It's going to be hard to express what a disappointment this film was. I liked Spurlock's other works, but "Mansome" is essentially a complete failure. The problem is, it's simply not funny...at all. The Jason Bateman/Will Arnett pieces aren't remotely funny or even entertaining. They feel completely ad-libbed by two guys with no skills at improv. You would think for the maybe 10 minutes of screen time they had that either they (or some writers) could come up with a few good bits...but not a one!
There are only two bits that are entertaining: Jack Passion and Ricky Manchada. The problem is, we are laughing at, not with, these two real people...and that's exactly the intent. The problem is, while we laugh at how pathetic they are, we actually feel badly that we're laughing (at those of us with a heart) and feel badly for them in turn.
Perhaps what's most disappointing is that with a documentary, you can always "shoot more". There's no way Spurlock and the producers watched this film and said "Wow, this is great...really funny." No chance. So instead of improving, they passed it off and pawned it off on us...taking all their stock way down in my (and I suspect many fans) mind.
It feels like they got a check to make the film and shot the bare minimum to crank out a film. They cashed their checks and went home.
There are only two bits that are entertaining: Jack Passion and Ricky Manchada. The problem is, we are laughing at, not with, these two real people...and that's exactly the intent. The problem is, while we laugh at how pathetic they are, we actually feel badly that we're laughing (at those of us with a heart) and feel badly for them in turn.
Perhaps what's most disappointing is that with a documentary, you can always "shoot more". There's no way Spurlock and the producers watched this film and said "Wow, this is great...really funny." No chance. So instead of improving, they passed it off and pawned it off on us...taking all their stock way down in my (and I suspect many fans) mind.
It feels like they got a check to make the film and shot the bare minimum to crank out a film. They cashed their checks and went home.