The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou
Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2004 6:35 pm
In the commercials for this movie there is (was) a pretty funny joke. Bill Murray is sitting across from some panel of interviewers talking about killing the shark who killed his friend. One of the interviewers, in some sissy European accent or another asks "And what would be the scientific purpose of killing this shark?"
Then Bill Murray responds in his completely nonplussed Bill Murray fashion "revenge". And I laugh every time. Or at least smile. It's a good gag, and Bill's delivery is, as always, spot on.
But last night I saw the trailer again, and this time they'd subtley changed it. Instead the little European guy just asks "And what would be the purpose of killing this shark?" completely eliminating the word "scientific" which is the crux of the entire joke. The fact that Steve Zissou wants to kill a shark for revenge isn't inherently hilarious. I mean, nobody thinks Moby Dick is high comedy. No, the fact that Steve Zissou is corrupt, apathetic, or simply dim enough to view revenge as an acceptable "scientific purpose" is what's funny about it. This should be clear to anyone who's ever heard or told a joke in their entire miserable lives.
I picture this being changed in a focus group. They watch the trailer, and then the mom from those AOL commercials where she climbs on the desk and demands "a better internet" raises her hand and asks with shy but plucky determination "Is revenge really a scientific purpose?" Then everyone around her thinks about it for a second and gives her a round of applause. Murmers of "she's right" and "I don't get it" fill the room. Then the commercial is changed and they're all like "Take that Hollywood we totally outsmarted you!!"
In conclusion:
=-(
Then Bill Murray responds in his completely nonplussed Bill Murray fashion "revenge". And I laugh every time. Or at least smile. It's a good gag, and Bill's delivery is, as always, spot on.
But last night I saw the trailer again, and this time they'd subtley changed it. Instead the little European guy just asks "And what would be the purpose of killing this shark?" completely eliminating the word "scientific" which is the crux of the entire joke. The fact that Steve Zissou wants to kill a shark for revenge isn't inherently hilarious. I mean, nobody thinks Moby Dick is high comedy. No, the fact that Steve Zissou is corrupt, apathetic, or simply dim enough to view revenge as an acceptable "scientific purpose" is what's funny about it. This should be clear to anyone who's ever heard or told a joke in their entire miserable lives.
I picture this being changed in a focus group. They watch the trailer, and then the mom from those AOL commercials where she climbs on the desk and demands "a better internet" raises her hand and asks with shy but plucky determination "Is revenge really a scientific purpose?" Then everyone around her thinks about it for a second and gives her a round of applause. Murmers of "she's right" and "I don't get it" fill the room. Then the commercial is changed and they're all like "Take that Hollywood we totally outsmarted you!!"
In conclusion:
=-(