Hey folks, Harry here... I find it really kind of sad that this weekend GOLDMEMBER, which was hilarious at moments - but mainly amusing, is going down as the most successful comedy opening in film history - and the very same company is holding, sitting and has locked up one of the most genuinely hilariously brilliant laugh riots in a damn long time in their vault. A film filled with non-tired humor. SHOCK, GASP, GARGLE! And yet, it sits there in its solitary confinement cell bouncing it's crushed can of beer against the wall, awaiting that glorious day of freedom, where the world will be able to rejoice and sing, "Just another kick in the CUNT!" in happy unison.... Families gathering to Can-Can to it. Ahhhh, what a day that'll be... Here's some money New Line lost in their stalling process...
Hi Harry...
Long time listener, first time caller...
I'm not exactly sure why I felt compelled to write to you after having just seen Run Ronnie Run (the Mr. Show movie.) Possibly to assuage some of my guilt, possibly out of sheer frustration, who knows.
Here's the deal, I've been a Mr Show fan since day one on HBO. I discovered it quite by accident one day, and since I was already a fan of Bob Odenkirk and David Cross from their days performing and writing on The Ben Stiller Show, I was instantly intrigued. And I was pleased with what I saw.
Here was a comedy show that it was truly fair to call revolutionary. It was smart, without being pretentious. It was witty, without being self serving. It was topical, without resorting to cheap satire. The show and the performers had an air of confidence about them that only comes from truly enjoying what you are doing. For four years it was a breath of fresh air, and a hoot to watch. Then it was snatched away from us.
Ah, but a movie is in the works. Then the movie was completed. Then an opening date was set. Then that, too, was taken from us.
So after I finished watching my bootleg copy of Run Ronnie Run today, why are my feelings so mixed? It certainly wasn't the movie. The movie is pure genius. Naturally I can't have an objective opinion about this, but I can truly say, without hyperbole, that this is perhaps the best movie ever made in the entire recorded history of civilization. Like I said, though, I'm biased.
Bob, David, the writing crew and director Troy Miller have managed to take the joy of a 30 minute Mr. Show episode and put it on the big screen. The movie is completely accessible for the non-fan, as well—perhaps even geared more toward the non or casual Mr. Show fan than the hardcores. The shout outs to the hardcores are mostly in the form of references or lines lifted directly from the show that don't really affect the story for "outsiders."
And the structure of the movie, that weaves tangential vignettes into the narrative, is just a treat. It's put together in a way as not to be distracting from from the overall narrative, but it allows for some stellar and funny moments that really don't have a damn thing to do with the movie to be included.
Anyway, I bought this bootleg and my wife and I watched the movie and laughed until we cried. It was really like having dinner with old, dear friends, except these friends are so funny that you occasionally urinate on yourself during the meal.
Now I feel terrible because I enjoyed the fruits of their labor and Bob and David won't see a dime of my money. It's a damn shame that New Line is sitting on this movie. Sure it probably won't rake in Austin Powers-esque money, but whatever happened to trusting the public to recognize intelligent entertainment. Even if that intelligence is being expressed through a mulleted hillbilly.
Damn it, New Line, either release this movie or hand the rights over to Bob and David and let them do something with it. Sitting on it any longer is cheating the public.
As for me, I think I'll just write Bob and David a check for $14 to cover my wife and me. They deserve it.
Thanks for listening
J.G.
