SPOILERS AHOY! --itsacoasterTim and Eric ended their Awesome Show after 5 seasons two years ago. I have swore by Tim and Eric since their viral days- before they even graced television with the classic Tom Goes To The Mayor. I have spread the good news of their comedy to friends and family alike. I have tirelessly defended them when those who didn't understand or appreciate their humor bad-mouthed them- calling their show juvenile or "ran-dumb" (which believe me- it was not). I drove hours on end to see their Awesome Tour. I supported them endlessly- buying dvds, posters, shirts- all they had to offer. I loved them.
Then
I built this film up to such impossible heights in anticipation that it is unlikely my self created standard could have ever been met- but their film didn't even graze middle-ground. I have always "gotten" their humor. I "got" it before they did it- in the days of Andy Kaufman's anti-comedy explorations- but to me there was really nothing to "get" in their feature film debut. They played around with mainstream comedy conventions of the 2000's- Bromance, male debauchery, shock humor, and gross-out gags- but their delivery was so lackluster that the result came close to being of the level of the filth they were poking fun at. Discussing the plot really isn't necessary as the plot provides nothing for the film. The side characters added nothing worthwhile to the effort. John C. Reily's character wasn't funny. Sorry, but Taquito just doesn't match the absurdist, whimsical, philosophizing of the classic Dr Steve Brule. Will Forte became an endless one-note red-faced malicious scream; Will Ferrel spewed his usual "average guy that starts yelling about minor mishap" shtick that he's done since SNL (shudder), and Zach Galifinakis' act seems to have run it's course. (Though T&E used him great in Just 3 Boyz & the Absolut Vodka advertisements). Even the Awesome Show regulars did little to help the sinking ship - seeming self aware to the point of no longer being unintentionally funny but rather being desperate for a laugh and acceptance. Robert Loggia's character was perhaps the worst part of the film, not even remotely funny. Every scene with him and the 'bad guys' was pure torture.
"Plot Points" go no where, like rehabilitating a mall ( which never happens- although a commercial airs for the grand re-opening?), a man eating wolf (that shows up once and dies in that very scene), Tim's new son Jeffery (which is nothing more than an attempt at injecting their patented "dad humor" into the mix- he gets oggled by Tim in a mildly pedophilic manner and is shot by machine guns in mid air after being stolen from his father, a used toilet paper salesman- as boringly unfunny as it sounds), a love interest of Eric's (Tim seduces her, Eric gives her a ring and then she gets shot and dragged outside and shot some more), earning the billion dollars (they don't get the money or seem to care if they do and the Shlaaang corporation doesn't even want the money in the first place- they just want to brutally murder our beloved duo). The constant anti climax isn't approached from the side of anti-humor but rather from a poorly written string of events. Elder abuse, boys going diarrhea on Eric in a bathtub, hammer' getting pierced, Tim having surprisingly unamusing "graphic sex", fake tans and teeth, and drug use are explored- none achieving laughter, uncomfortabilty, or any feeling other than a sinking heart at realizing how far these two have fallen from comedic grace.
See, in this film, Tim and Eric have become parodies of themselves. Their classic editing style is used frequently- each time seen from a mile away- to the point of being no longer funny but a distraction. Now that they have free reign to swear the two (especially Eric) take the easy improvisational route and cuss needlessly. Their cheesy fight scenes often used in the show are recycled to yawn inducing effect. At a certain point i wondered, "Are Tim and Eric not funny?" The truth is they do best when playing actual characters. Their personas in the film are hollow, sarcastic, and clueless. It can work for eleven minutes but stretching such empty characters to ninety minutes is futile. Jokes from the show such as celebrity look-alikes, and Kent "me-me wants a tan" taking out his dentures are recycled soul-lessly as if this movie wasn't made for the long time loyal fans, but for the johnny-come-lately's who claim to "get" and love T&E while simultaneously calling it "random" and "stoner comedy" (which it never was- if anything it constantly made fun of that ill informed notion of the masses). They took out the substance and left style. Rather than playing with clichés they inadvertently embraced them. And any attempt at pseudo-satire greatly missed the mark. Thus, the great balance and intertwining of high brow and low brow dissolved- leaving no brow.
When it boils down to it Tim and Eric were making this for their own amusement because thats how they've approached everything they've created - which is a sound approach. That is why I feel let down. How can a duo who i once deemed "comedy geniuses" find this funny?
All in all this film was a slap in the face- but loyal fans should find out for themselves. I was reluctant to write a review because i was always the one getting upset at those that denounced their work. But then i realized a loyal fan expects more than this from Tim and Eric- and won't accept or applaud anything less than deserved. I hope it was just a skid mark on their career and not a permanent stain.
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