MovieChat Forums > Cold Comfort Farm (1996) Discussion > Sorry Fans

Sorry Fans

posted 18 years ago by Startanew
16 replies | jump to latest

I'm not against black comedy at all, but I've been quoting this as the worst movie i've ever rented for many years. It was horrible! I can't believe i'm doing one of those 'driveby' 'i hate this!' threads on imdb... I don't do it often. I u susally just stay out if i hate it. I'm glad you like it. But... yeah. There are times when I look back at it and think it was sort of funny, but at the time I was like 'wtf' more than anything, and not in a good way. I 'wtf' in a good way when I'm watching The Mighty Boosh. Not that that's a movie.
But yeah...

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[–] RockOtter 17 years ago

i don't object to you not liking this movie, but i think an explanation would be that this is a very strange movie and you just aren't paired up well. either that or you just didn't understand it.

personally, i thought it was brilliant, but that's just because i really like these kinds of movies.

[–] blurr 16 years ago

I think it's much easier to appreciate if you view the film with an understanding of what the novel was written to be back in the 1930s. It was meant as a wry parody of novels such as those of Jane Austen.

If you get that aspect of the story, and you can appreciate the understated British humor and these particular actors, then you're much more likely to enjoy the film. As the character Mr. Mybug is wont to say, "There's rich soil here, if you cah to dig for it."

[–] EAPierce 16 years ago

Interesting. I've always thought about Cold Comfort Farm not as a parody of Austen, but as an Austen-style parody of Bronte-esque gothic romance.

[–] Dreamwatcher14 16 years ago

OH what a delightful comparison! I love it!

I too watched it was a 'wtf' the first time. But I wasn't paying constant attention, so I have watched it several times more and like it better each time. You can see more and more absurd, dry, quirky, humour each time.

I really like it.

"You have no idea how many times I have wanted to use my finger for the betterment of all mankind"

[–] cpmorr 16 years ago

A lot of people refer to this as a Jane Austen parody, possibly because of the line spoken by Flora: "I like Jane Austen...neither of us could ever tolerate a mess."
Stella Gibbons, however, was going after a parody of D H Lawrence's novels and their earthy sexuality.

[–] Beaubelle 16 years ago

Thanks to cpmorr and EAPierce for your insights. I'll have to take another look

[–] k.m.bunting 9 years ago

The author mainly being parodied is Mary Webb, who wrote some melodramatic novels about rural life in Shropshire which were very popular in the 1930s. I don't see any similarity to Jane Austen's work.

[–] jjamison-2 15 years ago

I got this movie from Netflix, and when I started watching it, I thought I had mistakenly ordered a horror film-- the little girl in the woods, then she slowly opened the woodshed door, etc. But then the scene changed and I was confused when I started noticing amusing statements. So I paused the movie and checked IMDB to see exactly what kind of movie it was. I almost didn't get back into it, but I'm glad I did. It was clever, entertaining, and had a "feel good" ending. It didn't fit the mold of most movies I watch and it was a pleasant change.

[–] Beaubelle 16 years ago

I think FamilyLoveMichael has a great point, and I agree with it. The other thing is that comedy is very dependent on mood, and you may have been in an impatient mood or otherwise just not for it. I'm trying the book, and it is much the same way--haven't laughed out loud yet!

I would also like to thank cpmorr and EAPierce for their comments, which help me understand what's going on better. I loathe Jane Austen and always thought that's why CCF isn't for me, but seeing the Austen-esque rag on the Bronte girls and their many, many successors gives me an in on the fun.

Sort of. In the end, I may just have to agree with dear OP and say to all the fans, enjoy but include me out.

[–] tubeboob3 16 years ago

I thought this movie was great. Hard to pick a favorite scene. Sunday preaching Fire and Brimstone to the flock was funny as all get out. Washing Rennie for the wedding was also good. But I think the best had to be the "Gone with the Wind" homage they did when Seth went off to Hollywood to be a star. The music swells, the camera angles from underneath Judith and Aunt Ada were just brilliant, and when Seth says goodby to his bull, his nostrils flare as he inhales deeply before taking the next step on his way to stardom, all the while mom is pleading with him not to go. Just too funny. Mark me down for two thumbs up please.

[–] sam-wise 12 years ago

I also thought it was hilarious that Mr. Neck smelled Seth before he saw him. Funny bit of business that wasn't in the book.

[–] littlekaren 15 years ago

Adored the movie; not so much the book though. Brilliant characters and casting. But...as much as I think Stephen Fry is a huge talent in all areas, I think the Mybug role could've been eliminated.

[–] marydaleed-is 13 years ago

I can't think of another movie of which I would make this comment, but if you thought this was "the worst movie" you've "rented for many years," the I think you simply didn't get it. Clearly, the irony and satire was lost on you.

Not everyone has to like every movie, and you are entitled to your opinion. If you don't like the movie, that's fine. It's your choice.

But, based upon your comments and not simply that you just didn't like the movie, I think it is clear that you just didn't "get" the concept of the movie. I know you aren't going to think so, because if you could understand that there was something that you didn't get about this movie, the whole satirical style in which is was written, then you would have been able to get the movie when you saw it in the first place and we wouldn't be having this discussion.

As it is, I really do think you just didn't grasp the whole concept, because if you didn't, that would make this movie really bad and all of the things you said would make perfect sense.

[–] smeth 13 years ago

You threw down the gauntlet, now I'll pick it up.

Please define bad and horrible.

Watch more movies. I suspect you need to experience more highs and lows of the film industry.

Think about the difference between hating a movie and the movie being badly filmed, written, directed, or acted.

And why compare this with a skit show made by smug hipsters who think hair and fashion mistakes from 30 years ago can be entertaining for more than 5 minutes?

[–] sam-wise 12 years ago

Like any movie - YMMV. It's a parody, so a most of the humor depends on being familiar with the material that's being sent up. In this case, it helps to be English. You have to know English stereotypes of country people, upper class people, Bohemian intellectuals, female romance novelists, Americans, etc. You have to know stuff about English history and literature in general. You have to know about Edwardian society and culture. You have to know about Jane Austen, Thomas Hardy, D.H. Lawrence, and their imitators - especially Hardy and Lawrence, with their emphasis on sex and tragedy among rural English people. The characters' behavior makes no sense unless you know they're making fun of other characters in "serious" novels.

I don't think you have to know who "Nimshi son of Rehoboam" is, though.

[–] sasha99 11 years ago

No need to apologize. An ignorant, illiterate person wouldn't get any of the humor in this movie. Clearly, that's you. There are probably well-read people who wouldn't like your favorite movies either. No prob.