DVD review
The Onion Movie finally peels out
The Onion Movie has been on hold for years, but fans of the satirical newspaper need wait no longer. A theatrical run was scrapped way back in, like, ’05, but the DVD is finally ready for its close-up. DVD is the way to go with this one. The film, if it can be called that, is raunchy, offensive, often dumb and sometimes very funny—definitely more appropriate for the living room than today’s multiplex.
The story: It’s thin. The Onion’s corporate parent wants veteran anchor Norm Archer (Len Cariou) to push products during his newscast, like the Steven Seagal movie Cockpuncher (really). But that’s just a foil for sketches of news stories that could have been ripped from today’s headlines. Or, at least, today’s Onion headlines. Think Network meets Kentucky Fried Movie.
The good: The magnifying glass the creators hold up to stereotypes is sometimes hysterical. The (now dated) take on Britney Spears is clever, and the Seagal film and its accompanying marketing is actually inspired, as is the Michael Bolton cameo.
The bad: It falls short of the brilliant satire The Onion itself occasionally hits. It’s broad comedy rather than razor’s edge. Some bits are more offensive than funny, and, like the paper, some of it’s just plain stupid.
The extras: Since the directors walked away years ago, a commentary track probably wasn’t possible. Deleted scenes are fine, but nothing special.
Published: 06/03/2008
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