Seen on: October 5, 2008
The players: Director: David Zucker, Writers: David Zucker, Myrna Sokoloff, Lewis Friedman, Cast: Kevin P. Farley, Kelsey Grammer, Jon Voight, Trace Adkins, James Woods, Jon Voight
Facts of interest: None at all.
The plot: An infamous anti-American documentary filmmaker is visited by three ghosts who show him why there's no room for too much liberalism in the United States.
Our thoughts: David Zucker’s “An American Carol” could have been a funny satire, but as it turns out, it’s nothing but a missed opportunity. I really don’t mind watching a right-wing comedy poking fun at Michael Moore and liberalism in the United States, but I do expect it to be worth my time and money. Too bad I didn’t get what I hoped for…...
The players: Director: David Zucker, Writers: David Zucker, Myrna Sokoloff, Lewis Friedman, Cast: Kevin P. Farley, Kelsey Grammer, Jon Voight, Trace Adkins, James Woods, Jon Voight
Facts of interest: None at all.
The plot: An infamous anti-American documentary filmmaker is visited by three ghosts who show him why there's no room for too much liberalism in the United States.
Our thoughts: David Zucker’s “An American Carol” could have been a funny satire, but as it turns out, it’s nothing but a missed opportunity. I really don’t mind watching a right-wing comedy poking fun at Michael Moore and liberalism in the United States, but I do expect it to be worth my time and money. Too bad I didn’t get what I hoped for…...
- 10/7/2008
- by Franck Tabouring
- screeninglog.com
In David Zucker's flat-footed would-be satire An American Carol, a porky documentarian modeled on Michael Moore (Kevin Farley) sees the light after visitations by ghosts of conservatism past. Zucker, whose résumé runs from Airplane! and The Naked Gun through the last two entries in the Scary Movie series, has never shown much interest in big-screen politics, and his gag-driven style doesn't adapt particularly well to political humor. There's only so much wackiness to be mined from suicide-bomber jokes. Zucker co-wrote An American Carol with Myrna Sokoloff and Lewis Friedman, tasking the former with plot and the latter with jokes, which explains why the movie seems to be so often at cross-purposes, attempting to wring laughs out of hysterical exaggerations and ponderous lectures. It's like watching an improv comedy group whose premises consist entirely of Republican talking points. "Neville Chamberlin is signing away the Sudetenland — go!" (Zucker and Sokoloff...
- 10/4/2008
- by Sam Adams
- avclub.com
"An American Carol" is coming to a theater near you, whether you like it or not.
A zany comedy that promises to offend Hollywood's liberal sensibilities -- coming just one month before the presidential election -- there's more riding on "Carol" than one might expect.
For one, it's the first wide release distributed by Vivendi Entertainment, which launched as a theatrical distribution company in March. Vivendi will open "Carol" on 2,000 screens Oct. 3.
And "Carol" is the first theatrical production from Mpower Pictures, the studio co-founded by Mel Gibson's longtime producing partner Steve McEveety.
It's loosely based on "A Christmas Carol," only instead of Ebenezer Scrooge learning an appreciation for Christmas, a Michael Moore-type filmmaker who is visited by the ghosts of George Washington, George Patton and President Kennedy must learn to appreciate the USA.
"Carol" isn't the only politically charged film set for wide release before voters head to the polls Nov.
A zany comedy that promises to offend Hollywood's liberal sensibilities -- coming just one month before the presidential election -- there's more riding on "Carol" than one might expect.
For one, it's the first wide release distributed by Vivendi Entertainment, which launched as a theatrical distribution company in March. Vivendi will open "Carol" on 2,000 screens Oct. 3.
And "Carol" is the first theatrical production from Mpower Pictures, the studio co-founded by Mel Gibson's longtime producing partner Steve McEveety.
It's loosely based on "A Christmas Carol," only instead of Ebenezer Scrooge learning an appreciation for Christmas, a Michael Moore-type filmmaker who is visited by the ghosts of George Washington, George Patton and President Kennedy must learn to appreciate the USA.
"Carol" isn't the only politically charged film set for wide release before voters head to the polls Nov.
- 9/14/2008
- by By Paul Bond
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Vivendi Entertainment has acquired North American distribution rights to David Zucker's "An American Carol," which it plans to release theatrically nationwide Oct. 3.
The film -- a flag-waving variation on "A Christmas Carol" -- follows a cynical Hollywood filmmaker who has been trying to abolish the Fourth of July. He is visited by three ghosts who teach him the meaning of America.
Zucker co-wrote and directed the film, which he produced with Mpower Pictures' Stephen McEveety and John Shepherd. Zucker's co-writers are Lewis Friedman and Myrna Sokoloff. Sokoloff also executive produced.
The cast includes Kevin Farley, Kelsey Grammer, Trace Adkins, Leslie Nielsen, Dennis Hopper, James Woods, Robert Davi and Jon Voight.
The deal was brokered by Yolanda Macias for Vivendi Entertainment and Todd Burns for Mpower.
The film -- a flag-waving variation on "A Christmas Carol" -- follows a cynical Hollywood filmmaker who has been trying to abolish the Fourth of July. He is visited by three ghosts who teach him the meaning of America.
Zucker co-wrote and directed the film, which he produced with Mpower Pictures' Stephen McEveety and John Shepherd. Zucker's co-writers are Lewis Friedman and Myrna Sokoloff. Sokoloff also executive produced.
The cast includes Kevin Farley, Kelsey Grammer, Trace Adkins, Leslie Nielsen, Dennis Hopper, James Woods, Robert Davi and Jon Voight.
The deal was brokered by Yolanda Macias for Vivendi Entertainment and Todd Burns for Mpower.
- 8/1/2008
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- Country star Trace Adkins will make a ghostly appearance opposite Kelsey Grammer in David Zucker's indie Christmas comedy "American Carol".
Jon Voight, Leslie Nielsen and Dennis Hopper have cameos in the takeoff on Charles Dickens' classic holiday tale. The singer will play the Spirit of Christmas Future (aka the Grim Reaper), who uses his musical abilities to help Scrooge (Grammer) avoid a tragic end.
Adkins made his screen debut in this year's Slamdance entry "Trailer Park of Terror", appeared on NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice" and wrote the 2007 Villiard book "A Personal Stand: Observations and Opinions From a Freethinking Roughneck." His new single, "You're Gonna Miss This", just hit No. 1 on the Billboard country singles chart.
Mpower Pictures' Stephen McEveety, John Shepherd and Zucker are producing. Zucker co-wrote the screenplay with exec producer Myrna Sokoloff. The film is shooting in Los Angeles through April 15.
Jon Voight, Leslie Nielsen and Dennis Hopper have cameos in the takeoff on Charles Dickens' classic holiday tale. The singer will play the Spirit of Christmas Future (aka the Grim Reaper), who uses his musical abilities to help Scrooge (Grammer) avoid a tragic end.
Adkins made his screen debut in this year's Slamdance entry "Trailer Park of Terror", appeared on NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice" and wrote the 2007 Villiard book "A Personal Stand: Observations and Opinions From a Freethinking Roughneck." His new single, "You're Gonna Miss This", just hit No. 1 on the Billboard country singles chart.
Mpower Pictures' Stephen McEveety, John Shepherd and Zucker are producing. Zucker co-wrote the screenplay with exec producer Myrna Sokoloff. The film is shooting in Los Angeles through April 15.
- 3/31/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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