I enjoy my comedy black, blacker than space if I can get it. You can imagine my excitement when I learned of “Wristcutters: A Love Story” (a romantic comedy involving suicide victims in the afterlife).
I think we all can agree that suicide is hilarious and is a breath of fresh air to the buzzkill genre known as the Romantic Comedy. Sadly the film is already getting flack for its ad campaign before it has even begun. We find the story at Yahoo.
The images will depict people jumping off a bridge, electrocuting and hanging themselves. The acclaimed film follows a group of people that have committed suicide (including stars Patrick Fugit and Shannyn Sossamon) as they take a road trip through purgatory.
“You don’t see people making fun of other causes of death, but you see it with suicide and mental illness,” Robert Gebbia, executive director of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), wrote in a letter to the film’s backers.
When people try to dictate what we can and cannot make jokes about I tend to get my fir up a little. First off, ALL forms of death under the sun have been made fun of (Kenny from South Park alone has probably covered most of them). Second, the co – owner of After Dark Films claims that the signs are modeled after stop and yield signs with lines though the suicide picture (ala ghostbusters) and will have hearts on the poster indicating the hilarious contrast of love and suicide. Third, shouldn’t the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention be spending their time on the real enemies – Superbowl Sunday and Christmas? I think so.
I will be following this ongoing story closely for all my international friends. Needless to say I am pumped to see this film (Aug 31st release) and anxiously look forward to reviewing it – unless of course, I kill myself.
I have to say I agree with Doug. Seems like they’re missing the real problem in all of this.
And Doug, nice to see your comedy converts to the written word! Welcome aboard!
This came to my college and screened with the director and star Patrick Fugit. I got tickets. I was happy.
But I was an idiot.
I completely forgot about it until the day after.
I am high on glue and Kurt Russell
If he’s late 2 days in a row rake him over the fucking coals.
BTW it’s 2pm…how drunk are you guys by now? You gotta be having liquid lunches right?
The people behind the controversy of this movie are also behind those controversial ads for that Captivity movie. Coincidence? Me no think so.
Hey Prophecy
HAHA!!! As a matter of fact… Doug WAS late today (his first day). But, he did finally remember to bring my coat back.
Did Doug make it to work on time today or was he hauled in to the bosses office? I’d love to be there for his tardy excuses:
Sorry John but I have a note from Mrs. Epstein for ya.
Well John I was drowning babies in Mexico.
Sorry John but I was out last night with Shock the Box.
Who is this crude Naggy fellah then? I hope this isn’t a sign of what is to come, because I don’t care at all for this new breath of comedy. MAKING FUN of suicide victims!??!?! What kind of person would even think of doing something that diabolical? The only thing that could bring you back in God’s good graces is finding and saucifying the horse that flung off superman back in 95. In the mean time I will pray for you and your black soul.
Simply put, i pretty much agree with you. I REALLY just wanted to have the honor of leaving a comment on the first Doug Nagy post!
Cheers to Doug!
Hey Doug, good first article for your full time employment at TMB. Once again congratulations! I wouldn’t be surprised if some people wind up going out and getting hit by a train after seeing this movie, but I, like you Doug, like the dark humor and comedy. I’m anxious to see this one.
That’s ridiculous. The freakin’ title alludes to suicide, the plot is all about suicide, there isn’t a character in the movie who hasn’t committed suicide. They might as well just called the movie Suicide: Only funny. This is clearly a case of “we have nothing better to do so lets get mad about this harmless movie that is so indie and dark a lot of people won’t see already so we can feel good about ourselves when they don’t.”
For the record though I saw the movie at the Seattle International Film Festival last year and absolutely loved it, and I only saw it because of the title and because the kid from Almost Famous.
Oh and I am extremely honored to be the first to reply to a doug post.