Also Hated ‘My Super-Ex Girlfriend’ & Was Glad It Bombed
While critics and audiences pretty much agreed that Jody Hill‘s “Observe and Report” was an unfunny misfire, perhaps the lasting “legacy” of the movie was the very uncomfortable sex scene between Ronnie (Seth Rogen) and Brandi (Anna Faris). If you haven’t seen the film, the sequence finds Ronnie, a security guard at a mall taking Brandi, a salesgirl out on a date. After more than a few drinks, shots and even a handful of pills, Brandi and Ronnie return to his place and she is very clearly sick and intoxicated, vomiting before they even get in the door. Cut to the bedroom where Ronnie is having sex with Brandi, pausing when he notices she’s passed out — followed quickly by the punchline, with Brandi saying: “Why are you stopping, motherfucker?” (you can watch the scene here). It’s a pretty divisive moment in an already fairly black comedy and at the time, some likened the scene to date rape, with others defending the sequence in the name of comedy or weakly offering that Brandi gave her consent.
But the scene still dogs Faris to some degree and in a recent profile in the New Yorker the actress reveals that had circumstances been slightly different she probably would never have done the scene at all. “I probably wouldn’t have done it then if ‘The House Bunny‘ had been out,” Faris said to the magazine. “That movie put a different stamp on my career — it made me think about how my fans want to see me.”
Of course, she’s referring to the 2008 film that — outside of the “Scary Movie” franchise which were sold on concept not on the actress — was the first indication that Faris was a bankable leading comedy actress (it brought in $70 million worldwide on a $25 million budget). But as Faris continues to build herself into the one of top leading women in the industry — she acknowledges Reese Witherspoon, Cameron Diaz, Natalie Portman, Kate Hudson, Katherine Heigl and Anne Hathaway as her competitors and the talent likely to get a script before she does — that couple of minutes continues to be one that comedy fans may like but that those within the industry might have preferred she didn’t do.
“I’ve worked since I was sixteen, I’ve raised two daughters, I believe women can do everything, including expressing their sexuality in a raunchy way — and something in me says ‘Ooh, that’s yucky,'” Stacey Snider, the co-chairman, CEO and partner of DreamWorks told reporter Tad Friend. Meanwhile Mark Mylod — who directs Faris in the upcoming R-rated comedy “What’s Your Number?” — decided not watch the scene. “Part of my job was to fall in love with Ally Darling [Faris’ character in his film], and I didn’t want that kind of image in my head as I prepared,” he said.
“I guarantee you that when they tested ‘Observe and Report’ people were horrified by that scene,” “Anchorman” and “The Other Guys” director Adam McKay said to the magazine.
But if the sequence in “Observe and Report” was one that causes mixed feelings for the actress she has no qualms in not holding back her opinion about Ivan Reitman‘s egregious “My Super Ex-Girlfriend.” In the film, she plays the love interest of Luke Wilson who instead chases Uma Thurman with dire consequences. “I hated being on that movie so much I was glad when it bombed,” Faris said to Friend. “These roles are destroying a generation of boys, who think we’ll forgive any kind of assholey behavior.”
Every actor has a couple of scenes or movies that looked better on paper than they did in the final edit and you can call it growing pains from an actress carving out her place in Hollywood. And with executive producer tags on both “The House Bunny” and “What’s Your Number?” she’s definitely beginning to sit in the driver’s seat and determine just how her parts will be shaped in films to come. We’ll see the results when “What’s Your Number” opens on September 30th.
How is the House Bunny not ruining boys\’ ideas of women by celebrating the vapid Bunny culture only 14 year-olds think is cool because Playboy is the only acceptable porn dads can reference with their kids? She\’s a funny person, with genius comedic timing, but the House Bunny was the most offensive movie I\’ve seen in a long time.
Oh, my God. That\’s ridiculous. \”Observe and Report\” was a phenomenal movie. It bordered on brilliant. Seriously. I also think the same people who don\’t like that movie also think Norm Macdonald isn\’t funny. Jody Hill and Macdonald come from similar points on the comedic map.
It really seems like most dark comedies that underperform at the box office and aren\’t universally loved by critics get stuck with this \”unfunny\” label that just snowballs over the years until the film develops a wildy unrealistic reputation. Obersve & Report is briliant IMO.
@the playlist rules! (which is true, we do)
Kevin was not part of this website when O&R was released, fyi.
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Are these people for real? is it the same Observe & Report stan just posting over and over?
Wow, I saw a different film than the one most of the posters on here saw. That whole project was beneath Farris, not just the scene.
\”It’s a pretty divisive moment in an already fairly black comedy and at the time, some likened the scene to date rape, with others defending the sequence in the name of comedy or weakly offering that Brandi gave her consent.\”
I remember differently. At the time, there was a lot of discussion of that scene in film communities, and a lot of people thought it was intentionally disturbing, and strengthened the film. You can find the scene troubling and still support its inclusion in the film. It wasn\’t all about whether the scene was \’funny\’.
\”Observe and Report\” was a terrific film. It just happens to fall into the category of film that takes 10 -20 years before it is suddenly a \”Classic\”. No need for details here, but many critics and fans agree. Most of us also agree on the fine job by both Rogen and Faris. I understand what Anna is saying about constructing her film career. Her comment about the \”questionable\” scene is not to say that she felt it was wrong, but to say that she is not sure that it helps her ongoing screen persona. I think it helps – in the long run.
\’observe and report\’ is a funny fucking film. and if were comparing it to something from the same gang of actors like \’your highness\’….well its a classic.
@Leigh My point is that you calling a film \”new fresh and original\” does not make said film \”new, fresh and original.\” You say that you\’re criticizing his writing, what about his writing are you criticizing? That he doesn\’t agree with you about the \”new, fresh originality\” of every film released? My point was not that you were being mean, it was that you were being ignorant.
Make a valid point, back it up with something, and stop attacking people\’s character (also, grab a dictionary because a lot of words have more than one definition)
Wah-wah. Good one. Did she ask him why he was stopping mid thrust?
Observe and Report might not be a great coemdy, but it\’s a great film with extremely complicated characters. With that and Eastbound, Jody Hill is what we need to truly dissect the Apatow man-child characters.
My therapist is sleeping with my wife who he met at church while I was watching my kids. 🙁
This site\’s animosity towards Observe and Report is so tired and played out. We get it, you guys didn\’t like the movie. It came out two years ago. Move on or work it out with your therapist already…
Guys, you\’re not allowed to read things on planes and then write about them. It\’s just not allowed. If it\’s not online the article doesn\’t exist, duh.
I read this on a plane, too, if that helps.
Also Observe and Report is the best thing she\’s done in years, and it\’s a great fucking moving.
Ryan, I was not being critical of Kevin\’s personal character. I\’m sure that Kevin is faithful and honest to his wife, loves his children, and goes to church every Sunday. I was being critical of what Kevin writes, which is his PROFESSION, because he is a writer.
For you to deduce I was criticizing him personally from what I wrote makes you a moron (now that\’s ragging on somebody\’s character!!!).
Sincerely and with much love.
@Leigh That\’s why people have opinions about what is new, fresh and original. I don\’t think it shows a lack of consistency in Kevin\’s taste but rather a difference of opinion between what you consider fresh and what he considers fresh. Counter wiith your take on the film but don\’t criticize his character because his opinion differs from your own.
Also, I think it\’s incredibly disrespectful of the writer who wrote this piece, Tad Friend. He did the research and he decided on how to construct the story. With all the information slowly being leaked out in these posts, you take away his right to convey this information to the readers in the way he saw fit.
If there was an equivalent to this piece available online, I\’d still have concessions, but at least then it\’s a fair fight. Tad Friend has no control (I\’d imagine) over the New Yorker\’s pay-wall policies.
How would you guys like it if you wrote from a pay-wall and somebody took your stories and posted them for non-paying readers?
The argument could then be \”Well, that\’s what there shouldn\’t be paywalls.\” Blogs are thriving and that\’s a great thing, but you can\’t ignore copyright laws because it makes for a better news day.
\”Observe and Report\” is a superior film! Kevin, films like this should be praised by writers like you and websites like this so more people take a chance and go see them. They deserve to be sought out and watched!! Help, don\’t hinder, the American movie going public to broaden their filmic horizons and perhaps movies worthy of making some coin, like \”Observe and Report\”, will do just that, while movies that don\’t deserve to make jack squat, but yet still do, won\’t (I mean really people, \”Hop\”…the number one movie for two weeks? What is wrong with you freaks!). Stories like this help doom us film fans to too many crappy animated kiddy movies, horrible sequels and awful remakes of movies that themselves were awful remakes of movies.
Oh, and one more thing, Kevin. I suggest you try and refrain from writing derogatory articles on movies that are new, fresh and original like \”Observe and Report\” in one article, then ragging on Hollywood for making the same old tripe in another. A little consistency may help you to gain your readers trust a little better and grow somewhat of a fanbase. Just a bit of advice. Take it or leave it.
Have a nice day and God bless.
Anne Thompson discussed the New Yorker article without giving it all away: http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2011/04/11/anna_faris_and_women_at_the_movies_not_a_pretty_picture/#more
She wrote: \”I wish I could provide a link to this lengthy article, which I read on a plane (of course). No, the New Yorker wants me to sell you on buying the issue (which makes me crazy).\”
But she\’s still respectful of their wishes.
Observe and Report is a masterpiece. Jody Hill is a genius.
Observe and Report is an awesome movie, it has a couple flaws but for the most part it absolutely rocks. Rogen\’s best performance and film along side Pineapple Express. I guess what I\’m saying is I miss fat Rogen.
She kinda backtracked on that comment that she wouldn\’t do the scene at the end of the profile though.
Guys, you’re not allowed to read things on planes and then write about them. It’s just not allowed. If it’s not online the article doesn’t exist, duh.