MovieChat Forums > Zero Charisma (2013) Discussion > Great film, but not a comedy

Great film, but not a comedy

posted 10 years ago by nashknight-1
5 replies | jump to latest

Seriously, how is this a comedy? There are maybe few funny-ish scenes, but most of it is pretty realistic and depressing.

But otherwise a great flick. I've been a GM my whole life and I've actually met a few characters like the one in the movie, not so whacked out but comparable.

And also this isn't a movie about RPG. It is a theme but it's not really important. If one would change the theme from RPG to football, drag-racing, crystal meth or anything else the point would still be the same. It's a story about socially awkward man, who had a tough time growing up in a messed up family and turned out a bit askew.

[–] b_summers 10 years ago

It was so hard to watch this movie. On the one hand, I wanted to see his friends realize they were being idiotic for not understanding what kind of hell Scott has been through. On the other hand, I wanted Scott to stop using his screwed up childhood as an excuse to be a douchebag. Everyone I know grew up in a family that dragged them down; it doesn't mean that we have the right to behave like whiny children all the time.

[–] nashknight-1 10 years ago

Scott is not meant to be easily sympathizable character. He is heavily flawed, a jerk and an idiot if you will. He is not so smart and he grew up in a messed up family, and he is too old to change easily. That's his biggest problem.

It is a story about that kind of people, and there are many many more out there.

[–] amplive 10 years ago

Because the situations, his reactions to the slightest set-backs, and the contrast between him and everyone he interacts with is so over the top. Not all comedies are of the "point and laugh!" variety, as far as cringe humor goes this is pretty great.

[–] AmericanMovieFan 10 years ago

I know people exactly like Scott. I think the reason this movie was written and got made is that emotional, depressing stories about junkies, crooks, cops, politicians, chefs, firefighters, etc. have been done to death. In the case of nerds and geeks (I am a proud nerdy geek), most, if not all of the portrayals are purely sympathetic and played for light hearted comedy where the gawky pint sized dude gets the girl or beats the bully, etc. when that's just the fantasy.

The reality is in fact Zero Charisma: A bunch of geeky but normal guys who latch onto the overbearing super shut in geek with no life, because they both feel bad for him and because he's learned how to guilt, intimidate and pressure people into being his friends because it's all he has at his disposal as far as social skills go.

I had a room mate who WAS Scott. Rather, is. Only played video games and watched South Park, questioned us when we went out to meet girls rather than stay in with him and play games. He'd try to beckon us by showing us the latest title he bought at GameStop using the bus as transportation. In awkward social situations he'd blurt out a random cartoon quote in a goofy voice, or quote some stoic bad ass from a sci-fi movie in the hopes of getting a rise, only to see us roll our eyes or weakly laugh to be polite.

He actually flipped out when I told him I needed the room once, ONCE in an entire school year, to bang this chick I'd been seeing. He refused. Got mad at me for picking the girl over him. Suggested the three of us watch South Park and play Halo instead of letting us have the room for a few hours. Anyway, guys like Scott are very, very real and I for one feel some bittersweet happiness that such an accurate film got made, even if they did take dramatic license with the Miles character at the very end.

YEAH, BITCH! MAGNETS!

americanmoviefan.wordpress.com

[–] ixtrm-sol 9 years ago

Except socially akward men dont usually gravitate toward physical or high risk activities like footbal or drag racing. whether youre awkward nerd or manslut jock, once youre a meth addict youre nothing but a gollum trying to get another precious hit. Whether you want to admit or not, socially awkward 'nerds' especially those with no interest in real math and science, really tend to gravitate toward rpg/mmorpg that let them have a sense of empowerment and accomplishment without much physical or intellectual efforts in their own little private fantasy land. So rgp isnt just an interchangeable theme for the movie, but very specific experience of people that participate in these activities.