Review of Word Wars (2004) by Jason Y — 14 May 2005

[size=5][b]The Chorus[/b][/size].

I had really high hopes for this one, but it fell short. Way short. The Chorus is a great example of wasted potential, because a lot of the necessary components towards a great movie were there: great direction and photography, solid acting, and a unique premise that could have worked on an emotional level. On top of all that, the music itself was top-notch and at times inspiring. Overall, I'd call this a good film, worth watching, but it falls far short of great simply because of its cheesy, take-no-risks script. In many ways I found that it closely resembled a children's film, with mostly flat characters, very little character development, plus it requires a great deal more suspension of disbelief than most other dramas. Yet, this picture was obviously intended for adults, especially considering some of the sensitive subject matter. A film such as this shouldn't be a lightweight fantasy film where we ignore the limitations of reality, but instead should be based on character and emotion. The end result would prove far more powerful and memorable.

[size=5][b]Word Wars[/b][/size].

If you haven't seen Word Wars, think Spellbound without the focus on character, of course without "the cute", and with the obsession magnified by 100. Word Wars is about 4 characters who live, eat and breathe Scrabble. They travel from tournament to tournament in the hunt for prestige and a little spending cash (never that much). They spend hours every day studying words, not definitions, just words. The characters are interesting, but in the pathetic sense. They have their own quirky methods of getting into the Scrabble frame of mind. One guy practices various forms of martial arts, another has virtually every intelligence enhancing drug imaginable. None of them really work or have social lives outside of their Scrabble circle. And most of the time they look like death with legs and a brain. The film covers them as they go from tournament to tournament, in preparation for the championship at Hasbro headquarters. There is some focus on the characters itself, but most is on the competition and the technique at becoming top players. As a result, we only get a superficial look at the characters, so we aren't quite as invested in them personally as we are with other competition centered documentaries, such as Hoop Dreams and Spellbound. The game itself isn't exhilarating enough to make up for these shortcomings.

[size=5][b].

Meet the Fockers[/b][/size].

I have just two words for Jay Roach: Fock off!

Meet the Parents is far short of being a masterpiece, but it was an enjoyable comedy that capitalized on a tension that most human beings (especially men) experience. It also featured two talented actors, Stiller and De Niro, who maintained that uncomfortable tension and translated it into laughter. The second film fails for the same reason that most comedy sequels fail. It introduces new elements and tries to apply the same gag. Dustin Hoffman and Barbara Streisand are embarrasingly bad as the free-living Fockers, and they have absolutely no chemistry with anyone. Fockers does have a couple of cute moments, but those are mostly when Stiller and De Niro are playing off each other, just the like the first flick.