utter comedy

the best comedy comes from real life. truth is stranger (and funnier) than fiction. one of my favorite comedies right now is a poorly made low budget movie that's so bad it crosses the line into humorous. it's a movie that was originally put out in 2003. It's called "The Room" (the title has nothing to do with the movie) and it's the brainchild of a European immigrant named Tommy Wiseau who apparently loved american cinema so much that he spent $7 million of his own money to produce this film which he wrote, directed and starred in. and here's the thing - it's utterly horrible. bad writing, bad directing, bad editing - everything about it is horrible. so horrible, that it's funny to marvel at the fact that it was ever made in the first place. anybody can cobble together a CD in a home studio. but a full fledged movie takes crews, actors, producers, directors, catering, city permits, etc. how did everyone involved work on it with a straight face? the trailer is hilarious. here it is:

i especially love how they say it's the "best movie of the year" with a straight face. i mean, isn't that a joke from talladega nights?

Ricky Bobby: wow, i feel like i'm in highlander

Jean Girard: what is a highlander?

Ricky Bobby: it's a movie. it won the academy award

Jean Girard: oh for what?

Ricky Bobby: best movie ever made

the movie has garnered cult film status as they periodically have midnight showings around the country. apparently there was recently one here in nashville at the belcourt theater, but i missed it. what's even funnier is that the guy is now trying to say that he meant it to be so bad it's funny all along. he calls it a black comedy. so we're supposed to believe his movie is the kind of comedic genius that's on par with wes anderson? hmmm...sorry bud.

anyway, i managed to get a copy of the movie. don't see it. it's got boobies in it and a bunch of awkward sex scenes. just go to youtube. all the funny scenes are there without having to wait through that acting that's just bad and not funny at all.

oh, and here's a homework assignment for you all. usually the disclaimer is for kids not to try this at home. but i definitely recommend trying this:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

the next time you're at a birthday party or some event where you need to sing happy birthday with a group of people, have some fun with it. whenever it's time to sing the birthday song, there's always an akward start because no one wants to be the first one to start singing. there's always someone who courageously blazes a trail and the rest follow. well, whenever i'm around, i like to be that someone. except my motives are more devious. you see, the happy birthday melody starts a full octave below the high note. if you choose a starting note that is fairly high, then that means the high note will be a full octave above that and as your voice fades into the background, you enjoy the hilariosity (i know it's not a word) as people awkwardly try to hit the high note. i mean, the average person already feels a little weird singing in front of others, let alone trying to hit an uncomfortably high note.

ok, i just re-read this whole blog and it really sounds like i have a seriously sadistic sense of humor. i promise i don't always laugh at the misfortune of others. i'm not that big of a jerk. oh, and speaking of dark comedies, i found out a friend of mine has never seen a wes anderson movie. if any of you haven't yet, go see bottle rocket, rushmore or the royal tennenbaums. ok thats all i have for now. i wish i had a funny last line to leave you with, but sometimes the witty endings just don't show up. even in a blog about comedy. how ironic.