With its far left viewpoint, it is no wonder that films such as Fahrenheit 911 and Sicko have made their way into cinemas across the country. However, many people have grown tired of 'stars' like Michael Moore, who continuously portrays America as being unintelligent and unfair. And with the election coming up, independent directors are constantly looking for their own path to success, creating film after film that deals with the mess-ups and mishandlings of the current Bush administration. But in the midst of all the hoopla, director David Zucker has attempted to create an against-stereotype tale in An American Carol, a clever, though dull blend of A Christmas Carol and the last few uninteresting and stupid Scary Movie films.
As the film opens, we are greeted with a grandfather, played by Leslie Nielsen, who is telling a story to his grandchildren. The time of year is summer, July the 4th to be exact, and the story revolves around a man, a man who sets out to ruin Independence Day.
The man, known in the film as Michael Malone, is a direct hit at political 'documentary' director Michael Moore. And while the film attacks everything from his viewpoint on Americans in Iraq to his physical appearance, it is the constant interjections of anti-patriotism that help to give the film some life. From the cousin who is enlisted in the military to Malone's unsuccessful attempts to break out of the documentary world and into that of feature film, the moments of vast parody are what make the film, allowing for slight chuckles from the audience and prevents anyone from exiting the theater during the otherwise monotonous dry moments.
But more than the laugh-out-loud antics that the film so desperately tries to flourish in, An American Carol works simply because it is so anti-Hollywood. From the poking fun at Michael Moore to the constant reference that war is good, the film is so unexpected and so out of the ordinary, that you can't help but sit back and enjoy the sudden change of pace.
Additionally, I have to give the film credit for its many attempts to create funny moments out of otherwise serious subjects. In the course of the film, Michael Monroe is taken back through time by three separate spirits (one of which is Kelsey Grammer as the real-life Patton), reliving the numerous wars that America has fought in and seeing their impact on the world today. At the same moment, he is able to see the effects that no war would have had, as Hitler would have slowly taken over the world, slavery would have never been seen as wrong and the country that we know would have been broken into numerous smaller nations, each governed by a different body. The thought is haunting, thus providing a reality check to both Monroe and those in the audience.
But more than a lesson, the film is meant to be a fun and enjoyable experience, both of which are somewhat fulfilled. However, though it was a solid attempt, the film carries too much weight as it finds itself dragging in the mud only minutes in, never gaining the speed necessary to pull it out onto the grass. And though it is a great change of scenery, even a cameo/performance by newly reinstated country star Trace Adkins can't save this film from falling below the radar and providing little to no change in the minds and hearts of Americans. But then again, I am starting to think that the film held little political meaning whatsoever, a sudden change by Hollywood's standards.
