An American Carol

"Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel."
--Samuel Clemens

I've started with that quote because I've had some time to consider its meaning, given all of the times it has been thrown at me for being a "brainwashed killer." The truth is, Clemens didn't mean that patriots are scoundrels--but that scoundrels would use the veneer of patriotism to prevent people from questioning their motives. Think of the congressmen who ask, "Are you questioning my patriotism?" Then think of those who don't. See what I mean?
If you are the type of person who asks, "Are you questioning my patriotism?" you shouldn't be here. As much as I enjoy traffic on my blog, you really aren't welcome. More to the point of this post, however, you won't enjoy An American Carol. Carol is part slapstick spoof and part feel-good-about-America movie; the two don't mix seamlessly, and like any movie trying to push an agenda, it gets tiresome in places. I think those places are worth sitting through to see the rest of the movie, however--and in it's defense, it is certainly no more agenda-driven than the original Christmas Carol.
While I was alone, for some reason, in laughing out loud about the "Episcopal Suppository Bomber," I was far from alone in laughing out loud during the movie. The only part I really didn't enjoy was the trailers--they decided to put a trailer for Oliver Stone's new suckumentary, "W." before the first really conservative feature to come out of Hollywood in thirty years.

Blech.

A quick scene to whet your appetite:

The main character, Michael Malone (a spoof of Michael Moore), is cowering in a port-a-john because he knows that a group of Afghan terrorists is about to set off a bomb in Madison Square Garden, killing 20,000 American troops and their families during an Independence Day concert. Suddenly, he is slapped across the face.
It is the spirit of General George Patton, who talks to Michael about courage. Michael begins to sputter... and is slapped across the face again. This time it is the spirit of John F. Kennedy, who talks to him about doing the right thing. Michael begins to sputter again, when a third hand reaches out and slaps him across the face.
"Bill O'Reilly? What are you doing here? You're not a spirit!"
"I know," answers a smirking O'Reilly. "I just enjoy slapping you."

The take-home message is this: if you are tired of the constant stream of anti-American, military-bashing, leftist crap being shoveled on you by Hollywood--go to the cinema and watch this movie. If you like it (and I think you will), watch it AGAIN. Due to the nearly totalitarian political situation in Hollywood, everyone involved in this movie has literally put their careers on the line--this is our one good shot to send Hollywood a message that they might be able to understand. Let's give Carol a really big opening weekend!

Update: Some agrees with me.

*****

While I'm plugging movies, let me put in a word for Get Smart. I saw this with friends in Kansas City, at the dollar cinema. We were really expecting another Starsky and Hutch debacle.
But this movie was good.
Really good. The gags were not only funny, they were smart. Someone did serious homework to make this a movie worth watching, and I recommend it. If it's too late to catch it at the cinema, the DVD release is in December.