, John Lavelle, Mario Cantone, Robert Klein.
