Directed by: Bobcat Goldthwait
Written by: Bobcat Goldthwait
I think everyone can agree that the world can be an exceptionally annoying place. Of course, we all vary on what aggravates and offends us, but I think you'd be rather hard-pressed to find someone who's completely tolerant of all the things-- big and little-- that make us bewildered that the human race is supposedly the most intelligent and important species on the planet.
Whether it's people talking during a movie and guys who let their pants sag below their asses, to child abusers and people who exploit others' shortcomings for entertainment, there's plenty of evidence that we've gotten pretty low as a people.
But how do we react to this? Sometimes we keep to ourselves, begrudgingly tolerating whatever obnoxious or tragically stupid things people do. But have you ever thought about putting an end to the world's perceived ills? Have you even gone as far as thinking about putting the scum of the Earth out of their misery?
It's that very kind of dark, dark fantasy that drives director Bobcat Goldthwait's dark, dark comedy God Bless America.
Frank (Joel Murray) doesn't exactly have the most enjoyable or fulfilling life. He lives by himself in a tiny apartment next-door to a loud, conceited couple whose baby keeps Frank up every night; he works at a thankless job with vapid, politically misinformed co-workers who talk about nothing but reality television; he's divorced from his former wife Alison (Melinda Page Hamilton), and their daughter Ava (Mackenzie Brooke Smith) is a spoiled brat who hates Frank.
Things get worse for Frank when he's fired from his job for over a misunderstanding regarding sexual harassment, and afterwards, Frank is diagnosed with a brain tumor. Despondent, Frank prepares to commit suicide, but stops after watching a reality show starring a teenager named Chloe (Maddie Hanson), a spoiled, belligerent terror who berates her rich parents for not getting a Cadillac for her birthday. Shocked and appalled by the sheer level of rude, annoying, and bigoted people inhabiting the world, and with absolutely nothing to lose, Frank tracks down Chloe and kills her.
Shaken by what he's just done, Frank escapes to a motel, but he discovers that he was followed there by Chloe's schoolmate Roxy (Tara Lynne Barr). Roxy, who claims to come from a broken home, enthusiastically agrees with Frank's mission, believing that they should kill only people that "deserve to die". A reluctant Frank agrees to let Roxy join him on his cross-country killing spree, wiping out the people Frank believes are destroying society.
And it's a comedy! But considering that comedian-turned-director Bobcat Goldthwait is at the helm, the heavy levels of gallows humor isn't too surprising, considering that he was behind the ultra-dark Robin Williams comedy World's Greatest Dad, as well as the bestiality comedy Sleeping Dogs Lie. Goldthwait has proven himself an adept spinner of tales meant to appeal to the viewer's darker side, and he's pretty much outdone himself here.
Within the first few minutes of God Bless America, there's a bloodbath that's not only shocking considering what kind of victim is shot, but gut-bustingly hilarious because of how shocking it is. Sure, it's a fantasy scene, but the imagery in that opening scene essentially sets the tone for the rest of the movie. As we follow sadsack Frank (a wonderful Joel Murray), he's assaulted by an onslaught of stupid people, horrible reality shows, heartless bigots, and commercials hawking farting ringtones. And for a minute, you forget this a movie and realize that this is essentially a shot-for-shot recreation of real life.
Of course, there ARE good things and people in the real world, but Goldthwait isn't interested in that. And while some might find the protagonist's merciless killing spree to be morally reprehensible, God Bless America doesn't promote or even condone Frank's actions. Rather, it's actually a cry (albeit cartoonish) for basic human decency and kindness, and Frank seemingly serves as a form of venting for Goldthwait, whose script essentially serves as a sounding-off board for his own frustrations with modern society.
In fact, it's pretty evident that some of Frank's monologues decrying the country's complacency with anti-intellectualism and materialism is a proxy for Goldthwait's rage, and most of the time, we agree with him. The on-the-nose dialogue tends to take away from the realism of the diegesis (I half expected Frank to go all Ferris Bueller and speak directly to the audience), but Goldthwait's point is crystal clear.
If anything, God Bless America is a healthy means of catharsis for those of us who agree with Frank's Travis Bickle philosophy, offering a good release for us that's far better than actually going the Taxi Driver route. I myself have shown ample frustration with some of the more annoying aspects of American society (movie theater yakkers and people who pay for things entirely in coins, I'm looking at you. Assholes). So even if God Bless America isn't Oscar material, it sure as hell serves as an effective mental safety valve.
Joining Frank on his war against stupid is a great Tara Lynne Barr, a former Disney Channel actress whose violent, foul-mouthed delivery is the polar opposite of what you'd expect from the Mouse House. Wise beyond her years (spouting dialogue that at times seems a little TOO sophisticated for a teenager), Barr's Roxy is the Bonnie to Frank's Clyde, absolutely thrilled with her mission and the supposed social cleansing. The two actors have a great and even touching chemistry, with Roxy serving as the attentive daughter Frank never had, and Frank as the father figure Roxy always wanted.
As far as political satire and social commentary goes, God Bless America is a biting shot to the jugular, and Goldthwait certainly doesn't pull any punches. As a movie, the script and overall cohesion of the picture certainly doesn't stand tall above its black comedy peers (Scorsese's The King of Comedy and the Coens' Fargo rank among my favorites). As such, the movie as whole is less than the sum of its parts, but God Bless America still manages as a surprisingly effective mirror into our darker and righteous impulses.
Letter Grade: "B"
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