MovieChat Forums > Hits (2014) Discussion > Movie completely ripoffs Ray Lyman

Movie completely ripoffs Ray Lyman


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVW9_ieM14s

To be fair, the movie basically tells you how to find the Ray Lyman videos when Micheal Cera's character says, "Actually, just Google crazy *beep* at Town Hall meetings", but it's clear the more videos you watch of Ray Lyman that Matt Walsh's character was based on him.

Could Ray sue for this?

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If you can sue for dumping coffee on yourself, you can sue for just about anything.

Winning is a different story. Very hard to prove it's about him. To do that you'd have to get inside the writer's head. Which is impossible.

There was a question similar to this in the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt board. Asking if it was loosely based on those women being held captive in that guy's house for 10 years. Very hard to prove, but on the surface it does look like both of these may have "borrowed" from real life.

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The lady that spilled McDonald's coffee on herself suffered permanent disfigurement because the coffee was so hot it gave her 3rd degree burns. McDonald's was aware of the heat issue with their coffee but had done nothing about it. That's why she sued:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1445203/

I'm not sure if that incident is relevant to this comparison.

Maybe the producers could claim it's a parody, but some of the dialogue in the movie is so similar to what Ray says in those videos, I'm wondering if it crosses the parody line.

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She still knew it was hot and dumped it on herself. She got rewarded for her clumsiness.

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No, the coffee was crazy hot. She only sued because she had hospital bills and McDonald's (despite knowing the coffee was too hot) didn't take responsibility or change the temp they served coffee at.

She didn't get "rewarded" for anything, she got badly burned, she was an old lady and the burns sent her to the hospital. As for being "clumsy" you've never spilled something? It happens. And when it does you shouldn't have to go to the hospital.


There is actually a documentary about the lady, I can't recall the name but you should watch it instead of repeating ignorant nonsense.

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MY POINT (which was directed solely at the OP, and not you) = you can sue for just about anything these days.

That statement is about as far from "ignorant" as a statement can get. You, on the other hand, were displaying a nice chunk of ignorance by not reading the entire conversation before commenting. Context is always your best friend. Don't shy away from her!

There is actually a documentary about the lady, I can't recall the name but you should watch it instead of repeating ignorant nonsense.


It's called Hot Coffee (and it's on Netflix), and it's pretty ignorant of you to not know that. It's funny that I know the name of the thing you accused me of being ignorant about.

I like how you suggested I watch it (so I could educate myself) but didn't know the name of it. Pretty helpful stuff there!

"Go watch that thing so you can get smarter!" 😲

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Yeah, it was obviously based on Ray. Especially the bit where he says, "Where in the Constitution does it say you can only speak for three minutes?"

Honestly though, it's a shame they didn't go further with the over-the-top characterization. I've often thought a character based on Ray Lyman would be great... but Matt Walsh is such a subtle and understated actor that the inherent exaggerated nature of the character ends up kind of muted in my opinion. Ah well.

EDIT: You know who would have been great in a Ray Lyman-esque role? John Candy. Ho boy.

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