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The Five Worst Films Based on Comedy Sketches, continued
By Nick Schager
on 08/31/2009
Molly Shannon in "Superstar," Paramount, 1999
“Superstar” (1999)
Molly Shannon is funny. So too is Will Ferrell. “Superstar,” however, is most certainly not. Based on Shannon’s spastic, anxious, made-for-TV movie-loving Catholic school student Mary Katherine Gallagher, the film (helmed by “Kids in the Hall”’s Bruce McCulloch) follows Gallagher as she attempts to become a sensation via her school’s talent show. Having the ungainly, unsettling character find herself inadvertently stuck in a Special Education class is a reasonably inspired idea, but the execution is consistently off, with virtually every pratfall and one-liner landing with a dull thud, including those delivered by Ferrell in dual roles as the studly hunk whom Gallagher pines for and God, who periodically counsels her. Imagine the sights of Gallagher crashing into furniture and smelling her fingers immediately after they’ve been in her armpits, and you’ve already seen “Superstar,” albeit at far less cost to your wallet and time.
Tim Meadows’s “SNL” career is unique, insofar as he can boast the show’s second-longest tenure (10 years) and yet never became a star (like Sandler or Ferrell) or a jack-of-all-trades utility man (like Phil Hartman or Darrell Hammond). Instead, he was always just, kinda, there, save for his one recurring character: radio call-in host Leon Phelps, a smooth talker prone to giving sexually outrageous advice and promoting Courvoisier. Leon’s suave ‘70s-era confidence and charm were never good for more than a chuckle on TV, and here, they’re barely good for that, even when paired with a pretty amusing cameo by Julianne Moore in full-on clown makeup. Leon eventually finds love while being hunted by a group of men whose wives have fallen victim to the lothario’s irresistible charms, with this latter thread (a black man hunted by white men because of his carnal knowledge of their wives) primed for social comedy that never materializes. A lack of depth, however, is ultimately less troublesome than simply an absence of any good reason for this one trick pony to have his own movie in the first place.
[Additional Photos: Kathy Griffin and Julia Sweeney in "It's Pat: The Movie," Touchstone Pictures, 1995; "Good Burger," Paramount Pictures, 1997; Julianne Moore and Tim Meadows in "The Ladies Man," Paramount Pictures, 2000]
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Tracey S.
"Good Burger" aside (and it wasn't THAT bad) Keenan Thompson is one of the brighter lights in the latest SNL cast. Now if only they could get better female cast members. Kristin Wiig, while funny in movies, plays all her characters the same -- a weird voice and even weirder movements. Is there -- shudder -- a "Gillie" movie in the works? (I miss Amy!) None of the others are given anything worthwhile to do.
Ian M.
I must agree with your list here, though I will concede that Will Ferrell's role in "The Ladies Man" made me laugh out loud a handful of times (the part where they torch the Ladies Man's houseboat, and immediately regret it springs to mind). You might also include the abysmal Mr. Show sketch-turned film "Run Ronnie, Run" which even Bob Odenkirk and David Cross have disowned (evidently the director wrestled control away from them, and decided on a new tactic of rampant unfunniness).
Kaylan
Don't u talk about Good burger like that u homo ill kick your ass that is truly a better movie than u can make u computer keep your comments to yourself before i shove your keyboard up your ass
Forsure
@Kaylan - Cool story dude.
Mr. Peabody
How could you forget "Stuart Saves His Family"? Was that one of too high a quality. Not to mention I couldn't imagine having to sit through "A Night at the Roxbury".
James III
I must disagree with the third film on your list I am afraid. GOOD BURGER was quite awesome. As an eleven year old back then, and even (sadly?) as a twenty-three year old today, I find the simple humor and the ridiculous plot immensely enjoyable. It worked well for its audience - and even more so for the aspiring young actors and comedians that admired the efforts of the film's young stars. Side note: "The Kenan & Kel Show" was not sketch comedy, it was a sitcom. And thus to conclude: I'm a dude, he's a dude, she's a dude, cuz we're all dudes. Hey. I went there.
Yeah...I'm going to go to hell for this, but here are some funny bits that still stick out from all these misbegotten movies:
Superstar:
Ferrell's super-cool popular kid, "Hey Richie, what's that, egg salad? Classic..."
The Ladies Man:
Leon, to Ferrell, "Man, you're clearly gay, but that's all right..."
Good Burger:
That one guy, upon being awakened by a blaring alarm clock, "Wow! A clock!"
And that's it...
Who thought it was a great comedy sense to have a solemn date rape mother-to-daughter talk in the Coneheads movie?
And 'Run Ronnie Run', while slight, and a mess, is consistently funny, despite Bob and David's distaste for the final product.
(Filmgeeks from the world's best video store [Videoport in Portland, Maine] give you their two cents in places like this:
http://videoportjones.wordpress.com/2009/06/13/mst3k/
