Review of Freddy Got Fingered

Introduction

Whether you love or hate him, you have to give credit where it`s due, Tom Green is an inspiration to all aspiring `comedians`. Here`s a guy who started at the very bottom rung in the industry, and even after receiving the axe from a number of sub-standard cable-stations, he stuck at it & landed a slot in the dizzy heights of the MTV studios. From there on, he never looked back & gathered a huge cult following, setting the standards for the new age of 21st century comedians. When his show concluded in 99, Tom Green stood as almost an icon in his profession, and filmmaking opportunities were being thrown at him from just about every studio in Hollywood, but here`s his first, and regrettably maybe his last.

To say his diverse humour was not particularly well received by some critics, during his four-year reign on the prime music station, is an under-statement of the highest order. That said, none would disapprove more of Green`s antics more than the poor unfortunate souls on the receiving-end of his odd pranks, ranging from mall security guards to that of even dairy farm animals, which needless to say, resulted in some hilarious sketches on his cult show.

Still, there`s a big difference in real-life humour & that, which is scripted for a movie, and I didn`t think Tom`s ways would appeal on the big-screen. But the omens of the supporting cast were good, with legendary Rip Torn & `pie` star Eddie `Finch` Kaye Thomas signed up personally by Green.

I knew what I was going to get before I even prepared to watch this movie, and ultimately I wasn`t going to be disappointed.

Video

The admirable image quality is spot on here, with the implemented bright colours superbly balanced, complimenting the colourful nature of the film. There`s no sign of grain or smearing, it`s fantastic work, which sets the standard for the rest of the disc.

Audio

Good usage of a variation of tracks further enhance the laugh factor in the movie, for instance you`ll wail when you hear the tacky animal theme played while Tom is bathing himself in a Deer`s bloody entrails! The track itself is great, and the balancing between dialogue & background noise (and there is a lot) is perfect.

Features

This sector of the disk is strong throughout, and introduces an original addition in the form of a `laugh-track`. The laugh track is an aural recording of the live audience, which attended the World Premiere back in March 2001, and is played through the movie. It`s not a ground breaking extra, but it`s nice to hear people`s reactions to certain scenes in the movie, and it`s likely they`ll echo with your own, whether it is screams of laughter or of total disgust. Another track supplied is of course, a commentary by the man himself, writer, director & star of the movie, Tom Green. It`s not what you`d expect though, as people wanting to listen to mindless gibberish true to his form, will be disappointed to realize it`s all conducted in a very professional & well narrated manor.

There are also some rather amusing `making of` documentaries, one of which is another MTV promo aired just before the movie`s release. Also the short `kid friendly` version of Freddy Got Fingered is quite amusing & worth a look, as it compiles all suitable & none-explicit material into a short movie, all two minutes of them.

There is also a healthy selection of trailers & production/cast notes. Good stuff.

Conclusion

Unfairly slated in my opinion, I found this movie hilarious throughout, if slightly lacking a little taste. There are an awful lot of scenes which many people wont be able to stomach, but the fact remains, you know before-hand what you`re going to get when you watch a Tom Green movie, so that`s no excuse.

I was particularly impressed with the amount of work, which had gone into the disc as a whole, with some innovative extras, great aural & visual presentation, and a top-notch commentary to boot. All resulting in a marvellous treat for Tom Green fans.

Summarising, I find it hard to recommend this to any neutrals, as the feedback on the net wasn`t too clever. However, if you`re a fan of Tom Green, I suggest you pick this one up as it is an absolute gem of disc. Great stuff!