YOU DON’T MESS WITH MR. SUCCESS

by The Stranger

First off, the very first moment I saw Adam Sandler, and I believe it was his very first appearance on Johnny Carson’s The Tonight Show, I remember thinking “This guy is FUNNY.” I’ve never felt that way, for example, about Will Farrell. If he is in a story that is funny, and in some circumstances that are funny, he can benefit from the assumption of the audience that it must be Mr. Farrell who is actually the funny component.
But it AIN’T him dat’s funny. Richard Pryor….. And the original comic genius of them all JONATHAN WINTERS….
These were funny individuals. All they needed to do to make you laugh is - to simply show up. I think of Adam Sandler in that same category, albeit to a lesser degree.

Pryor and Winters were comic genius personified. Exactly what Robin Williams has aspired to be, but ain’t, never was, never will be. I am worn out by his manic, forced life force within a moment or two of any exposure to him. And Chris Rock….He thinks that if HE acts as though he believes himself to be funny, then you will, too. He wishes he were Richard Pryor, but he’s not, never has been, never will be. He’s a shock meister, like Madonna, and he’s not funny in the same way she ain’t talented. Their talent is getting you to notice them, that they’re alive and on the planet at the same time you and I are. But once either of them has my attention - after two seconds I’m bored to death.

But getting back to Adam Sandler - could anyone other than him actually get a film made about a guy who is a terrorist fighter, who wants to be a hairstylist???? I haven’t seen "You Don't Mess with the ZOHAN", and I’m pretty sure I won’t. In spite of the fact that the premise of the film… well, I mean who couldn’t identify with the inherent universality of this premise RIGHT???? Where did he think this one up? But really, he’s already laughing all the way to the bank - he got Hollywood to go along with his goof: “ WOW - wait till I tell the guys.”





















And, oh yah - Mike Myers is also about to open in a new movie "The Love Guru". Who’s the first person YOU thought of when you saw the ad for the film? Did someone say to Mr. Myers: “Charles Manson. Now he’s funny!” Charlie baby ain’t, never was, never will be.

Whatever happened to great ideas and great possibilities as premises for movies - that inspired you and I to reach for the stars? By “stars “ - I don’t mean Adam Sandler or Mike Myers.
I mean the ones ABOVE.