I Want My Brain Cells Back!

On September 1, 2006, Fox released a film called Idiocracy with absolutely no fanfare. The movie opened in seven cities with no online, television, radio, or in theatre marketing. And you know what? I thank Fox for doing that.

From the comedic genius of Mike Judge, the man who gave us the absolutely wonderful Office Space, I expected another turn of hilarity. What did I get? Stupid comedy disguised as farce. Idiocracy is a farce of a farce. It's predictable, underwritten, and too dependent on the same running joke. It's attempting to comment on how stupid Americans are becoming, but instead, it simply appeals to the lowest common denominator.

The movie begins with, literally, the most average guy around (Luke Wilson) finding out he's been chosen for a military cryogenics experiment. His partner in the experiment is a prostitute played by SNL's Maya Rudolph. Of course, things go wrong, and our hero wakes up in the year 2505, where idiots rule the world. English is a mix of grunts, hillbilly speak, and jive talk. The world has turned to Starbucks-style brothels, fart jokes, and the most popular show is "Ow! My Balls!" Basically, it's a world where everyone can trace their roots back to Kevin Federline. Now, among the greatest idiots in the world, our average guy has become the smartest guy, and the US government (run by a president who might as well strut his stuff on the WWE stage) wants him to save the crops.

If this movie had come from any other writer, I wouldn't be ragging on it. I would've just tossed it out with the likes of Scary Movie 2 and gone about my business, but this movie was a follow up to Office Space. Idiocracy should have been smart and witty and, um...funny! I should be quoting lines to my friends. I do actually remember laughing at one part, but it was such a fleeting moment that I can't even tell you what happened in the scene.

This movie really isn't worth your time, but I'm still going to suggest you check it out when you're flipping channels one night, and you happen to catch it on HBO. Hey, if you're feeling daring, rent it! This is the type of movie that's so bad you want other people to watch it so you can talk to them about how bad it is.