I was in the mood for some off-the-wall humor so - based on word-of-mouth - I thought I would slip in to a local theater and catch Adam Sandler's latest comedy, "CHUCK & LARRY".Gosh, what can I say?
You know, over the years notable journalists have become infamous for their deplorable reviews; indeed, on occasion their words have come back to haunt them.
For example, when the great Katherine Hepburn first sauntered onto the stage in New York a well-known critic quipped that,
"Ms. Hepburn ran through the gamut of emotions from A to B."
Of course, that quote was penned by the infamous Dorothy Parker, a reviewer known for her caustic wit.
Originally, Ms. Parker's career was launched when she began writing Theatre pieces for popular Vanity Fair.
The celebrated writer was a member of the Algonguin Round Table - a group of New York writers, critics, actors, and philosophers of the day - who met from 1919 to approximately 1929 to discuss matters pressing and those more importantly pertaining to artistic expression in all its myriad forms.
The illustrious group met for lunch every day at a round table at the Algonquin Hotel. More-often-than-not, the stellar literary giants traded biting and insightful quips which echo through the hallowed halls inhabited by literary pundits today.
There was no formal membership at the Roundtable, so people came and went at will; but, the primary members included such luminaries as: Robert Benchley, Alexander Woollcott, Harpo Marx, Franklin P. Adams (known as the father of the group), Harold Ross, George S. Kaufman, Edna Ferber, and Heywood Broun.
Parker was well-known for having said,
"Men never make passes at girls with glasses."
And this little ditty,
"Take care of the luxuries and the necessities will take care of themselves."
Her best known critique is also the shortest review ever written in the history of the Theatre.
After attending a preview of a play - "The House Beautiful" - she quipped,
"The House Beautiful is the play lousy."
With a nod to Ms. Parker, I hand in my assignment to the editor.
"Chuck & Larry is a film gay, but not funny."
Sorry, Adam!
Footnote Queries
(1) Was that Lance Bass playing one of the "Boys in the Band" at the gay wedding? (2) Was that Dr. Kildare in the role of the commissioner? (3) Was a body-double hired for the scene where one of the lead characters bent over to pluck up a bar of soap on the shower-room floor? (4) Was there any tasteless gay joke in the history of mankind that was not offered up on a silver platter in this film?
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