Seen on: October 5, 2008
The players:
Director: David Zucker, Writers: David Zucker, Myrna Sokoloff, Lewis Friedman,
Cast: Kevin P. Farley, Kelsey Grammer, Jon Voight, Trace Adkins, James Woods, Jon Voight
Facts of interest: None at all.
The plot: An infamous anti-American documentary filmmaker is visited by three ghosts who show him why there's no room for too much liberalism in the United States.
Our thoughts: David Zucker’s “An American Carol” could have been a funny satire, but as it turns out, it’s nothing but a missed opportunity. I really don’t mind watching a right-wing comedy poking fun at Michael Moore and liberalism in the United States, but I do expect it to be worth my time and money. Too bad I didn’t get what I hoped for…
Kevin Farley stars as Michael Malone, a cynical, anti-American documentary filmmaker whose latest idea is to abolish July 4th. He really loves America he tells us, and that’s why it needs to be destroyed. So, while a bunch of idiotic terrorists use Malone to help them set up a deadly attack on American soil, the director is visited by three spirits who take him on a journey to show him what it really means to be a true American.
Sad to say, “An American Carol” is not as original or hilarious as it sounds. While I certainly applaud the basic concept of taking the premise of “A Christmas Carol” and applying it to a comedy targeting the Right, I find the execution of this idea rather pitiful. Instead of generating big laughs via sharp remarks and thought-provoking jokes, Zucker’s film quickly drowns in a sea of unnecessary slapstick and cheap gags.
Worse than the lack of solid humor is the movie’s slow-moving plot. “Carol” is a painful experience to sit through, and the visits by the three ghosts couldn’t be less exciting. The first one to appear is General George S. Patton (Kelsey Grammer), who shows Malone why major wars in American history were crucial to the country’s quest for freedom. Then there’s a briefer appearance by George Washington (Jon Voight), followed by Trace Adkins as the Angel of Death.
None of this is particularly compelling or funny, unless you enjoy watching Farley getting slapped multiple times during the dragging 90-minute running time. Missing the witty satire it originally promised, “An American Carol” proves Zucker clearly lacks the energy and creativity he had back when he made films such as “Airplane” and “The Naked Gun” flicks.
Freaky quote: “Huh?" – Kevin Farley
The final word:
I’m pretty sure this film will disappear as quickly and quietly as it popped up in theaters. It’s probably the best for all of us. Skip this one.