Seth Rogen and James Franco are making a new film, called ‘The Interview,’ and I do want to see it, if it gets shown, and if they leave the controversial bit in, but on the other hand there is certainly something to be said for taking it out, e.g. the prudent course, the more sensible alternative, a decision to err on the side of caution, etc., but back on the first hand it seems the controversial bit is basically the whole plot of the film.
The film is about two journalists who are part of a plot to assassinate Kim Jong-Un, so it’s really understandable that Kim Jong-Un is pissed off. The fact that he’s threatening to rain down nuclear terror is a bit more disconcerting. After all, President Obama probably gets death threats every day, and you don’t hear him flipping out.
Then again, President Obama isn’t comically short and fat and for some reason genetically required to have a ridiculous haircut. Seriously? Not laughing at Kim Jong Un sputtering like a tyrant is like not laughing at Chris Christie for being fat or at Rob Ford for being a big Raaasklat, mon, or at (with, excuse me, laughing with) Betty White for being old, or at Miley Cyrus for being a big skank. (I don’t actually think Miley Cyrus is a big skank. I think she’s playing the part of a big skank as part of a career move which is working out pretty well for her, but I like skanks to be genuine skanks). You just have to laugh at the guy.
So, on the one hand, free speech and comedy. On the other hand, how many people in the history of mankind have said “Hey, won’t it be funny if I knock over that hornet’s nest?” Lots of them. And it has often not ended well.
You know who else is easy to make fun of? Muslims. The funny clothes, the weird dietary habits, their 13th century child marrying ways. Never in the history of the world has a group of people been so blatantly mockable, not even the Jews. But if you make a film about Muslims, everybody flips out and starts Jihadin’ and stuff, and then everybody looks at the filmmaker like a big villain.
So, Seth Rogen and James Franco have just found a more PC target. Or maybe not.
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