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Michael Preedy's avatar

Are you a Family Guy fan, Alexander?

There’s a good gag where Peter films a plastic bag blowing in the wind à la American Beauty. God shouts down from the clouds: “It’s just some trash blowing in the wind! Do you have any idea how complicated your circulatory system is!?”

Seth MacFarlane can always be relied upon to bring a supposed benevolent force back down to earth.

Alexander Fayne's avatar

I’ve never really watched it much (maybe South Park made me prejudiced towards it) but that does sound like a good send-up - that scene doesn’t hold up well.

I’m not sure if it’s Family Guy or not, but the Wile E. Coyote thing that Seth MacFarlane did made me laugh incontinently…

Stefan Rhys-Williams's avatar

Enjoyed this! I watched American Beauty again a few years ago and was surprised by how well it held up. Properly funny in parts (not just the plastic bag)

Alexander Fayne's avatar

Thank you! I definitely agree - it’s nowhere near as bad as (a lot of) people say now.

Peter Whisenant's avatar

I wish I could offer you a stable job and a comfortable bourgeois existence, but I can't. Instead I'll just take a few minutes off from my recklessness, rage and lust to read another of your delightful film reviews. I think this is the only film you've reviewed that I've seen?

Alexander Fayne's avatar

You weren’t kidding when you said you don’t watch films - I hope the ‘review’ withstands your prior knowledge of the film. I think the dream of the comfortable existence is lost, alas… not quite sure what I’ll put in its place…

William Poulos's avatar

I haven't seen American Beauty, but I hate the sort of film you're talking about: "Oh no, my job is too secure! Oh no, my mortgage in a nice suburb is too paid off! Oh no, my wife is too loving and dependable!" Get stewed!

Alexander Fayne's avatar

Exactly! And actually Fight Club is almost a worse offender in that respect.

Rodolfo Ocampo's avatar

The worst fate imaginable in those films is in fact a lack of meaning and a lack of deep connection with other people.

Which is the worst fate imaginable since the dawn of (human) time.

Alexander Fayne's avatar

You’re right, of course - it’s just an unpleasant irony of the time that somebody else’s worst fate seems so enviable.

Derek James's avatar

It's almost like you didn't actually watch Fight Club. Do you even know what his job was?