Suck My Hancock, The Hammer is What Hollywood Should be Erecting
Last night my wife and I were debating whether to order tickets to see Hancock with the kids this weekend -- as we sat down together to watch a rented copy of Adam Carolla's movie The Hammer. We decided to invite our two sons who are eight and ten and just back from a week at sleep away camp to watch the movie with us. My wife and I are both big fans of Carolla's CBS Radio show and the boys like him a lot too based on the minutes they hear before something inappropriate happens and we rush to switch to something wholesome - like news radio chatter about our lovely war on terrorism or our collapsing economy. We figured if our boys survived summer camp, they could probably handle a few dirty words.
We were shocked to discover that beyond a couple of choice expletives that the great George Carlin warned us about, The Hammer was a funny, moving and downright inspirational movie for our whole family -- one of the best we've seen this year. With a tiny budget, Carolla and his collaborators made the sort of small, heartfelt, moving vehicle that should make him a movie star. Somehow, this exceptional and very commercial movie ends up with an R rating and a short theatrical self-release before being sent off to DVD.
As for that R rating, it seems thoroughly insane -- proof that a big budget buys you a whole hell of a lot more leeway with the powers that be. As my ten-year-old put it, "Daddy, this is way more appropriate than Blades Of Glory or Talladega Nights" -- two PG-13 movies that we let him see and that we loved as well.
So even though I am not a profit participant, I hereby suggest you rent or buy The Hammer and see for yourself what's wrong with a system that couldn't find more room for it.
I will see Hancock because I'm a Will Smith fan and I worship proudly at the alter of Jason Bateman, but as Hollywood flees for Malibu or Hawaii or the Hamptons for the 4th of July, here's a reminder that we better treat really good American movies better than this, or the hammer of justice will fall hard upon us all.
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Movie ratings are evidence that as a society we are stupid beyond contempt. Roger Ebert has long been a critic and brought up the instance where a movie that dealt with the serious threat of sexual predators abducting children, a movie designed to send a clear and vital message to kids, was rated R because of the content.
To twist a phrase; if a foreign nation had imposed a movie rating system like this on us, they'd be accused of criminal negligence, but would be exonerated with a dense resting on absence of mental competence.
I will go see this movie to pay Adam Corolla back for slamming the phone down on Ann Coulter during his radio program.
I did not know Adam did that. Now I love him even more. Did she say something especially hateful, or just her usual nastiness?
DW
She basically called in way later then she was supposed to and then blamed it on everyone but herself. She then told Adam to hurry up because she was short on time and he hung up on her on the spot, and said something along the lines of "Get lost you bitch."
The Hammer is a sweet sweet movie. Definitely one of the best independent comedies I've seen. Hopefully it will find the cult following it deserves on DVD. And its R rating is the most confusing rating ever. I watched it twice so far and the worst I heard was an S-bomb that was barely noticeable in the context was used.
Down with the MPAA!
Long live Adam Carolla!
The MPAA is still run by two-faced crooks.
To them Violence + cruelty + mayhem=OK, family-good!
Sex+language=bad, 'communist', subversive.
It rarely matters anymore, as movies rarely matter anymore.
Mostly eyecandy, product placement, soundtracks crammed with disposable pop garbage.
Aimless moving wallpaper for the dull-witted masses designed for nothing more than to be a babysitter for idle minds and pocketbooks. Fast food designed not to fill up anyone.
"The Hammer" is more cinematic homecooked meal than fast-food from the megaplex.
I saw Hancock this weekend and was surprised it was only rated 12A in UK (children under 12 need an adult with them) as it had at least two F***ing's that I noticed and a whole bunch of A******s (though I got that a******** was one of the jokes). I'd have expected it to be a 15 due to the F***'s mentioned.
Don't know what the profanities in your film were - but I understood an R rating was the highest in the US.
Why is the word fuck appropriate for 15-year old ears, but not 12? The utter inanity of people to be shocked by profanity really grinds my gears, as if the utterance of a curse word is somehow a sin, a crime or even offensive I will never understand. I submit that those who are offended (because that is all it could ever be) with curse words are either hopelessly ignorant or hopelessly incapable of rational thought. Don't even get me started on morality, as if cursing were immoral.
Small budget movies are lilke small budget defense contracts. Who the heck wants to spend efforts shepherding that mess for a few years when the payoff doesn't lead to another fat host on which the parasite can feed?
Thaks for the tip...I'm putting it
This is one of the best movies I've seen all summer. I too was surprised that this former Man Show co-host delivered such a witty AND heartwarming tale. It's really a shame that studios don't throw their weight behind these small budget gems.
Agreed. I expected funny, but was surprised it had so much heart.
this movie shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath as a will ferrell movie. different types of comedy. this is more like a small british underdog comedy movie.
i'm telling everyone i know to see it.
I hope this doesn't bother you but if anyone saw Talledega Nights and Blades of Glory and LOVED them, welll...I'l have to pass on seeing anything you recommend.
Nothing personal but Will Ferrell is a one trick truck and he's beaten that truck to death. Stewie said it best on Family Guy after watching a Ferrell flcik.
Stewie found a way to get to the airport, travel cross country to Hollywood, find Ferrell's house, climb a ladder, rind the doorbell and when Will answered the door Stewie knocked Will out and down and screamed. YOU'RE NOT FUNNY!
actually, he said "That was not funny!" in reference to Bewitched.
Regardless, don't see Hancock. I knew it would be bad, but I swear to god, if I didn't know better I would think they wrote the movie as the filmed it. Just an awful, awful movie.
Maybe a word or two on what the film is about story-wise would help others decide to go see this movie you loved yet told us nothing about.
Logline?
I didn't see this one...but based on your recomendation, I will check it out. I must be easy, because I don't even know who you are.
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