The biggest movie trailer released this week was undoubtedly The Legend of Tarzan, which stars super-hunk Alexander Skarsgård as the titular King of the Jungle who does awesome things like punching gorillas. (Where was he at that zoo?) While that one can be viewed in this week’s round-up of movie trailers, I want to focus on four documentary trailers. I know, normally I hear “documentary” and I just think of Ogre from Revenge of the Nerds, but all four of these trailers have me trading in my sleeveless Alpha Beta letterman jacket for a Tri-Lam cardigan.
The first two trailers focus on a subject near and dear to my heart – stand-up comedy – and while the star-studded Dying Laughing will tug at your heart strings with an appearance by the late Garry Shandling, I’m kicking things off with my Trailer of the Week for Can We Take a Joke?, which examines the critical topic of today’s culture and comics affected by people who are offended by everything.
Can We Take a Joke?
Starring: Gilbert Gottfried, Penn Jillette, Lisa Lampanelli, Jim Norton, and Adam Carolla
Directed by: Ted Balaker
What’s it about?
In the age of social media, nearly every day brings a new eruption of outrage. While people have always found something to be offended by, their ability to organize a groundswell of opposition to – and public censure of – their offender has never been more powerful. Today we’re all one clumsy joke away from public ruin. Can We Take A Joke? offers a thought-provoking and wry exploration of outrage culture through the lens of stand-up comedy, with notables like Gilbert Gottfried, Penn Jillette, Lisa Lampanelli, and Adam Carolla detailing its stifling impact on comedy and the exchange of ideas. What will the future will be like if we can’t learn how to take a joke? [YouTube]
I could write a book about this concept and the idea that people have gotten too soft, as Karith Foster says in the trailer, but a lot of words can be summed up with this idea: humor is subjective. I think Gottfried is one of the funniest men to ever live, but I know people who hate him. So, they don’t watch him just as I don’t watch Jeff Dunham. I’m thoroughly excited to watch this documentary to see how the subject is discussed, but I’d also like to see if they touch on the idea that maybe some comics who think they’re hilariously offensive aren’t as funny as they think. (Looking at you, Chelsea Handler.) Can We Take a Joke? attempts to silence the outraged on August 2.
Dying Laughing
Starring: Amy Schumer, Jerry Seinfeld, Garry Shandling, Chris Rock, and way more
Directed by: Lloyd Stanton, Paul Toogood
What’s it about?
The craft, creative process and complicated lives of Stand-up Comedians. [IMDb]
With outrage comes the negative reaction, and Dying Laughing examines what it’s like for the most popular comics in the world to bomb. How does it affect the mental well-being and even personal lives of these seemingly invincible people who are opening up and wearing their smiles on their sleeves? This looks like the perfect documentary for the struggling open mic comedians who wonder if their break will ever come. In the meantime, I’m stuck on Jamie Foxx picking his nose. Wait until the camera is off, dude. Dying Laughing debuted at the L.A. Film Festival on June 4, but has no further release date yet.
Breaking a Monster
Starring: Malcolm Brickhouse, Jarad Dawkins, Alec Atkins
Directed by: Luke Meyer
What’s it about?
BREAKING A MONSTER chronicles the break-out year of the band UNLOCKING THE TRUTH, following 13-year-old members Alec Atkins, Malcolm Brickhouse and Jarad Dawkins as they first encounter stardom and the music industry, transcending childhood to become the rock stars they always dreamed of being. [IMDb]
This looks f*cking awesome, friends. Not only does it give us an even more personal look at the inspirational story of the teen metal band Unlocking the Truth, but the footage of what those three kids have had to deal with in the music industry is enthralling and infuriating. Everyone shut up and let these kids rock our f*cking faces off and become stars in the process. Breaking a Monster crushes our skulls on June 24.
Man Vs Snake: The Long and Twisted Tale of Nibbler
Starring: Tim McVey, Dwayne Richard, Tina McVey
Directed by: Tim Kinzy, Andrew Seklir
What’s it about?
MAN VS SNAKE tells the story of Tim McVey who, in 1984, on a single quarter (and over 44 hours of non-stop play) was the first person in history to score over one billion points on a video game. 25 years later, rumors of a higher score surface online, attributed to Italian kickboxing champion Enrico Zanetti. This calls into question everything Tim McVey has believed for decades and forces him to make a decision: either set a new world record, or risk losing his legacy forever. [YouTube]
I don’t know much about Tim’s story (Tim McVey, not Timothy McVeigh) or the competitive nature of the arcade gaming lifestyle, but this trailer looks fantastic, and the parade of weird people makes it truly fascinating. Man Vs Snake is available for pre-order on iTunes and will be released on June 24.
The Legend of Tarzan
Starring: Margot Robbie, Alexander Skarsgård, Samuel L. Jackson, Cristoph Waltz
Directed by: David Yates
What’s it about?
Tarzan, having acclimated to life in London, is called back to his former home in the jungle to investigate the activities at a mining encampment. [IMDb]
Okay, back to the regular movies. Skarsgård swaps the legacy of the small screen’s hunkiest vampire for the big screen’s biggest swingin’ jungle stud in this A-list-packed adaptation of the classic story. This time we get to see what happens when Tarzan is living a normal life in London and he has to return to the jungle to say, “Me Tarzan, you dead.” Tarzan swings into theaters on June 30.
Yoga Hosers
Starring: Johnny Depp’s daughter, Kevin Smith’s daughter
Directed by: Kevin Smith
What’s it about?
Two teenage yoga enthusiasts team up with a legendary man-hunter to battle with an ancient evil presence that is threatening their major party plans. [IMDb]
Yeah, we’ve already talked about this movie and nothing has changed. In its defense, it was made by Kevin Smith for Kevin Smith fans, because he doesn’t care about his haters and that’s fine. He also possibly made it so his daughter can break into acting with a starring role, and that’s fine, too, because if you have the opportunity to make someone famous, you do it. It’ll be up to her to simply find better roles moving forward. Yoga Hosers rolls eyes on July 29.
Guernica
Starring: Burn Gorman, James D’Arcy, Jack Davenport
Directed by: Koldo Serra
What’s it about?
The fates of Henry – a cynical American correspondent who has lost his soul – and Teresa, one of the Republic’s censors and in charge of overseeing the news that journalists can send abroad, cross in Gernika. [IMDb]
Quick power rankings of the names involved with this film: 1) Burn Gorman, 2) Koldo Serra, 3) Joachim Paul Assböck, 4) Everyone else. Guernica, which better have a Brand New song on its soundtrack, opens in Spain on July 22, so book your travel plans if you’re too impatient for a U.S. release.
