OT: Borat - who is this guy anyway??

[Hershey]

The movie Borat opens today and is supposed to be very funny if you like that like of humor (dumb tasteless joke - I don't). I've read that he is British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, but who is this guy? He's gotten a lot of publicity lately but I'd never heard of him. Have you? Am I just out of it? Who is this guy??

[sam king cat]

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Hershey:
The movie Borat opens today and is supposed to be very funny if you like that like of humor (dumb tasteless joke - I don't). I've read that he is British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, but who is this guy? He's gotten a lot of publicity lately but I'd never heard of him. Have you? Am I just out of it? Who is this guy??
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Exactly my thoughts... I must also be "out of it", as well....

[pandagirl]

Well, Hershey, while SBC can be gross and tasteless, his humor is also very smart and very sly.

I can skip seeing the Borat movie on the big screen, but I plan on catching it on DVD.

He's getting a lot of publicity because a lot of people who've watched him on HBO find him funny. Including, I'm guessing, a lot of the news media.

[beekeeper]

I've seen him as Ali-G (HBO series). This new character is odd to say the least. Do I find it funny ... kinda. Would I pay to see this movie, Heck no!

[Hershey]

Pandagirl and Bee, I get HBO - multiple HBO stations at that - and have never seen him!!! What the heck!?

[pandagirl]

Da Ali G show. He played a white guy who desperately wanted to be black.

The Borat character evolved from that.

[beekeeper]

I don't know Hershey ... do you have Comcast Cable? If so, his Ali-G shows used to be available via the On-demand feature.

[Hershey]

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pandagirl:
Da Ali G show.
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Thanks, pandagirl. I've never seen it and have never even flipped past it!!

[Rowan]

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pandagirl:

He played a white guy who desperately wanted to be black.

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That sounds like Kevin Federline too! LOL

[kittyinthecity]

I also found out he is from Britain, Jewish and of Persian descent.

[pebbles]

His humor doesn't appeal to me. It's like he takes a joke several steps too far.

[Abbey Road]

If you have the brain cells of a 12 year old, Borat has to be the movie for you, because it's more silly than being funny, but it will be successful.

[Hershey]

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kittyinthecity:
I also found out he is from Britain, www.tvtalkshows.com/board/showpost.php?p=1581551
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KITC,
You could have found this out from my first post, which states he is a British comedian.

Rowan, LOL that was funny.

[kittyinthecity]

sorry, I was really looking to see what his ancestory was. I also figured he was Jewish by the name Cohen, but wondered if he was Russian, which it turns out he is not. The governnment of Kazachistan (sp) is really upset with him as well as the Jewish Anti-Defamation League.

[pandagirl]

SBC is of the school of humor that can sometimes be uncomfortable to watch. Think both the British and American versions of The Office or the movies of Christopher Guest or Stephen Colbert or Larry David. All of whom I very much enjoy, BTW. Larry Charles who worked on Seinfeld for years is involved in the Borat movie.

If you don't like this kind of humor, then you wouldn't enjoy him. But categorizing him as humor for 12 year olds is w-a-a-a-y off.

[kittyinthecity]

No, I certainly wouldn't let a 12-year-old see his movie.

Did anyone catch him on Fox and Friends this morning?

[Hershey]

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pandagirl:

...Christopher Guest ...

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Pandagirl, this is OT of my OT thread, but I went to the movies yesterday and they showed a preview of the new Christopher Guest movie coming out. The previews looked hilarious and made me want to see it. In the film are some of the same people that were in Best in Show - Catherine O'Hara and Eugene Levy for example.

[mayvenne]

I do not get HBO but my daughter had mentioned his shtick to me a while ago and said he is really hysterical. I was kind of on the fence about this as I thought it might be too tasteless, but I also just read a review in the Wall STreet Journal (yes, the wall street journal- today) and while they do acknowledge that he is not for everyone, they pretty much raved about it...............I do not go to movies, but I just might.

[pandagirl]

I can't WAIT for this movie! It's been entirely too long since Best in Show. Yep, the gang's all back, with the exceptional addition of Ricky Gervais of the British Office and John Krasinski of the American Office. Eugene Levy, Parker Posey, Harry Sherrar, Catherine O'Hara, Ed Begley, Jennifer Coolidge and more.

Christopher Guest is a comic genius, and I don't use that term lightly!

And maybenne, Borat got a great review in the Washington Post today, too.

Edited to add: Christopher Guest's last movie was A Mighty Wind, not Best in Show! Doh!

[kittyinthecity]

Borat's material is extremely offensive, especially toward women, BUT I was cracking up watching him this morning on Fox. It's just his delivery. You don't want to like him, but you can't help it.

[Hershey]

Borat's movie got a great review in our paper today, also!

[Novalee]

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Rowan:
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pandagirl:

He played a white guy who desperately wanted to be black.

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That sounds like Kevin Federline too! LOL
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LOL!

[sam king cat]

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Novalee:
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Rowan:
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pandagirl:

He played a white guy who desperately wanted to be black.

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That sounds like Kevin Federline too! LOL
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LOL!
www.tvtalkshows.com/board/showpost.php?p=1581579
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... images of Eminem / (MM too !)

[Novalee]

Yep, and how about Ice-Ice Baby? lol

[kitten4762]

If anyone sees the movie...the part where he sings the national anthem...or rather his garbled version of the national anthem..that was filmed at the Salem Civic Center which is not far from my house. No one knew who he was or that he was filming for a movie. He somehow convinced the rodeo officials to let him sing. Then after he started singing, the crowd was so shocked and offended that he really barely got out of there alive. It was all over the news here.
I've seen the commercials and saw him on a few of the talk shows...I think it actually looks hilarious. Takes alot to offend me. I'll probably catch it on video later.

[Garnet333]

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Rowan:
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pandagirl:

He played a white guy who desperately wanted to be black.

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That sounds like Kevin Federline too! LOL
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Rowan, you are cracking me up :)

I have NEVER heard of Borat, must be I need to get out more? LOL

[pandagirl]

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kitten4762:
If anyone sees the movie...the part where he sings the national anthem...or rather his garbled version of the national anthem..that was filmed at the Salem Civic Center which is not far from my house. No one knew who he was or that he was filming for a movie. He somehow convinced the rodeo officials to let him sing. Then after he started singing, the crowd was so shocked and offended that he really barely got out of there alive. It was all over the news here.
I've seen the commercials and saw him on a few of the talk shows...I think it actually looks hilarious. Takes alot to offend me. I'll probably catch it on video later.
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kitten4762,
I lived in Bedford from the time I was 8 until I went away to college. Small world, isn't it? (Both my mother and father's family go w-a-a-y back in that town.) I meant to post to you a while ago when you mentioned Mabry Mill. At that point I knew you were from somewhere in the vicinity.

[Sparks]

Christopher Guest's films are hilarious. I just got the DVD "Waiting For Guffman". it's hilarious!!!

[kitten4762]

pandagirl, I live in Pulaski County.
I've always wanted to stop at the National D-Day Memorial there in Bedford but I haven't done it yet.

[BarbM]

The two guys I share an office with are dying to see this movie, one guy is 34, the other is 52...I guess I'll hear all about it from them.
But I really wanted to say that Best in Show is one of my favorite movies, along with A Mighty Wind and Waiting for Guffman, can't wait to see a new movie by that crew!!!!

[Tinker]

Borat has been around for a while. My daughter's friend is a kid who goes around mimicking him all the time. His movie here was in 8 of the theatres on its opening night and ALL shows were sold out! He doesn't offend me at all. I don't find his whole routine funny, but there are parts when you can't help but laugh. Its not all silly either. In fact, if you aren't well-read on some world issues, you won't "get" the jokes! I think I will wait to see it on DVD too, if that. But I think he will be around for a while.

[pandagirl]

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kitten4762:
pandagirl, I live in Pulaski County.
I've always wanted to stop at the National D-Day Memorial there in Bedford but I haven't done it yet.
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I know Pulaski County only because we played y'all in high school!

The D-Day memorial is spectacular. Funny, though, that people usually mention Smith Mountain Lake when I tell them I'm from Bedford.

[kitten4762]

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pandagirl:
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kitten4762:
Funny, though, that people usually mention Smith Mountain Lake when I tell them I'm from Bedford.
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I live on Claytor Lake...Smith Mountain Lake is a dirty word around here! lol

[whosurmama]

My husband and I just returned from seeing this film. I have to say that in spite of myself, I laughed so hard all the way through the movie. I found it grossly hilarious and actually pretty clever. My husband thought it was more silly than humorous, but my stomach is aching from laughing so hard. The wrestling scene between Borat and his producer, Asmat, in the hotel are the most hilarous. The audience in the theatre screamed and laughed all the way through the film. I had to laugh at the way the Americans reacted to Borat's behavior while filming his "documentary." I don't think any of them had a clue as to what was really going on.

[Hershey]

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whosurmama:
I don't think any of them had a clue as to what was really going on.
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Whosurmama, according to the couple reviews I read, the people did not know what was going on at the time. But of course had to [later I assume] sign releases to be used in the film. But no, they didn't have a clue while they were being filmed.

[Hershey]

You have GOT to be kidding:

'Borat' Makes Benefit With No. 1 Debut
Sunday, November 5, 2006 4:33 PM EST
The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sacha Baron Cohen's Kazakh alter-ego Borat made glorious returns at the box office, surprising Hollywood with a No. 1 debut.

"Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan," 20th Century Fox's big-screen incarnation of Cohen's Kazakh journalist from "Da Ali G Show," took in $26.4 million during its opening weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday.

"This picture was playing to full houses," said Bruce Snyder, head of distribution at 20th Century Fox. "The planets aligned, the moons aligned, the stars aligned, and everything came together perfectly for us on this weekend."

Box-office analysts had expected Disney's "The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause," with Tim Allen returning as St. Nicholas, to win the weekend. It was No. 2 with $20 million, followed by the Paramount-DreamWorks animated comedy "Flushed Away" in third place with $19.1 million.

With great Internet buzz and a built-in following from "Da Ali G Show," "Borat" succeeded where another cyber-sensation, "Snakes on a Plane," failed. "Snakes" opened last summer to modest crowds despite months of Internet hoopla.

The raucous, raunchy "Borat" follows the adventures of British comedian Cohen's TV journalist from Kazakhstan in a blend of fiction and improvised comic encounters as he travels the United States, meets and mocks Americans and reports back to his home country.

"It is what you go to the theater for," said Hutch Parker, the studio's head of production. "You get that infectious, outrageous, interactive experience. There are people yelling at the screen, there are cheers."

"Borat" played in only 837 theaters, fewer than one-fourth the count for "The Santa Clause 3" and "Flushed Away." Averaging a whopping $31,511 a theater, "Borat" easily outdistanced "The Santa Clause 3," which averaged $5,784 in 3,458 cinemas and "Flushed Away," which averaged $5,152 in 3,707 theaters.

Fox plans to expand "Borat" to as many as 2,500 theaters this Friday.

"The Santa Clause 3" pits Allen's St. Nick against Jack Frost (Martin Short) as they battle for control of Christmas. "Flushed Away" features the voices of Hugh Jackman and Kate Winslet in the story of a pampered pet mouse forced to make his way among sewer rats.

The two movies split the family audience, but their opening weekends were solid starts for the holiday season. Disney and Paramount expect their movies to hang tough through year's end, even with the Warner Bros. animated penguin tale "Happy Feet" coming just before Thanksgiving.

"The Thanksgiving holiday is going to be just rocking," said Disney head of distribution Chuck Viane.

The previous weekend's top movie, Lionsgate's horror sequel "Saw III," held up solidly at No. 4 with $15.5 million, raising its 10-day total to $60.1 million.

However, the strong crop of new movies and holdovers did not quite stack up to the same weekend a year ago, when "Chicken Little" opened at No. 1 with $40 million and "Jarhead" debuted at No. 2 with $27.7 million. This weekend's top 12 movies took in $116.2 million, down 3 percent from the same period last year.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. Final figures will be released Monday.

[Hershey]

In USA Weekend magazine, there's an interview with Sacha Baron Cohen. He said "In the Borat movie, everyone is real apart from Borat and his producer. So by necessity, you have to improvise." So everyone else in the movie is "real people."

[Novalee]

I am amazed almost daily at the things I learn from posting on the site. :)

[sam king cat]

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Novalee:
I am amazed almost daily at the things I learn from posting on the site. :)
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Brings a new meaning to " home schooling"....

[beekeeper]

Hershey, they were playing Da Ali G show all weekend on HBO. Did you catch any of it?!?

[Hershey]

Bee, I did catch a few minutes of one of the shows and saw Borat. Enough to confirm I wouldn't go to the movie LOL! It's not my type of humor.

Sorry for the double post

[Hershey]

deleted - double post

[kitten4762]

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beekeeper:
Hershey, they were playing Da Ali G show all weekend on HBO. Did you catch any of it?!?
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I loved when he was in his talk show format and was interviewing those religious figures..he asked the priest "What was Jesus doing running around with all them reindeers?...I thought I would die laughing.

[beekeeper]

lol ... he is funny. Definitely has his moments. Same with this new character of his ... saw him on the Today show last week, and he cracked me up when being interviewed by Matt.

[kebo]

I'll be honest - I didnt read all the posts, that would just be silly. But I have seen the movie, and it is incredibly funny. One of the funniest I have ever seen, and I've seen many. It is a movie for adults or for mature kids. Dont take your 9-year-old because there would be too much explaining to do. If you take your 15-year-old, they may be able to explain some things to you. Its worth it. If I had to make a comparison, I would say South Park, only because they make fun of everyone and its all inclusive. Its much more clever than South Park, though.Its the kind of movie in which one laughs at something, then they think to themselves "I shouldn't laugh at that." But you should, because they're jokes. Thats the whole point. I really liked it.

[beekeeper]

Thanks Kebo ... I think you describe this guys "act" perfectly. You feel guilty for laughing, but then you say ... it's a joke. Political correctness thrown out the window.

I still think I'll wait to see it on DVD or cable.

[kebo]

I did read one remark about people not knowing they were being filmed. In fact, I think it was Hershey. However, I read an interview with the chief lawyer for the film, and he said this was the most lucrative, thorough and all-inclusive release he'd ever seen in Hollywood. He said it was twice as thick as the average personal release for being on camera. So anyone who may feel that anyone in the movie is some sort of victim in any way should keep that in mind. But lets be honest, anyone who's seen it knows that 98% of the people in the movie come off in a positive light.

[sam king cat]

Hellfire, here read this thread ....

[Hellfire]

I was reading this thread and thought... WOW! What a coinky dink. LOL! Then I saw your post, Sam. Thanks:)

[Novalee]

So we're sitting on the couch last night and watching NBC Nightly News. At the end of the broadcast, Brian Williams does a little story about this movie. Hubby looks at me and says, "that looks like it's really funny, we should go see it!". At least, thanks to Hershey's thread, I was somewhat prepared. lol

[Hershey]

LOL, Novalee! Glad I could help!

I saw that too at the end of Brian Williams' show. I thought "wow - giving a movie free publicity - pretty good for Borat!"

[Novalee]

Hershey said:
"LOL, Novalee! Glad I could help!"

~~~~~~~~~~~

I just bet you are! I promise if I have to go, I'll do a recap just for you! LOL

[Hershey]

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Novalee:
I promise if I have to go, ....
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Oh, LOL. I see how enthusiastic you are. I don't think seeing a Borat movie was part of your marriage vows. You might use that argument when Hubby wants to do. LOL LOL

[Hershey]

If anyone is interested, Borat/Sacha Baron Cohen is going to be on the Tonight Show in a few minutes.

[feeler poobah]

this guy's funny as you know what saw him on letterman the other week/day now on leno he's funny . he was messing with old martha stewart on leno tonight.

[teena]

I saw some of him on Leno last night - when Martha Stewart came on he all but took over her segment. I don't think Martha quite knew what to do or how to handle him - surprising for Martha. He was so annoying and obnoxious - I couldn't take him.

[Hershey]

Teena, I agree with what you wrote. I watched it also, to see what all the Borat hoopla was about. He did, rudely I think, take over Martha's segment, and, as Jay commented, she was a good sport about it, as she was there to promote her book. I don't think Jay knew how to handle Borat either. Borat definitely wanted to hog the limelight. When he got in bed and took his slacks off, it really was then priceless to see Martha's face when she exclaimed "are you taking off your underpants??!!!" at which point Borat whipped off his underpants (underneath the covers) and then waved them at the camera. I was glad I watched just to see Martha's amazement that Borat did that.
But I think he was rude and a camera-hog to take up Martha's time too.

And he went over the top with the jokes when he grabbed Leno's finger and talked about his "sister". OMG - pretty raunchy!

[teena]

I agree that Jay had no idea what to do with him either. Borat was just gross. I am liking all of the late night shows less and less - they seem to have all been reduced to bathroom humor that appeals to 15 year old boys. I enjoy the monologues but that is usually it. I may just have to start watching Real Time With Bill Maher at 11:00 on HBO.

[pebbles]

He just takes it too far, IMO. Andy Kauffman did that too and it was more annoying than funny. Not my idea of humor.

[Hershey]

Teena, I agree with your 15 yr old male bathroom humor comment and Pebbles I agree with your comment also. And I never liked the Latka character of Andy K's.

A friend of mine who isn't on this BB made a comment about not liking the actors who stay in character off camera. I agree. I would have liked to have seen Jay interview Sacha Baron Cohen and ask him straight questions and SBC give straight answers as a person, not as Borat.

[teena]

Hershey and Pebbles I agree with both of you too.

And I also hated Latka!

[Hershey]

Humiliated frat boys sue over 'Borat' portrayal

SANTA MONICA, California (AP) -- Two fraternity boys want to make lawsuit against "Borat" over their drunken appearance in the hit movie.

The legal action filed Thursday on their behalf claims they were duped into appearing in the spoof documentary "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan," in which they made racist and sexist comments on camera.

The young men "engaged in behavior that they otherwise would not have engaged in," the lawsuit says.

"Borat" follows the adventures of comedian Sacha Baron Cohen's Kazakh journalist character in a blend of fiction and improvised comic encounters as he travels across the United States and mocks Americans.

The plaintiffs were not named in the lawsuit "to protect themselves from any additional and unnecessary embarrassment." They were identified in the movie as fraternity members from a South Carolina university, and appeared drunk as they made insulting comments about women and minorities to Cohen's character.

The lawsuit claims that in October 2005, a production crew took the students to a bar to drink and "loosen up" before participating in what they were told would be a documentary to be shown outside of the United States.

"They were induced to agree to participate and were told the name of the fraternity and the name of their school wouldn't be used," said the plaintiffs' attorney, Olivier Taillieu. "They were put into an RV and were made to believe they were picking up Borat the hitchhiker."

After a bout of heavy drinking, the plaintiffs signed a release form they were told "had something to do with reliability issues with being in the RV," Taillieu said.

The film "made plaintiffs the object of ridicule, humiliation, mental anguish and emotional and physical distress, loss of reputation, goodwill and standing in the community," the lawsuit said.

It names 20th Century Fox, a unit of News Corp., and three production companies as defendants.

Studio spokesman Gregg Brilliant said the lawsuit "has no merit."

The plaintiffs were seeking an injunction to stop the studio from displaying their image and likeness, along with unspecified monetary damages.

"Borat" debuted as the top movie last weekend with $26.5 million.

Source: SPAMSPAMSPAMSPAMSPAMSPAMSPAMSPAMwww.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movies/11/10/film.boratlawsuit.ap/index.html

[Hershey]

Borat was #1 again at the box office this weekend, raking in another $29 mill.:

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- A make-believe son of the glorious nation of Kazakhstan continues to rule the American box office.

Sacha Baron Cohen's "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" took in $29 million to remain the No. 1 movie for a second straight weekend, distributor 20th Century Fox said Sunday.

"Borat" raised its 10-day total to $67.8 million.

[kitten4762]

My daughter went to see Borat Friday night. She said it was hilarious...that the people in the theater were practically rolling in the aisles and her throat hurt from laughing so much. She did mention that there were some gross parts...apparently in one part Borat wrestled some naked fat guy and there was no blurring out of his "boys". Too bad it couldn't have been Brad Pitt that he was wrestling naked...damnit.

[Hershey]

Sacha Baron Cohen has become the highest paid actor in Britain after landing a deal at Universal that reportedly will pay him at least $30 million, according to London's Daily Mail. The figure is based on Cohen's salary for the upcoming Bruno. The deal propels him well above the next highest paid British actors -- Ewan McGregor and Keira Knightley, who each reportedly earn about $20 million a year.

[Mel]

I saw this last night.

I was disappointed as I would have liked him to develop each scene a bit more. My favorite scene was at the 'dinner party.' I could have lived a very happy life without seeing that wrestling scene. lol

Yes, it was a very funny but it was a film that works just as well (and maybe better) on the small screen.