Movie 43 (2013)

A series of interconnected short films follows a washed-up producer as he pitches insane story lines featuring some of the biggest stars in Hollywood.

Directors:

Bob Odenkirk, Elizabeth Banks,

Writers:

Rocky Russo, Jeremy Sosenko,

Stars:

Liev Schreiber, Emma Stone, Richard Gere

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dennis Quaid	...	Charlie Wessler (segment "The Pitch")
Greg Kinnear	...	Griffin Schraeder (segment "The Pitch")
Common	...	Bob Mone (segment "The Pitch")
Charlie Saxton	...	Jay (segment "The Pitch")
Will Sasso	...	Jerry (segment "The Pitch")
Odessa Rae	...	Danita (segment "The Pitch")
Seth MacFarlane	...	Seth MacFarlane (segment "The Pitch")
Mike Meldman	...	Mike Meldman (segment "The Pitch")
Hugh Jackman	...	Davis (segment "The Catch")
Kate Winslet	...	Beth (segment "The Catch")
Julie Claire	...	Pamela (segment "The Catch")
Katie Finneran	...	Angie (segment "The Catch")
Roy Jenkins	...	Ray (segment "The Catch")
Rocky Russo	...	Waiter Jake (segment "The Catch")
Anna Madigan	...	Anna (segment "The Catch")

Storyline

A series of interconnected short films follows a washed-up producer as he pitches insane story lines featuring some of the biggest stars in Hollywood.

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Plot Keywords:

slapstick | sketch comedy | crude humor | ensemble cast | gross out humor | 

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Taglines:

The biggest cast ever assembled for the most outrageous comedy ever made.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong pervasive crude and sexual content including dialogue, graphic nudity, language, some violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 January 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

Truth or Dare

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$4,805,878 (USA) (25 January 2013)

Gross:

$8,828,771 (USA) (8 March 2013)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Relativity Media, Virgin Produced, GreeneStreet Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Trey Parker and Matt Stone were initially set to direct a segment but later dropped out.

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Quotes

Robert: It's very important to us that Kevin has a normal and complete high school experience.

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Crazy Credits

The "Beezel" segment runs in between the segment credits and the rest of the credits.

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Connections

Referenced in Chelsea Lately: Episode #6.194 (2012)

User Reviews

Still not as bad as "That's My Boy"

With a title that doesn't seem to have anything to do with the movie itself, "Movie 43" is essentially a bunch of individual comedy sketches that are not so much offensively vulgar (as promised) as they are offensively unfunny; and sloppily put together at that. Directed by a slew of different directors (but mostly by Peter Ferrely) and starring Kate Winslet, Liev Schreiber, Anna Faris, Naomi Watts, Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry and the list goes on (but you've surely seen the trailers by now) "Movie 43" is the newest movie hoping to push the boundaries of the raunchy American comedy. So, does it succeed? My consensus has to be…ehhhhhhh.

Yes, this is all very sophomoric, but that's not to say that there are not laughs to be found. In saying that, while I don't share quite the same loathsome regard for this film as many of my fellow critics do, those who come out of "Movie 43" proclaiming it a laugh riot, are probably the same people who classify Adam Sandler as a comedian or amuse themselves by watching syndicated episodes of America's Funniest Home Videos. Even with its star power and the potential comedic material each sketch promises, "Movie 43" isn't really a film worth watching. In fact, I will go so far as to make the early prediction that this is one film which seems destined to make it onto more than a few peoples "worst of 2013" lists.

Aside from the first two sketches (which are admittedly pretty damn funny) a final sketch which works primarily because of Terrance Howard (the African American basketball skit from the trailer) and a post final credit segment concerning a woman played by Elizabeth Banks, who is jealous of her boyfriend's pet cat (animated cat) that is somewhat funny, "Movie 43" is simply not nearly as funny as it promotes itself to be. In fact, about an hour and fifteen minutes of this movie is so unfunny, that it rivals anything seen in the "Scary Movie" franchise. And to top it all off, it's not like I haven't seen comedies which are more vulgar than this; and done better. So even to say that one should see "Movie 43" because it is the most vulgar movie of all time is in fact a misnomer; but one which will undoubtedly result in garnering more ticket sales.

Side Note: This is the type of sketch comedy movie that seems as if the actors had more fun making it than anybody could have watching it. So, no doubt there will be many critical reviews comparing this film to a bad episode of Saturday Night Live, in a tired attempt at comedy. But creating comedic parallels between "Movie 43" and SNL may be a misconception, when sadly most of this film is motivated by uninventive poo poo and pee pee jokes, more so the likes of the defunked MADTV, than any other sketch comedy show.

Final Thought: Even though it's the cocktail of wishful thinking that maybe the next bit is going to be better than the last boring bit, or the morbid curiosity that comes from wanting to see who will be the next big name actor/actress to make an appearance that does give this film it's momentum, "Movie 43" is severely hindered by the fact that it contains a runtime longer than 15 minutes. So, here's my advice: The first sketch in this movie centers around a woman played by Kate Winslet going out on a blind date, only to discover that it is with a man played by Hugh Jackman. Delighted by her good fortune, she prepares to accompany him for dinner. But when Jackman takes off his scarf, it is discovered that he has been hiding a mortifyingly hilarious secret. Now, I have just outlined the funniest sketch of the entire film. So, if you sit through this one, and don't laugh once, what I want you to do is, get up, make your way to the theater's box office and ask for your money back, because for you, it will only get worse from here.

Written by Markus Robinson, Edited by Nicole I. Ashland Follow me on Twitter @moviesmarkus