MacGruber: The Best Movie in the Last Five Years

If you're already shaking your head after reading the title of this post, then allow me to illuminate you on what you've been missing. Because, clearly only a person who has never seen the movie would think me insane for making such a statement like that. Point of order, MacGruber is the best movie to come out of Hollywood in the last five years.


It's funny.
Real funny. I like Bridesmaids. The reason why I mention this movie, because everyone deems Bridesmaids to be the funniest movie in a while and yes, I agree. It's funny. I enjoy that movie. But it's too long. 20 minutes too long. MacGruber is a lean 90 minutes of laughs. If you've seen Bridesmaids, then why not follow Wiig to MacGruber and see what you're missing.

80s/90s Action Cinema
The movie is clearly an homage to the 80s and 90s action movies I grew up loving, even if its not the intention of the creative team behind the movie. In fact, that's exactly why its a great homage. Hot Fuzz was a fantastic send-off of action flicks and carried a "wink and nod" mentality with the audience throughout. MacGruber is different. It strikes gold because the movie lives and breathes that 80s/90s action genre. It's not making fun of it. It's reveling in it.

The Lead
MacGruber is not only the world's only hope for survival, he fucking knows it, too. The man does not take shit from anyone and, when faced with a difficult decision, he stubbornly refuses to think things through. He just...does. Guys are shooting at him? Grab the kid next to you and use him as a shield. Guards at the gate? Shove a piece of celery in your ass and distract them. (Damn right, don't wash that thing!) No gun? No problem. Just rip a few throats with your bare hands. Guy cuts you off with his car? Obsess about it until you find that guy and his car and torch it!

The Dialogue
The ultimate deflowering line when told by his soon-to-be lover, Vicky St. Claire, as he's about to kiss her: "Wait, I'm a virgin" and MacGruber comes back with: "Not for long." Come on! It screams machismo and ridiculousness at the same time and you love it! (Not to mention the Top Gun-esque love scene which rivals Hot Shots)

Speaking of Hot Shots...
...and The Naked Gun series and Airplane! Where have these movies gone? The inane comedy genre has always been a favorite of mine. Not only the David Zucker directed laugh-fests, but other comedies that teeter on the brink of surrealism. Clue, Real Genius, and the aforementioned Hot Fuzz are all classic comedies in my book.

Finally, I have one more reason why MacGruber is the best movie in the last five years...the man knows how to enter a party. (Look below)

Episode 4 - SFTM - A Mess in the lobby

As is the case with most of the episodes, based on true events. And this kind of, sort of happened to me one matinee back in the early 2000s. Hope you like!

Advice: The Play-doh of the Conversation World

I'd like to talk about advice. Giving it. Getting it. Using it. Ignoring it. Filtering it. Avoiding it. All sorts of things you can do with it. It's the play-doh of the conversation world!

Some people offer advice, not even aware they're doing so. Then there are those people who only look to give it out and never want to hear it from others. I know plenty...plenty of people like that.

When I was a stubborn, head-strong youth first thinking I was going to make a movie and people would recognize my brilliance, I hated advice. I always viewed it as someone telling me what to do. Telling me I was doing something wrong and I should do it there way or I would never succeed. Obviously, this was a foolish notion. (As well as the notion of my brilliance - Ego much?!) It took a few terrible projects and some late nights staring at the ceiling wondering what the heck was I doing with my life to realize how idiotic I was behaving.

Now, I didn't start listening to everyone overnight. But I opened that door to let advice in and think on it. Soon enough, I began using it. And of course, I went to the other extreme. If I had an idea and someone didn't like it and suggested I do something else, I immediately agreed with them and trashed the original notion. While that may seem like taking advice and running with it, too often than not I was sacrificing my own ideals for the ideals and plans of others.

After writing a script for someone to only have it ignored and have my phone calls never returned, did I realize another key part of getting advice. Sometimes it's not coming from an entirely unbiased point of view. There's a reason a lot of low-end producers are still producing product. It's off the backs and dreams of others. They misrepresent themselves as mentors and give out advice, which at first, seems fantastic. You can't imagine the feeling of joy one gets when they suddenly realize their working on a project they've only been thinking about for years. That joy is quickly marred by the trusty mentor soon angling to funnel all the profits, credit and ultimately the project itself under their own name.

It's a tough lesson to learn, especially when, like most struggling writers and filmmakers, you're not coming from a place of money.

The art of filtering advice is born. Sure, open your doors to advice. But you must sit on it. Ruminate with it. Think about where it's coming from. Listen for red flags. "We'll get the money." Or my favorite, "Do this one for free and I'll take care of you on the next project." This filtering technique is not only vital with people who just meet in the business. It's also essential with a hidden obstacle on your road to success. Your friends and family.

Now, I'm not saying your friends and family are not supportive. Their advice is key to your success because they know you. They love you. (Yes, your friends love you dudes. Get over it.) They want you to win. They want you to achieve your dreams. And if they don't? If their jealous and talk behind your back, than they're not your friends. Dump them into your acquaintance circle. Google Plus their ass in real life.

The advice you receive from your loved ones is valued, but remember, just because it's from a good place doesn't mean you should follow it blindly. Again, filter it. Think about it, then act.

Personally, I try not to give unsolicited advice. When everyone is in a group and we're all talking about writing and the work, I don't just blurt out, "This is what you need to do..." Nobody wants to hear that. I give examples of what I've done, good or bad, win or fail. If someone asks me straight out for advice, I give it. It comes from a place of what I would've wanted to hear. What I still want to hear. The truth. The honest to good truth. Fair. Unbiased. Meaningful.

I want everyone I meet and admire to succeed in life. Any advice I give comes from that place. But that's me. People have self-motivated interests and, even if they don't mean it or not, their advice is tainted with those interests.

Remember. Filter. Filter. Filter.

Then act!

Episode 3: Refill

Enjoy the grossness of customers.

Episode 2.2 - On Patrol

Meet Greg's new boss.

The Emotional Fire

I asked this question on Twitter and Facebook a week or so ago and it was promptly ignored. Lovely, right? No worries. I shall avenge this treachery with a blog post. Actually, I’m just asking the question all over again.

What fuels you more? The love and support of those around you or the jealously and smack talk of those who would rather see you fail?

Think about it. Do you push through those walls of doubt, insecurity, unwilling participants, stingy producers and so on with the help of the knowledge that you have good friends and a loving family? Or do you overcome all those obstacles with a seething anger to stuff it in the faces of those who would rather see you fail than succeed at anything in life?

I know my answer. It’s the latter. But the former does help with the self-doubt and insecurity. My family gives me the support I need to chase this dream and my wife has more than enough times figuratively slapped me in the face for talking of quitting. My lovely children, who care not for what I do and how I do it, love me all the same and more. Even when I run into people who are shallow, callous and overall ignorant of their place in this world, I think upon my children and realize if they don’t care, then I don’t care either.

But…

The anger. The revenge. The call to show someone that they may tell me “no”, they may deride me behind my back, they may even flat out slam me to people who are my friends and will, in fact, tell me of their evil speak; This spiteful calling is too powerful to ignore.

I rage against those who snub their nose in my direction. I can’t make a feature? Watch me. I’m foolish to create a web series. Watch me. Why would you spend money to make a short that few people might see? Pay attention and watch me.

Now, I’m not on the set of these productions with rage in my eyes as I bark orders from atop a director’s chair as if I’m commanding an army to storm some sort of beach. It’s a quiet rage, a tiny spark of spitefulness. It’s an ember that keeps the passion alive within. I use it and harness it to push my projects forward.

I’m not afraid to admit that I use both sides of the emotional barrier to further my learning and bring forth my projects. You shouldn’t be, too. It’s great to be altruistic and all loving. I’m happy for those who find joy, love and opportunity around every corner not matter the derision from others.

I’m not wired that way. I’m pretty sure a lot of us are not wired that way either. If you find yourself angry about someone’s words or if you’re distraught over a rejection, fear not. It’s all fuel for your fire. Use it. Stoke that passion that burns inside you.

Hate or Love. It’s all the same in the end.

It’s useful.

Season Two begins!!!

Enjoy!