I finally saw A Dog's Breakfast.

[icarus]

I finally saw A Dog's Breakfast.

Anybody wanna buy a DVD? Only partially used?

Yes, that's right. About halfway through the movie wildernessguru started complaining, "This is really bad."

I said, "Wait. Hang on. People have said it's funny."

Ten minutes later... "This is really bad."

"I'm bored," I admitted. And cringed, trying to explain. "I find have no sympathy for these characters."

He said, generously, "Every actor is in a bad movie from time to time. He [David Hewlett] was really good in serious movies. Like that one where he was in a tree."

"Treed Murray."

"Yeah. That was great." (He doesn't know ADB was written and directed by DH.)

I said, not as generously given DH wrote this, "The writing was better in that one. Here, the characters have been written deliberately weird, and I find I don't care about any of them."

We got as far as the scene where the DH's character was in the basement, chastising the dog. Then we clicked it off.

I thought the camera work was self-conscious but good (my favorite shot was how it kept returning to that ugly brown house -- I don't know why that cracked me up). Definitely this movie is a director's "toy."

The acting was okay, not brilliant, definitely a bunch of people throwing something together on their weekend and not trying hard. DH oversells his role. Paul McGillion was okay, I couldn't see much difference between his role here and Doctor Beckett. Kate I really liked, she played it lightly but there was a richness to her delivery that was just a little bit serious, like she was weary of her brother's antics. But then the script was just mean to DH's character, cutting away any empathy I'd have for any of them.

The score was professional, well-timed, not overbearing, fit the subject well -- the sound mixing expert.

The problem is the script. It's very common to make one of three mistakes in ones first original character "creations":

1) A Mary Sue, self-insert.
2) A bland Everyman.
3) A character overloaded with quirks (usually done to avoid the first two).

David went through door number three.

The pacing in the beginning was slow, wallowing in the main character's OCD. Without a spoiler or two you didn't get a feeling for where the story was headed until late. There wasn't a good hook. The dialogue had snap and all the actors had good comic timing. But it kept coming back to, wow, I don't care about these people. I keep feeling like we needed some explanation of what was going on with DH's character, or we needed to start somewhere we could empathize -- like with Kate, chivvying her fiance out the door, trying to explain her brother and not being able to.

Then, the plot, well. I'll finish the movie sometime before I make a final statement about the plot. But as far as I got, I kept thinking, "I've seen this before. This is a live action version of a Road Runner cartoon and DH's character is Wile E. Coyote -- with less arrogance and more mental disorders."

wildernessguru's summation is simpler. "It was stupid. DH was constantly sweating and running around like a chicken with its head cut off, taking everything seriously. It's been done to death. A joint and being half-drunk wouldn't make it funny."

Comments

[lavvyan.livejournal.com]

Not trying to appear stupid, but: what's OCD?

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

You know what? I had to look up exactly what the letters stood for: it's Obsessive-compulsive Disorder. When the DH character split all the Fruit Loops into separate colors that was classic OCD behavior.

Icarus

[iibnf.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen it, mostly because I think I'd have a similar reaction. I really cringe at embarrassment humour.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Hmm. It could be I just didn't like the type of humor. Though... I like embarrassment stories in fiction. I certainly write them enough (especially starring Percy).

Icarus

[moxie-brown.livejournal.com]

I'm not going to see the movie either; DH's humor isn't my type of humor at all. But I think he's a great business man and awesome at promotion. He needs to hook up with some indie writers/directors and stay in front of the camera while he learns more about behind the camera intricacies.

Also, Treed Murray was really good.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Based on my limited knowledge of directing, I think he did all right at it. It's the writing he needs to stay away from.

Hey. Maybe Joe Flanigan can write his next movie. *g*

Icarus

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I ran it past WG -- he loved Steve Martin's "The Jerk," which is classic embarrassment humor, So for him it wasn't the humor. It just wasn't funny.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_inbetween_/]

*skimmed your post, won't be spoilered because might have a mostly broken copy to watch later on*
Hah. ARgh. It was meant to be like Fish Called Wanda or I Hired a Contract Killer. I guess I've seen too many movies in the past, but I was meaning to give him the benefit of doubt, despite my huge reservations due to his overbearing (and annoyingly fake IMO) marketing campaign *sigh*

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

There are no spoilers for the plot in here, never fear. I would have cut-tagged if there were.

His marketing campaign started more real than it has become. I'm appreciating Joe Mallozzi's blog more. At least it's his personality and viewpoint. David seems... edited.

Icarus

[enname.livejournal.com]

I have Indian arthouse waiting for me, so I think I will pass. Whilst I can take Roadrunner in short fits and bursts having to see it sustained over an entire film would be a bit much. Nice to read a review though that is not full of squeeing that hurts my eyes, no matter how I might enjoy the bizarre image that would give me of you and WG.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Yes. That would be weird. We only squee over Monty kitty -- but he's a very cute cat. You know how the snugglers are.

I expected to like this movie. I like Indie films. I like Hewlett. I like comedies. I like low-budget flicks that don't take themselves very seriously (for example, I loved Death Race 2000 with David Carradine which we watched instead -- it had a scoring system for running over pedestrians, and eventually they ran over the president). I'm rather taken aback that I couldn't even finish ADB.

Icarus

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

1) A Mary Sue, self-insert.
2) A bland Everyman.
3) A character overloaded with quirks (usually done to avoid the first two).


Brilliant. How you nail it. Hah.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I'm speaking from experience. I've done all three. The trick is to let the characters come alive and grow themselves.

Icarus

[teaphile.livejournal.com]

Judging by the ads, I think I'd feel the same way. I don't much like Hewlett's sense of humour when he's being himself, let alone writing himself as a whipping boy.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I watched the rest of it, and the main problems were with his character development and plot resolution.

DH doesn't try to make his main character likeable until very late (he's too busy making him "quirky") so there's this scene thrown into the middle of the film, tell-not-show, where his sister just says that he used to be protective of her. It's weak, and it's too late. There was a glimmer of understanding, I think, that the characters weren't likeable, so these few lines were thrown in.

Then the whole thing resolves so [i]easily[/i]. No matter how bad things get, all is sunshine and roses at the end. It doesn't make emotional sense.

I think DH needs a lot of work as a writer, though I liked his work as a director. It was fun having the main action off in the corner, and his ultra-tight shots were amusing, too.

[wyomingnot.livejournal.com]

...trade you a pair of wee chevron socks for the dvd...

(Really. I've got spare yarn)

I just watched it yesterday. I liked it. I got it through Netflix. No, I'm not rushing out to buy it, but I might want to see it again.

What can I say? I'm easily amused.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I would love to trade this for a pair of chevron socks! Email me your address at icarus_ancalion at yahoo, and I'll give you my sock size (the standard women's size 9-11 socks don't fit, I have to wear 7-8, but hey, it saves yarn).

*is delighted*

Icarus

[fractalreality.livejournal.com]

I liked it. But then, I grew up watching that type of humour every weekend on TV; it is a very British thing, veering more towards Pink Panther I think than A Fish Called Wanda.

What cracked me up was the silence - I know that sounds weird, but waiting for something funny to happen is always funnier than the actual event, and it did have that PP build-up. Clever, humourous wide-shots too, with random people in the background being more amusing than those in the foreground (a particular fave of mine).

Saying that, it's nice to see some opinions of it that aren't all in complete praise of it; film studies grad in me likes to analyse the difference in opinions.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

No, no, no. Peter Sellers is brilliant. I love the Pink Panther.

ADB is not brilliant, it is boring.

[tonicollins.livejournal.com]

Labeling DH's character with OCD is going pretty far over the top. The cereal separating in and of itself does not indicate OCD and there were no other instances of that behavior. True suffers of OCD have no choice but to do their repetitive rituals.

[feanna.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen the movie and I don't know a lot about OCDs, but I know that in an interview DH said that the character was meant to be OC. He also jokingly accused his wife of beeing OC and I got the feeling that he didn't really know a lot about the topic, but if it's a mislable it comes from the person who wrote the character.

[coquettemoves.livejournal.com]

I totally agree -- although I felt like even the delivery was off sometimes. Lots of weird pauses, and everyone leaving mac truck-sized gaps between setup and punch line. My favorite part was actually the little snippets of Starcrossed, which was 1000% funnier.

We all turned it off about halfway through, and that's because we realized it was actually ruining our evening of boozing and we weren't even enjoying our wine anymore.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

wildernessguru agrees with you about the delivery being off. I felt it was being played deliberately broad and the odd timing worked with the camera work.

The Starcrossed snippets made me howl. I just started chortling, red-faced, face in my hands. "My golden stranger" -- oh God, I'm dying.

I'll finish it at some point. WG was philosophical about the movie, with an "every actor is in a dud sometime" attitude... until he learned DH wrote and directed it. After that he started killing the movie.

I'm still cracking up. I mean, I don't think anyone will admit if it's a dog (so to speak) because so many have invested so much into it, sight unseen. But hell, I'll support a new indie director on principle, even if I don't like his work.

Maybe Joe can write the next script.

Icarus

[raveninthewind.livejournal.com]

I am seeing this next Friday; will let you know what I think.

*is trepidatious*

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

*waits with an amused grin*

I'll try to finish it before I trade the DVD for a pair of socks. *g*

[bruinsfan.livejournal.com]

In a sense I'm relieved to hear that it's bad, as I'd watched a preview and thought "that looks awful" amid squeeing from fans at advanced screenings who apparently thought it was the best movie ever. So, not just me.

I like Hewlett, but I think his contingent of fangirls is on the verge of crossing into Spikefen divorce-from-reality territory. I've been reading comments all weekend that gush about how sexy he is in MGM promotional photos that look to me like the poor guy's fighting not to upchuck in front of the photographer.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

LOL! wildernessguru has decided he likes you, reading over my shoulder.

I think the fangirls have just invested so much into this movie sight unseen that they can't afford to not like it. It's like your best friend's ugly baby. You so can't say it, and probably won't even notice it because, hey, your best friend had a baby.

I've been reading comments all weekend that gush about how sexy he is in MGM promotional photos that look to me like the poor guy's fighting not to upchuck in front of the photographer.

Um. He was sexy in Century Hotel -- weirdly moreso with the kiss than in the nude scene. And there are times where that smile is very, very cute. But I now want to see these sexy photos. *grins*

Joe Flanigan on the other hand... *fans self*

Icarus

[rike-tikki-tavi.livejournal.com]

You traitor. You didn't like the movie of Saint Hewlett. ... Bwhahaha!

His way over the top marketing campaign actually turned me off seeking out the movie to watch. I get that he has to sell it, but sheesh.

And now I'm gonna watch a bit of Wanda. Because that is a great movie.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I know! I should be ashamed of myself. I'm a bad fangirl. *hangs head* *turns in the fangirl badge at the door*

I've been fully in support of the movie and his marketing campaign. Been one of the squirrels, posted on Digg.com and whatnot. But that was sight unseen. Now, I'll support his future Indie director efforts on principle, but this movie? Nuh-uh.

[saurius78.livejournal.com]

I bought the movie as soon as I could. When it arrived in the mail I was really afraid to watch it, fearful that I would hate it after a year-long build up.
I must admit that there were times that it bored me a bit. I actually got up and did stuff while the movie was playing instead of sitting still like I usually do. I did finish the movie. After seeing it all the way through I liked it better than I did at the beginning. For me it's a movie that you have to sit through until the end to really get it.

The next day I sat down and rewatched it with my husband. I was interested to see what his opinion would be. He actually enjoyed the movie more than I did the first time through. The second viewing for me was better partly because I had someone to share it with. I think that if I had been able to watch the movie at a screening I would have truly loved it just because you're not just reacting to the movie, but also to other's reactions.

Moulin Rouge was a movie I turned off after the first 15 minutes and then later went back and watched all the way through. It is now one of my favorite movies. Sometimes the setting or my mood just isn't right for the first time view of certain movies. Who knows perhaps once you try to finish the movie you may like it...or perhaps not. Either way I found your ideas on the movie interesting.

I don't see ADB as becoming a favorite of mine, but I don't mind owning it and will probably watch it again sometime.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I plan to try to finish the movie, just because I've put so much energy into it. Then... I'll trade it for a pair of socks. :D

Icarus

[aizjanika.livejournal.com]

"I've seen this before. This is a live action version of a Road Runner cartoon and DH's character is Wile E. Coyote -- with less arrogance and more mental disorders."

:::giggle:::

I really enjoyed reading your review. I haven't read any so detailed, so I'm not quite sure what others on my flist thought of it, because I don't remember. I still intend to watch it eventually, though.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Every review I've read could be summed up "Eeeee! I loved it! It was so great!! Eeeee!" I guess I should've been suspicious of the hype. We-the-fangirls have invested so much into it sight unseen that there's no way we're going to admit it isn't wonderful.

Ah, well. *laughs*

Icarus

[retrofit88.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the honest review. Maybe I'd've put it in my Netflix queue, but now I may not even bother with that...

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Apparently he flashes the camera in one of the extra cut scenes (in which it is revealed he is, in fact, uncut) so that is worthy of a NetFlix rental at the very least.

Icarus

I get way off-track...

[lttledvl.livejournal.com]

Here is a fangirl that will admit to being not-so-much-fangirl anymore. I liked the idea and the premise behind the film when DH was first talking about it but once all the hoopla and the mad screaming fangirls rushed in, I dived out.

That's not to say that I can't squee over an actor or photos (you say sexy JF pics are where? *g*) but I'm not blind or ignorant enough to think a film or tv show is good just becuase of who's in it.

Honestly, *looks around warily for the screaming mad fangirls in case they go berserk at next statement* I was not pawning nor salivating over buying the DVD. What sacrilige! I thought the toothbrushing clip was funny, but the more trailers that came out, I began to think, that perhaps, it may not be all that funny after all. *shrugs*

*is a bad squirrel* Hell, I'm a bad fangirl, period. I went to DragonCon, and breifly met Paul McGillion and Corin Nemic. Guess what happened? Nothing. Nada. Zip. I was like "Hi, how's it going? Cool." That was about it. Didn't get all worked up or hot and bothered. Hell, I didn't even bother to get an autograph. I mean seriously, what would I do with it? Whoopy-do-dah.

Yah, it takes a lot of guts to work as an actor (what with the public and fangirls - yeesh, there was a fangirl chattering away at poor Paul the whole time I was there and I was ready to smack her!) and I respect them for that, but otherwise...meh.

Now if I ever meet Johnny Depp, all bets are off. *g*

Re: I get way off-track...

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I'm still follow the ADB site (mostly because I like the bits of voyeurism ;) but I think that this movie -- thrown together as it was over their break -- shows the seams of how it was made. It has flaws and it's been over-hyped.

The directing is good. The acting is uneven in places but they're all good actors. The script is problematic and needed more work before it was made into a movie. I think it needs the fundamental question answered: why does Patrick not want his sister to get married? Not just "he was afraid she was going to be murdered" and Patrick's general fear of change -- why did he have such a stake in it?

I have a feeling that something simple like an opening scene that describes, say, his sister as Patrick's only connection with the outside world, or somehow showing her importance to him, would have solved a lot.

I promoted ADB partially out of fangirlness, but as my fangirlness waned (I can't say much about a movie sight unseen), out of a wish to promote Indie movies in general -- successful or not. Also, I'd like to see David be able to move from acting into a new role in film-making. He has a face that will likely have a long shelf-life, but you can't act forever.

Icarus