When this movie first came out reviewers kept saying it was homophobic. I seen it and really didnt see what all the anger was about.
shareFirstly, this movie was somewhat homophobic. The scene at the cafe was full of ridiculous cliches and rather derogatory.
However, far more concerning was the constant trivialisation of rape. I'm trying to imagine a comedy making constant gags about a woman being raped by a man and getting away with it. It was vile. The whole film was regressive, the attitudes generally on display, from race to sexuality to sexual violence, were several decades out of date.
They're just tropes, who the *beep* cares. Stereotypes exist for a reason, they work. It is an easy and fast way to get a certain idea across, like a meme. This movie did it with blacks, whites, gays, everyone and it doesn't *beep* matter, if you can't laugh about stereotypes anymore, you've become a sad sad person.
shareIt has nothing to do with being unable to laugh at stereotypes - if you want a good example of something that managed to laugh at stereotypes in a current and intelligent way, watch any episode of 30 Rock. As I said, this just seemed massively outdated.
shareCliches about homosexuality isn't the same as "being afraid of it" (which is what "homophobic" means).
There wouldn't be a movie with constant gags about a woman being raped outside of prison. So there's really no need for a hypothetical about that. People know that is taboo.
Prison rape is more "acceptable" b/c people automatically assume the people in prison probably did something to deserve it.
I gave this film a 5. So I don't want you accuse me of being a Will Ferrell "fanboy". It was okay. Nothing special. Will be forgotten about in a few years.
The one scene that I thought was slightly homophobic was them going to a popular gay spot to 'teach' oral sex (they could've made the same point with straight women, but that would've taken the laughing at discomfort out of it) However, it wasn't homophobia that encouraged hatred, just unease... and it was only one scene, so comparatively mild... Worth mentioning, but not worth getting outraged about, I think.
"Your mother puts license plates in your underwear? How do you sit?!"
I disagree with the movie was Homophobic, for the movie didn't denigrate Gays, curse them to damnation,...
Now anyone making the claim perhaps should offer a counter on the premise of an innocent man going to prison for many years and is heterosexual,..not being comfortable with the rumored/known/accepted environment of the Prison population.
How was the movie to address the issues they find Homophobic and why are the scenes homophobic to them in the first place?
Not WANTING to be violated by men (in prison) doesn't make you homophobic; which was a primary premise in the movie.
I'm actually amazed at how they made the issue that funny.
If not wanting to be raped by another man is homophobic then yes, every straight man on Earth is homophobic.
share