Freddy Got Fingered is brilliant. I've enjoyed it since seeing it on video cassette around when it left the theater. It wasn't a movie I wanted to see because I didn't care for Tom Green at all. I thought his type of comedy was lame, just pranking but in an offensive way.
This movie is NOT about him pranking. In fact, it's a fairly well-thought out, well-shot movie. The dialogue is absurd, but quote-worthy. That's if you enjoy the film. It's garnered a love-hate relationship with movie audiences since it came out.
I'm disappointed it hasn't gotten the cult status the movie like The Room has gotten. The Room was just plain bad, terrible acting, directing, etc... Freddy Got Fingered on the other hand, was sharp, witty, and yes, offensive, but in a movie way.
Why does Freddy Got Fingered really work. Think of it as Tom Green's f-u to Hollywood. Not that he hated Hollywood, at least I don't think he did. But he did EXPLOIT its excesses in the movie. I mean, the giant explosion alone is an example of this, probably blowing a huge budget on that scene, which I highly doubt was in the original script the way it turned out.
He's not only exploiting Hollywood on the budget, but also on what is considered offensive. How did he get away with all the stuff he did? I'm surprised it made it through with an R rating. Tom really pushed the boundaries of decency all for comedy, but looking back at it now, it's almost like he foresaw the way things would go in real life. I mean, everything today is about hyperbole and over reaction, or instant gratification.
I also look at the movie as a parallel to Tom Green's life, and how he got the money to make the movie. If you're easily offended, then of course you will hate this movie. The casting was also perfect. Harlan Williams as the best friend, Rip Torn as angry dad, Marisa Coughlan as the girlfriend (she had to say and do some crazy things). The title character 'Freddy' doesn't appear much in the movie and isn't really a huge part of the film, because it's all about watching Gord's journey. But he was still important but he never really takes front and center in the film.
I have watched this movie more than a dozen times, and I expect to watch it many more!
Review of Freddy Got Fingered
