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World's smartest man on planet full of idiots

Alexandra Muller

Issue date: 4/23/07 Section: Buzz
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Luke Wilson (right) and Dax Sheppard (left) discover sports drinks in the sprinkling system have destroyed all the world's crops.
Media Credit: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
Luke Wilson (right) and Dax Sheppard (left) discover sports drinks in the sprinkling system have destroyed all the world's crops.

Maybe you've wondered how stupid things could get in the world lately. Well your worst nightmare may actually turn out to be a pretty funny movie.

Mike Judge's "Idiocracy" takes every stupid annoyance known to man and multiplies it by 20. This movie was completely ignored on a promotional level - there was little, if any, advertising and it was released in a pathetically small number of theaters. But don't let the lack of promotion fool you.

Luke Wilson plays the completely average Joe Bauers, who is accidentally sent 500 years into the future alongside his painter/prostitute companion Rita, played by Saturday Night Live's Maya Rodolph.

In the future they learn that, after years of complete boneheads hogging the genepool and breeding at a striking rate, humanity has de-evolved. The president is a former wrestler/porn star, one of the television shows is titled "Ow, My Balls," the English language has deteriorated into a "hybrid of hillbilly, valley girl, inner-city slang and various grunts," and "margarine-in-a-tub" is a popular snack.

After a stunningly easy IQ test, Luke Wilson's character is proclaimed the smartest man in the world. Needless to say, chaos ensues.

One noteable scene is when Joe Bauers and Rita are being led through Costco by Frito (named after the delicious junk food), played by Dax Sheppard. Costco has morphed into its own monsterous city. It is so big that it contains its own public transportation to get to its various sections.

The film takes admirable jabs at consumer culture and magnifies how stupid we're getting without being prententious or self-important. "Idiocracy" mocks people of all intelligences.

There are handfuls of laughs throughout the film, many catering to "stoner" humor. If you appreciate any of Mike Judge's other work ("Office Space," "Beavis and Butthead," "King of the Hill"), "Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle," "Mars Attacks," or simply enjoy the idea of "Planet of the Apes," minus the apes, plus stupid people, you will probably like "Idiocracy."

The DVD is a bit spare on special features, containing only five scenes that thankfully did not make the movie. "Idiocracy" is bound to be a cult classic, so a special edition DVD will be released in the near future that contains more features and, hopefully, some commentary.

"Idiocracy" has a smart message delivered in the form of easy-to-swallow satire. Yes, some parts are crude and vile, but they are a mere reflection of our society. The sheer watchability of this film is uncanny - it's one of those movies you can watch repeatedly and still find it funny each time.


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