Review of Freddy Got Fingered (2001) by Indianaparkwars — 16 Aug 2020

A Parody Film Designed to Look Like a Serious Film.

I initially hated this film as much as I hated other absurd or shock comedies. It sat with me as a "so bad it's good" kind of movie. But now, I see genuine merit and genius in its absurdity. This film is an absolute mockery of other comedies and satirical in nature. However, it's satire is also shocking and repulsive. The gross-out and puerile humor suits this film perfectly as a defecation on mainstream media.

There is no rhyme or reason. It's just gross or it's just stupid. Tom Green laughing hysterically/crying/screaming while eating a sandwich and watching cows copulate is without context or purpose. It's shocking and strange. It's nonsensical. It's startling because we don't know how to connect with the character and don't understand what's happening. It's representative of the chaos of the world and goes to show that just because they're the main character, it doesn't mean they're good. This isn't even a villain protagonist or fallen angel. He's a **** a degenerate, and not likeable. But, he's the protagonist so we feel the need to connect and empathize. Just because he's the protagonist, just because he's the president, just because he's the parent... it doesn't mean they're right and it doesn't mean they're a good person. The entire film is a bizarro look at the world and subversion of expectations on what to see in a movie. It's ironic absurdity and postmodern in its execution of alternative storytelling and movie cliches.

The absurdism was also pioneering in the genre, creating a culture of "public pranks" like *Jackass *or *Impractical Jokers* and also very inspirational to surreal comedy like Adult Swim, specifically *Tim and Eric* and *The Eric Andre Show*. Whether or not you want to believe it, this film is an important part of cinema that inspired many other greats and Tom Green is stupidly ingenious.