Saturday, February 11, 2006

My Little Buttercup . . . The 3 Amigos

I must speak in defense of The 3 Amigos.  I realize this rebuttal is a bit belated, but hey, I’ve been busy.  Furthermore I’m arguing against some vague internet personality, which isn’t terribly high on my priority list.

The 3 Amigos is a stupid movie.  Few would argue against that point.  It is about stupid people, doing stupid things, with stupid results.  Slapstick abounds, plot holes gape and invisible swordsmen are shot.  However, it is meant as entertainment, and for me at least, it fulfills the measure of its existence.  I was entertained.  

Stupid movies can’t really be compared to any movie that is meant to be taken seriously.  The writers knew they were writing something completely silly.  The actors signed up knowing their roles would be goofy and inconsequential.  This is everyone’s intent.  However, neither the actors or writers (in this case both include Steve Martin) are dummies.  It takes a certain degree of intelligence to craft such a comical tale.  Stupidity doesn’t equate with humor, and I could cite many examples of stupid movies that completely fail to amuse the audience.  But when genuinely intelligent people craft something silly, the results can be fantastic.  You can just turn off your brain and enjoy the film, but you’ll miss additional layers of humor.  A good stupid movie will actually make you use your brain a bit (not A LOT, but a bit) in a new and different way.  

The 3 Amigos isn’t my favorite stupid movie, but I feel it’s a valid contribution to the cannon.  Monty Python definitely holds that place on my list.  I can think of no better example of a group of very intelligent people (some would go as far as saying geniuses) making an incredibly silly film that has delighted millions.  It’s true that many will simply rejoice in the killer rabbits and bloody dismemberments, but the PHDs get their fill of clever worldplay and satire.  

Plus, stupid movies have the best quotes.

He’s not just famous.  He’s INfamous!

I would not like to think that someone would tell someone else he has a plethora, and then find out that that person has *no idea* what it means to have a plethora.

Later you can kiss me on the Veranda – The lips will be fine.

Can I have your watch when you are dead?

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

"Vague internet personality"? That is a little harsh. It is untrue as well, in that I did formally introduce myself and provide sufficient bigraphical data to be other than anonymous (or vague).

I have watched many a stupid movie myself and enjoyed too many of them. I confess though that I have not acquired a taste for inane slapstick--perhaps if I had had more brothers... I do love Monty Python however so I am perhaps not quite as highbrow as I like to think.

I watched and enjoyed Elizabethtown last night--not my usual fare and definitely not a bro show, but a romantic tale of redemption. Shades of the teenage novel "Star-girl" if you ever read it. Condolences on the cardio trauma.