Posted on 10/10/2022 4:26:52 AM PDT by Cronos
Director Nicholas Stoller: 'It's almost like people don’t know what’s good for them'
The writer/director previously delivered hits like “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” “Get Him to the Greek,” “The Muppets” and “Neighbors.”
Now, with theatrical comedies on life support, Stoller is back with “Bros.” The gay rom-com follows two stubbornly single souls (Billy Eichner, Luke Macfarlane) who fall in love despite themselves.
And audiences are staying far, far away from the film.
The film infamously earned $4.8 million on its opening weekend, a far cry from its $22 million budget and reported $30-40 million marketing costs.
Hollywood news outlets have been wringing their hands over the film’s failure since last weekend. Now, the far-Left Hollywood reporter is asking Stoller and “Bros” co-star Guy Branum what explains the box office results.
Branum claims his marketing ideas were roundly rejected by Universal, the studio behind the film. Stoller struggles to process the movie’s commercial misfire, citing critical raves for the film (89 percent “fresh” at Rotten Tomatoes) and positive test screenings.
Eichner blamed the straight community for ignoring his film (he co-wrote the screenplay with Stoller). Stoller confirms Eichner’s comments, citing data privy to Universal. The dismal numbers still show most gay Americans chose other movie options last weekend.
The director trotted out other reasons for the film’s failure, including his assertion that Hollywood has “trained” audiences not to see comedy in theaters.
That’s certainly not true of the pre-woke era. Comedies routinely crashed the $100 million mark at the U.S. box office. Think:
“Bridesmaids” ($169 million) “The Hangover 1, 2 and 3” ($277 million, $254 million, $112 million, respectively) “Step Brothers” ($100 million) “Ted” ($218 million) “22 Jump Street” ($191 million) “Neighbors” ($150 million) “Pitch Perfect 2 and 3” ($184 million, $104 million, respectively) Stoller partially blames audiences for not seeking his film out.
“It is very strange just because the movie is so much fun. And as someone who makes comedies for movie theaters — or did until, I guess, this weekend — I love seeing comedies in movie theaters, and people do. It’s almost like people don’t know what’s good for them. [emphasis added]”
Stoller turned his wannabe franchise “Neighbors” into a woke affair, hiring two female screenwriters to bolster its feminist bona fides. That sequel, “Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising,” made $95 million less than its predecessor, killing the franchise in the process.
What the “Bros” director doesn’t realize is how the culture is to blame for “Bros” failure. Big screen comedies can no longer entertain like they once did. Even tepid fare like “Snatched” and “Get Hard” endure withering reviews for being “problematic.”
Stoller ignores how too many Hollywood stars alienate potential audiences. Eichner is a prime example, using his Twitter account and public appearances to excoriate anyone with whom he disagrees on politics.
Plus, audiences are exhausted by the Left’s weaponizing culture in every forum possible. That “Bros” trailer suggests the film is more of the same, mocking straight people, extolling an LGBTQ+ museum subplot and proudly sharing characters engaged in a “throuple.”
The “Bros” director’s comic timing remains on-point throughout his new film. He might want to step outside his Hollywood bubble, though, to understand why so many Americans, both straight and gay, didn’t line up to see “Bros.”
And the director's response is "How can so many people be so wrong all of the time??"
My favorite part of the article is where the film maker realizes he won’t be making any more comedies for the big screen going forward. Lol.
Am truly puzzled by the demand that if a Leftist goes on a diet, everyone they know must stop eating.
I must live completely outside of the bubble, because I hadn't even heard of it until I saw the morons complaining about how poorly it was doing in the articles about it on FR
It could have been worse, like a double feature with “Steel Magnolias.”
I was respond to lodi90‘s post 48. I hadn’t heard of it either until a week ago. I’m gathering that if you were someone who went to see the new Top Gun movie this summer, that it was promoted there. I hate Tom Cruise, so I didn’t see that. Not that I go to watch movies at the theater much these days. Most of the stuff they put out is horrible. I did see Christopher Robin a few years ago. I always loved Winnie-the-Pooh. I had to go check it out. I was intrigued by the guy who took over Sterling Holloway’s voice.
we have an office at the Paramount lot and we knew it was already in devt as far back as 2016. Yes, that far back and Bruck made sure to research everything including future weapons. In addition, most or ALL his guys are non-libs.
On the other hand, we also have a studio on the Universal lot. Everyone, including the libs on our studio section, were laughing at the idiocy of this. They knew it was going to bomb big time. Not one of them wanted to work with Eichner who is a loose cannon and just pisses everyone off.
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