CubsandCulture

This is a silly and campy film. It is more or less a series of sketches connected by the thinnest of plots. The sketches vary in quality-the bake sale sequence is better than the wet undies contest by way of example-but the film is always amusing or sweet. The guys are all hunky; they give good enough performances. The direction is competent. This is a low budget film intended for a niche audience. It generally works but given the lack of light fare and silly films for gay men sometimes we have to take what we can get.

In the end the film has enough self-awareness to make its budgetary and narrative shortcomings go down smoothly. I think this lacks appeal for general audiences. That it fills space very few films try to tackle is its selling point.

Growing up this was one of my favorite comedies. I hadn't seen it in years until a few days ago when I watched it on a lark. It still holds up fairly well. It is a little too broad, and some of the parodies are too obvious. But it is a very funny film. The cast has great chemistry; the formal elements of filmmaking are surprisingly polished. (I would argue the effects work is better here than in the prequel trilogy). It is a very entertaining 90 minutes or so.

The feature I like best is just how goofy the film is. Nowadays a lot of films-even comedies-are dour and too branded. There is a great libertine quality to this film; as if it largely exists to amuse its makers. Despite being a work of parody that references such diverse films as the planet of apes, it happened one night and alien it is self-contained and complete.

This is not peak Brooks but it great for what it is:. A comedy that cares about yuks.

The writers and/or Amazon are fairly risk adverse; the show is too closely modelled on early Game of Thrones and they feel the need inject all the major elements from LOTR proper for the more causal fans. (i.e., the balrog, the likely identity of the stranger). This often leads to basic plotting and characterization. The storyline engages but it is a bit rote. I also think the writers could have stuck closer to Tolkien's intent but they clearly prioritized linking up to the Jackson's films. And I think the show *does* do that well. The show on the page is merely competent as a piece of fantasy. I hope they bring in some new writers in the future to punch up the script. That said the big reveal of where Sauron was really worked for me.

The show ends up being better than its scripts because pretty much every other aspect of filmmaking is so good. The production values are great and the direction is strong enough to transport the viewer into Middle Earth. I really like the cast-I especially like the blokes who play Elrond and Durin IV. It is a shame that bunch of reactionaries have drowned out sincere criticism because of the cast.

I will be watching the second season. I hope the writers take more risks.