Okay, cool. This definitely doesn’t sound like a rape to me.
That’s what I would have said, if I’d thought of it.
So far, besides Observe and Report, Jody Hill’s written Foot Fist Way and the HBO show East Bound and Down. Foot Fist Way is clearly unpleasant, yet I enjoyed it. (And the deleted scenes show that it was originally going to be even darker than it was, before two death scenes were changed or removed.)
East Bound and Down made me laugh, and then feel ashamed for laughing. It takes place in an odd world where almost any level of cursing and asshole behavior is tolerated without consequence. Hard to describe.
Not nearly as bad as the scene from Revenge of the Nerds that no one seemed to have a problem with at the time.
Of course not. When people are drunk that can’t be held responsible for their actions, ever.
I know you’re being sarcastic (I hope!) but I often get that response from people. That is, that if you’re drunk, you can’t consent. If I were a guy, I’d probably err on the side of caution and not have sex–also, vomit is grody. But as a woman, if I were getting into that situation (get drunk, have sex, regretting it when sober), I’d blame myself, not the guy. (Assuming the guy isn’t forcing me.) I feel like if I’m drunk enough to make it ambiguous and I tell him, “FUCK me” and he’s all, “Are you sure? ok,” then is it really his fault if I later feel violated? Or is it my fault for being so ambiguous. I’m the last person to blame the victim, but I feel like it’s my responsibility to protect myself, not some random potential sex partner.
From the linked article:
Not true. And if you disagree: imagine Elmer Fudd raping Porky Pig.
[/George Carlin]
If drunkenness obviates an intent to consent to sex, doesn’t it also obviate an intent to rape?
OK, something is seriously wrong with me, because I can’t stop giggling.
Date rape has the connotation that Ronnie(Rogen’s character) got her drunk and dosed her with drugs in order to have his way with an unconscious victim. If you’ve seen the movie, this is clearly not the case. She takes the date as an opportunity to get drunk on his dime, and asks him for his prescription medication that he takes to manage his bipolar disorder. A normal person wouldn’t take this as a signal of affection, but he clearly does. Rather than endorsing it as a “deserved” rape of a snotty bitch, Jody Hill is showing how undeserving Anna Farris’s character is of Ronnie’s love. And that’s what he thinks he’s giving her. He’s a deeply disturbed individual suffering from multiple delusions. The movie plainly makes this point repeatedly. It even drives the point home during all the scenes with his mother. His mother’s been a drunk all his life, so he’s been raised on slurred sincerity.
This is rape, just not quite as insidious as people who haven’t seen the movie are claiming it is. Ronnie doesn’t mean to harm, but that certainly doesn’t excuse his actions.
What bothers me is people singling out this scene for outrage, when the whole damn movie is disturbing insanity played for laughs. If you don’t find it funny, be genuine and condemn the coke and heroin-fueled beating of teenagers, the racist punching of Daily Show correspondents, the manic brawl with the police, and the use of deadly force against a flasher. I found it all hilarious, because it’s a funny movie once you realize you’re not watching Paul Blart with swearing.
If you want to have the drunken consent discussions, have it somewhere else. This movie doesn’t glorify or excuse it either way, it just throws in some laughs to ease you back into a comfort zone that gets violated again and again.
This movie might have the most forgettable title in recent memory (ha!). But seriously, it’s two non-specific non-hooky words sandwiched around “and”.
Eh, the title made me laugh, or at least smirk. As a twist on the police officer’s more noble-sounding charge “to serve and protect” (alternatively, “to protect and serve”), it gives you an idea what the film’s going to be about without being as simplistic as something like “Ronnie Barnhardt: Mall Cop.”
By the way, no way am I buying Anna Faris’ story that she never thought the tender love-making date rape scene would make it into the movie. She’s been in the business way too long to be that naive. If you don’t want something on screen, you don’t do it in front of a camera.
Or that he ignored her drunken state, and her inability to rationally consent, and took her drunken ascent as sufficient to engage in sex.
Saw it yesterday; liked it a lot. Definitely a departure for Seth Rogen, from loveable schlub to seriously disturbed individual.
some movies are so badly marketed (or intentionally mis-marketed) that I could understand the outrage. this isn’t a typical rogen movie… it’s seriously twisted, bleak, even depressing. there are a few funny moments but i would hardly classify this movie as a comedy at all.
nonetheless, i still mostly liked it, and i thought the acting was surprisingly good.