The Rise of Smugness in Spring Blockbusters
This spring's cinematic landscape is dominated by a peculiar trend: blockbusters that exude an air of self-satisfied smarm. From action thrillers to sci-fi flicks, a deluge of recent releases feels overly pleased with their own cleverness, leaving audiences questioning the authenticity of their humor and storytelling.
Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice: A Genre-Mashing Misfire
The new Hulu movie Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice has been heavily marketed as a wild, genre-blending ride, mixing sci-fi, action, romance, and buddy comedy. However, its comedy relies on three deadening modes: characters with incongruous pop culture knowledge, characters ignorant of basic references, and excessive swearing. Writer-director BenDavid Grabinski strains for irreverence, resulting in a screenplay that feels forced and unoriginal.
Ready or Not 2 and They Will Kill You: More of the Same
March's Ready or Not 2: Here I Come continues this trend, pitting scream queen Samara Weaving against devil-worshipping rich people in a profanity-laden, ironically scored explosion. Similarly, They Will Kill You features a nearly identical premise and quasi-irreverent humor, though it occasionally allows scenes to breathe without dialogue. Both films exemplify the current wave of screenwriter-driven smarm.
Project Hail Mary: Gentler but Still Smug
Even the feel-good mega-hit Project Hail Mary showcases a milder version of this trend. Genius scientist Ryan Gosling communicates with an alien through quippy adorability, aiming to flaunt the film-makers' convention-flouting cleverness. This approach, dubbed "Ain't It Cool News-core," seeks to flatter geek audiences with outside-the-box thinking that feels half-ironically attached.
Historical Influences and Modern Manifestations
Blame for this reawakened strain of semi-irony can be traced to various film-makers. While Joss Whedon and Marvel imitators popularized blockbuster quippiness, today's version is more intentionally tangential and R-rated, echoing 90s auteurs like Kevin Smith and Quentin Tarantino. However, these new films lack the daredevil energy of vintage Tarantino, instead feeling phonier as they sell screenwriter-ly interjections as genuine behavior.
Shane Black's influence is evident in mixing action and comedy, but the Deadpool movies have had a more insidious impact. By turning R-rated superhero films into outlets for comedy, they've led to smarmy sorta-comedies that lack genuine comic talent. Films like They Will Kill You evoke Deadpool through mutilating villains and referential humor, yet fail to break the fourth wall effectively.
The Comedy Deficit in Modern Blockbusters
The real issue lies in film-makers attempting comedy without the requisite skills. Directors like Kirill Sokolov or the Radio Silence collective excel in action or horror but falter in writing humor. Project Hail Mary benefits from Philip Lord and Christopher Miller's comedic experience, yet its success may encourage more prefab irreverence in mega-budget spectacles.
While comic relief has its place, movies like Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice or Ready or Not 2 often feel like attitudes in search of a joke or cleverness without a subject. They represent a broader trend where screenwriters prioritize development deals over genuine genre hybridization, leaving audiences with smug, unsatisfying experiences.
