Idiocracy
I just don't get Fox.
I mean, here we have a television network that has presented a long list of great shows,
including The X-Files, The Simpsons, 24, and House. Furthermore, 20th Century Fox has
produced classic, edgy films, such as Fight Club, Borat, Super Troopers and -- Mike Judge's
first movie -- Office Space. And that's what makes what Fox did to Mike Judge's second film,
Idiocracy, so hard to swallow: they shit-canned it in a brutal and dumfounding manner. No
publicity. No advances screenings - just a theatrical release in like four theaters,
nationwide, for about ten minutes. I'm pretty sure that the one guy who went and saw it just
barely made it through the previews before the lights came back on. I'm even amazed that
the DVD has a picture on it. With the level of negafare (that's the opposite of fanfare)
surrounding the flick, one would expect it to be on a VHS tape in a brown paper bag bearing
the text 'Safeway.'
Perhaps that's an exaggeration, but, then again, perhaps it isn't. Still not convinced? Check
this out. It seems pretty evident that Fox didn't want America to see this movie, which is
frankly retarded. Idiocracy is hysterical. If you liked Office Space -- in other words, if you
have a sense of humor -- then you'll agree: it's great. It's spot-on in its message and perfect
in execution.
One can only speculate as to why Idiocracy was kicked to the curb like kitten in a housing
project. But I suspect that it had something to do with Judge's brutal treatment of American
culture and comparisons with the controversial theory of dysgenics. Or, it could be because
Judge bones the holy crap out of several major, popular, powerful corporations and Fox
feared a major, ass-raping, powerful lawsuit in return. That's just a theory though. And,
seeing as Fox financed Borat, a movie that succeeded despite all rational thought, in which
the star actually gets arrested for his antics during its production, I just don't know what to
believe.
But life isn't fair. Great shows are canceled all the time, shows like The Job, Lucky,
Futurama and Cop Rock. Okay, not that last one. Wonderful movies are quickly forgotten,
only to become cult hits that make a lasting mark on popular culture and seep into our
collective conscious, movies like Office Space. And thank God for that.
Actually, thank Mike Judge.
I just don't get Fox.
I mean, here we have a television network that has presented a long list of great shows,
including The X-Files, The Simpsons, 24, and House. Furthermore, 20th Century Fox has
produced classic, edgy films, such as Fight Club, Borat, Super Troopers and -- Mike Judge's
first movie -- Office Space. And that's what makes what Fox did to Mike Judge's second film,
Idiocracy, so hard to swallow: they shit-canned it in a brutal and dumfounding manner. No
publicity. No advances screenings - just a theatrical release in like four theaters,
nationwide, for about ten minutes. I'm pretty sure that the one guy who went and saw it just
barely made it through the previews before the lights came back on. I'm even amazed that
the DVD has a picture on it. With the level of negafare (that's the opposite of fanfare)
surrounding the flick, one would expect it to be on a VHS tape in a brown paper bag bearing
the text 'Safeway.'
Perhaps that's an exaggeration, but, then again, perhaps it isn't. Still not convinced? Check
this out. It seems pretty evident that Fox didn't want America to see this movie, which is
frankly retarded. Idiocracy is hysterical. If you liked Office Space -- in other words, if you
have a sense of humor -- then you'll agree: it's great. It's spot-on in its message and perfect
in execution.
One can only speculate as to why Idiocracy was kicked to the curb like kitten in a housing
project. But I suspect that it had something to do with Judge's brutal treatment of American
culture and comparisons with the controversial theory of dysgenics. Or, it could be because
Judge bones the holy crap out of several major, popular, powerful corporations and Fox
feared a major, ass-raping, powerful lawsuit in return. That's just a theory though. And,
seeing as Fox financed Borat, a movie that succeeded despite all rational thought, in which
the star actually gets arrested for his antics during its production, I just don't know what to
believe.
But life isn't fair. Great shows are canceled all the time, shows like The Job, Lucky,
Futurama and Cop Rock. Okay, not that last one. Wonderful movies are quickly forgotten,
only to become cult hits that make a lasting mark on popular culture and seep into our
collective conscious, movies like Office Space. And thank God for that.
Actually, thank Mike Judge.
