Vomiting, in my personal opinion, is one of the most disgusting and unpleasant aspects of the human experience. It usually is brought upon by things such as overwhelming stress, disease, or binge drinking/eating. While it happily is not an everyday occurrence for most of us, we tend to forget about it — and are usually satisfied not to have it linger in our minds while we’re happy and healthy.
The dramatic increase in vomiting in cinema has made me queasy to say the least. It is one of my go-to entries in what I call SSIM (Stupid Shit in Movies), and I think its completely unnecessary.
The metaphor is obvious: the idea of vomiting is often associated with cleansing and renewal — that you are ejecting toxins so that your body may recover to its normal state. The act implicitly suggests, also, a certain heightened degree of realism. However, there are several bodily functions that have gone undocumented in major Hollywood offerings, and graphic depictions of getting sick could be left out.
Today, a flash banner ad for the new FOX show Sons of Tuscon piqued my interest.
Sons of Tuscon is a show about a fat man-child — think Will Ferrell trapped inside the body of Zach Galifinakis, a look that isso hot right now — living with children who have recruited him to avoid a foster home stay. Hilarity and hijinks ensue when it becomes very clear he is in no way prepared to take care of children, and evidence would support the notion that they might be his intellectual equals. Hooray for negligent, borderline-dangerous parenthood!
Tuscon is an entry in the well-trodden territory of dumb people in sunny places (My Name is Earl,Raising Arizona, etc.). Still, the show seems to be promoting and embracing that subversive Malcolm in the Middle concept of the American family — dysfunctional, dangerous, irrational, ignorant, rude…but with a “circle the wagons” approach to their own blood.
First of all, one can’t help but point out the obvious potential for injury in the image. A slingshot fashioned out of cactus is neither safe nor practical. If for some reason the aim is off — which is highly likely, considering children are manning the weapon — our portly friend could be sent careening into the base of the cactus which would be unpleasant to say the least.
(Possible target audience?)
What interested me most was the suggestion of how the show will be marketed to potential viewers. The slingshot is a rather antiquated pop culture symbol of youth, childhood, and mischief. No adult would have a use for one, and neither would most children in the modern era (unless it was somehow integrated into the controls of a Nintendo Wii game).
Of course, the slingshot goes back to ancient times. It was the device used by David, the little guy, to defeat Goliath. The probable suggestion of the advertisement pits the show as an underdog, and that by virtue of you watching their program, you are sticking it to all the media straw men and executives that wanted to pass on it in the first place.
“And, trust us, we were going to pass on it. However, threatening the release of some…photos…changed our tune…”
As one can see from the original still, the slingshot is pointed at YOU, the violent suggestion being that FOX will attack you with this powerful weapon of mass comedy destruction. It could also be a metaphor for the forthcoming advertising blitz that will have you pining for the sweet release of a lobotomy.
Executives have always equated relentless exposure with success. After all, FOX aired an Avatar trailer nearly 6 months before its theatrical release. Sons of Tuscon spots were already airing during the NFL playoffs. This early hype probably has them hoping it will become a Malcolm in the Middle-type hit. A tall order, but I think they would ultimately settle for Bernie Mac, or maybeeven The Tick.
My latest short film, Fingers, has been selected for inclusion in the Paste Magazine quarterly DVD sampler (February-March 2010). If you or someone you know has subscribed to receive the DVD with the magazine, please keep an eye out!
Vomiting, in my personal opinion, is one of the most disgusting and unpleasant aspects of the human experience. It usually is brought upon by things such as overwhelming stress, disease, or binge drinking/eating. While it happily is not an everyday occurrence for most of us, we tend to forget about it — and are usually satisfied not to have it linger in our minds while we’re happy and healthy.
