Welcome to another edition of Adam's Reviews!! Queue in intro music**
Today's movie review is the comedy-drama Carbon Copy (1981) starring George Segal (Just Shoot Me alum) who plays a successful, closeted Jewish corporate executive having white-collar problems at his white community home of San Marino, California. Soon he finds his whole world turned on its head when he is confronted with a young illegitimate son he didn't know he had -- who also happens to be of African-American descent, played by my man Denzel Washington - who debuts in his first feature film!!
Firstly, this is not a good movie, it does have some funny parts and although dated a few are not too bad however fails in the major aspects of key issues including racism, segregation and stereotyping. The racist comments made towards Denzel's character are blatant and during this particular ear are quite obviously expected and accepted. In today's politically correct climate, even if the characters were racist, they would probably try to hide it or at least be slightly embarrassed by it. Here everyone expects and accepts racism as the norm. Many of the "jokes" are predicated on the mere fact that Denzel's skin colour is black. For example, in one scene George Segal's character arranges a two-on-two basketball match with a white father and son. He assumes that since his son is black that he must be good at basketball. Things don't go as planned and the comment made after the game...wow. I understand that the movie is meant to shine light on racial bigotry but failed to capture the wrongdoings and warm embrace on equality and unification. The movie for some reason leads towards teaching social economics rather than the problem on hand.
Many of the situations which both characters find themselves in are too absurd to be taken seriously but are not funny either. Yes, as mentioned before here are a few funny moments here and there in the film however they are few and far between. There is quite frankly no balance in the film due to changing topics and not combining it together by cutting to an absurd scene which is meant for humour relief. There is no soul and takes an interesting issue such as a culture clash but doesn't take it anywhere and quite frankly was insulting in many ways and given the fact the film had a predictable formula to work with, it failed to recognise the emotional level of the real problem. Another real problem of the movie to me was the 80's keyboard music - what is the go with that??
A great idea yet poorly executed in an era where these issues should have been invited the audience as problems that need to change, for example, Mississippi Burning. Overall 5.2/10.
Today's movie review is the comedy-drama Carbon Copy (1981) starring George Segal (Just Shoot Me alum) who plays a successful, closeted Jewish corporate executive having white-collar problems at his white community home of San Marino, California. Soon he finds his whole world turned on its head when he is confronted with a young illegitimate son he didn't know he had -- who also happens to be of African-American descent, played by my man Denzel Washington - who debuts in his first feature film!!
Firstly, this is not a good movie, it does have some funny parts and although dated a few are not too bad however fails in the major aspects of key issues including racism, segregation and stereotyping. The racist comments made towards Denzel's character are blatant and during this particular ear are quite obviously expected and accepted. In today's politically correct climate, even if the characters were racist, they would probably try to hide it or at least be slightly embarrassed by it. Here everyone expects and accepts racism as the norm. Many of the "jokes" are predicated on the mere fact that Denzel's skin colour is black. For example, in one scene George Segal's character arranges a two-on-two basketball match with a white father and son. He assumes that since his son is black that he must be good at basketball. Things don't go as planned and the comment made after the game...wow. I understand that the movie is meant to shine light on racial bigotry but failed to capture the wrongdoings and warm embrace on equality and unification. The movie for some reason leads towards teaching social economics rather than the problem on hand.
Many of the situations which both characters find themselves in are too absurd to be taken seriously but are not funny either. Yes, as mentioned before here are a few funny moments here and there in the film however they are few and far between. There is quite frankly no balance in the film due to changing topics and not combining it together by cutting to an absurd scene which is meant for humour relief. There is no soul and takes an interesting issue such as a culture clash but doesn't take it anywhere and quite frankly was insulting in many ways and given the fact the film had a predictable formula to work with, it failed to recognise the emotional level of the real problem. Another real problem of the movie to me was the 80's keyboard music - what is the go with that??
A great idea yet poorly executed in an era where these issues should have been invited the audience as problems that need to change, for example, Mississippi Burning. Overall 5.2/10.