MovieChat Forums > Eddie Izzard: Dress to Kill (1999) Discussion > Subtly makes Fun of America/Americans?

Subtly makes Fun of America/Americans?


I watched this blazed out of my mind, but I felt like I kept picking up on him subtly making fun of Americans and America in general on a wide variety of topics.

And half the time the crowd wouldn't even pick up on it. Or failed jokes that they still laughed at because they didn't understand what was going on.

And I got the feeling he kept referring to America as the "Roman Empire," and we all know what happened to that.

Is this just all in my head or did anyone else pick up on this?

reply

I think, it being San Francisco, that the audience did understand what was going on, but being incredibly liberal (which you really have to be to truly enjoy Dress To Kill, I believe) they found the criticism funny and accurate (as do I, I might add). That being said, there's no reason why Eddie shouldn't be allowed to make comedy out of America; how often do we see American comedians (or serious people, like the President) make fun of other cultures, i.e. the French? So no, it's not in your head, but sensitive nationalism aside, it doesn't matter who he makes fun of, he's damn funny!

reply

Yes, he is damn funny.

Hmm the only thing I didn't like, making fun of our accents! I'm proud of my Philadelphian accent. :)

I guess that's what we sound like to other countries though.

reply

"Do you know there's other countries?"

Ant farms: cruel and barbaric, or not that bad really?

reply

[deleted]

serious people, like the President

reply

it doesn't matter who he makes fun of, he's damn funny! ~ I agree


"When a relationship doesn't work out, I call that a relation$HIT"~Dane Cook

reply

He pokes fun of everyone and everything, including his own country such as when he was talking about getting career advice as a kid and the advisor said "look, you're British, so scale it down a bit".

and as for the Roman Empire, he openly refered to us as the next Roman Empire, so no, it wasn't all in your head. but he's a brilliant comic and everything he says is based in reality.

reply

I agree.. I think he was pretty "equal-opportunity" in making fun of lots of countries, people, times, etc...
I also didn't really disagree with anything he said about America and Americans... and I am a very conservative, patriotic gal actually. So I also agree you don't have to be a liberal to either "get" his comedy or appreciate and laugh at it. You do, however, have to be a little informed and learned to get most of it.

You better understand I'm in love with myself Myself My beautiful self

reply

he's a brilliant comic ~ I agree 100%


"When a relationship doesn't work out, I call that a relation$HIT"~Dane Cook

reply

All in your head!! He makes fun of everyone and everything, including himself. Methinks you're a little defensive.
Lee

reply


His whole bit about us not knowing the words to the National Anthem was pretty damn funny. Disney building fake castles in countries that have their own real ones. He's a trip.

"She is my Mirror of Erised, I look into her and see everything I've ever desired."

reply

Of course he's making fun of us, as well as almost every other country he discusses. He refers to America directly as the new Roman Empire, if not in this show then in "Circle." Eddie is hilarious and he's right on.

"Do you KNOW there's other countries?" :-D

"I live in the weak and the wounded...Doc."

reply

[deleted]

The audience was definitely smart enough to get it. San Franciscans especially are very saavy. So there was no need for them to hoot and holler about it. They understood it and they laughed when they felt like. If he did the show in L.A. there would have been complete silence.

The revolution will now be televised. Sundays on Adult Swim.

reply

Yeah, you're right but what he is poking fun at is stereotypes.
E.g. his take on the British reaction to India's independence from the Empire -
Very posh but dumbfounded tone: "Have they really? Are you sure?"

Luck favours the fortunate

reply

Most of us Americans enjoy humor that points out our weaknesses. Believe it or not, most Americans make just as much fun at the stereotypical Americans.

There was nothing subtle about it. He pointed out our school system tends to be bad and over all we're terrible about geography (I know that's a weak point of mine, though I've worked on it a bit on my own). Over all we don't know much about history (Though I knew all the names and events he mentioned)- And believe it or not, most people I know, including me- refer to the US here as following the Roman Empire- too much power, we're too young, our forign polocies over all are hated, and we're going to fall soon if the people in charge don't start smartening up.

I think his audience here in general, agree with all those points, and sometimes, you just have to laugh about it... expecially the way he says things.


"The prince is never going to come, everybody knows that; and maybe Sleeping Beauty's dead." Lestat

reply




I think Eddie is damn funny, and if people don't get his humour they should get a free visit by doctor Heimlich, or his assistant.

Anyway, what i don't get is why many americans can't laugh at themselves.
I'm from Europe (yeah where the history comes from), lived 20 years in Belgium and am now comfortably living in Tuscany, Italy by the way. The Belgians always got laughed at by the french and the dutch. The italians get laughed at by the whole world.
But nobody minds it here. Nor do they mind it if they laugh at their accents. So why should the american people get angry if someone makes fun at them.

reply

See, what I was saying was most Americans can, and do laugh at ourselves. Sure there's the ultra ultra conservitive bunch, and the ultra ultra librals- who are practically the same sort of person... and they're the ones who usually end up on the news being waaaay to serious about stupid things like presidents and blow jobs.

But over all we do laugh at ourselves... and usually at the things we take the most seriously.

Funny thing is, when I've hung out with tourists, and make a joke about something American, most of the time, I get a strange look, and get told something like "Don't you even understand you're making fun of yourself/your own country?" and I have to explain that's the point.

Now I have friends who were born, raised, and live in other countries (France, England, Germany, Italy, Australia...) and I know most people would understand that kind of humor, no matter where they're from, and they all laugh at themselves and make jokes about where they're from too... but if all I had exposure to were those tourists, I'd have to ask myself "Why can't europeans laugh at themselves".


"The prince is never going to come, everybody knows that; and maybe Sleeping Beauty's dead." Lestat

reply

Well said, Event!!

Especially in times like these, if we can find something about ourselves that we can laugh about, it can be very good medicine. Lots of people take themselves way too damned seriously in this country. And I like to make fun of them. :D

"I'm scared of a lot of things; dogs, Dutchmen, the gathering darkness..."
-Abe Simpson

reply

Of course he's picking on america!!XD
1. he's a comedian
2. america is a target XD
3. americans can be full of themselves XD

but it's just harmless fun =P <3 Eddie Izzard

La Cocaracha the pig!

reply