Here’s proof that Kevin Smith is the old and busted comedy filmmaker and Judd Apatow is the new hotness. Smith is totally biting Apatow’s meta, viral-marketing shtick with this video starring Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks, which is meant to promote Smith’s upcoming movie Zack and Miri Make a Porno. It is also meant to parody the continuing string of “I’m Fucking So and So” videos (Sarah Silverman fucking Matt Damon, Jimmy Kimmel fucking Ben Affleck, Karina Longworth fucking Diablo Cody — oh wait, that last one hasn’t happened yet).
First of all, just casting Rogen and Banks makes Zack and Miri appear like an Apatow-movie wannabe. Then referencing Apatow’s films — the very premise of the video mocks the premise of Knocked Up and obviously it literally references The 40 Year Old Virgin and Apatow himself — builds up that appearance more. Mind you, I’ve never been a big fan of Smith’s work, but he has been around longer and should be more original than this. Right?
Maybe it is a bit interesting that he’s playing with Apatow’s popularity as the current R-rated comedy king and reputation for smarter gross-out humor. After all, he’s a lot more R-rated and gross than Apatow and yet doesn’t get the same recognition anymore (maybe because his films are a little less mature?). So, he’s making his latest look like an Apatow picture while in fact actually making the more crass type of film for which he’s known. Well, I guess I appreciate it in that sense, if it was the intention.
The main problem with the video, though, is that, as funny as it may be (the otter-shaped cock thing is pretty good), it’s just not as great as anything it’s spoofing. Even Apatow’s most tired viral videos are far more hilarious, and nothing Smith does here tops the cameos featured in the Kimmel/Affleck video (which further proves Huey Lewis is the greatest guy alive). And it sure doesn’t help that Smith himself comes in and ultimately ruins the video with his predictably lame visual aid.
8 Comments
Amen Sister,
Glad to hear that someone else sees his lack of talent. In fact, I think he’s so laughable I went as him for Halloween.
If you were a talented filmmaker, or talented at anything at all come to that, people might actually take notice of you. Knowing something about what you’re talking about might also help. Stick to jeWking off. GeD it??!!
Chris wrote this post, so I’ll assume you meant Amen Brother. But I don’t like Kevin Smith much, either.
I didn’t even notice, nor do I now mind that he called me Sister. Maybe he knew I was the writer and it was intentional?
Dude… this smacks of Apatow fan-boy attacks Smith… kinda lame and badly argued. Everyone’s doing the viral marketing thing these days. But you’re entitled to your opinion.
K
That might all make sense, except Kevin Smith didn’t have much to do with the video aside from his cameo. Elizabeth Banks wrote the song and coordinated the whole thing.
I enjoy both Apatow and Smith. There’s room for both of them. Also, I would wait until the movie actually comes out and anyone has seen it before comparing it to an Apatow film. I honestly don’t see how you could make that judgement.
Well, I won’t argue that the video “Im Fucking Seth Rogan” was terrible (because it was…), but honestly Kevin Smith’s raunchy dialoge and slacker characters came first in the mix. He started the path of explicit sexual conversations and pop-culture references. I would argue that Apatow is ripping off Smith but I really enjoyed The 40 Year Old Virgin and I LOVED Knocked Up. I think Apatow can be a little sweeter than Smith at times. It can be argued that both Apatow and Smith are ripping each other off but both of them produce hularious work. Not to mention that Smith had Rogan in mind when writing the srcipt for Zack and Miri Make a Porno before Knocked up. Honestly I love that there are two directors that take the risk of having this dialoge and raunch that’s also sweet and has something to say.
Seth Rogan wrote this movie with Kevin Smith. That’s why he is starring in it. Read the Seth Rogan article in Aug 08’s GQ.
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[...] to Cinematical Indie he’s been working toward picture lock at his LA home. Last month, in an especially disparaging blog on spout.com, a viral video entitled “I’m fucking Seth Rogen” was ripped to [...]