Can someone please explain this to me, RE: SICKO?

[SeattleGirl]

I just got the DVD, and am watching it (for the second time; saw it initially in a theatre).

The comments on the DVD jacket, and the commercials they ran at the time of the movie's initial release, kept talking about how this was Moore's "funniest work yet", blah blah blah.

Yeah, there are some funny parts in it, but I see nothing funny about people dying because their health care was denied. I see nothing funny about the former health care professionals admitting that they denied health care to people for the sole purpose of making money for the insurance companies.

Am I missing something?

:shrug:

[Atman]

1. Marketing talk. People generally won't flock to "Most Depressing Movie Of The Year!"

Even calling "The Most Important Movie of the Year!" or 'documentary' is generally a downer. So they hyped it as a comedy, because that's what Moore is generally known for.

.

[SeattleGirl]

4. I suppose you're right.

I hope people will see the tragedy within the comedy when they watch it.

Freakin' marketers. Surely they could do better.

[baldguy]

2. The marketing people have no clue how to sell it.

[SeattleGirl]

5. It's somewhat misleading. As I said, I think there ARE funny parts

in it, no doubt. Lots of MM tongue-in-cheekiness.

But I just can't laugh over people dying.

[Mabus]

3. It's funny because the joke is on us

and everyone else is laughing at our idiotic health care system. :shrug:

[SeattleGirl]

8. Haha. Lookit me.

I'm dyin' over here! :sarcasm:

:eyes:

[Canuckistanian]

6. They did the same thing with 'Roger & Me'

The cover blurb proclaims it be hilarious.

I personally thought it was his most depressing, though informative work.

[SeattleGirl]

9. You know, I STILL haven't seen "Roger & Me".

I need to get that one.

[MrMickeysMom]

22. It's still timely, worth seeing...

.... You'll "laugh", You'll "Cry", " You'll be rolling in the isle!" ... oh, uh, sorry, I worked in a marketing situation last year and forgot myself.

What I meant wass, it's a real eye opener- ;-)

[SeattleGirl]

23. I've always heard good things about it.

And since I love Moore's other movies, I'm sure I'll "laugh", I'll "cry", etc. etc. :)

[alphafemale]

30. If you're a sensitive person and it comes to the "rabbit scene" just fast-forward.

Don't watch.

Trust me.

[SeattleGirl]

31. Thanks for the heads up.

:thumbsup:

[Jackpine Radical]

7. Jeez, I guess if it doesn't leave ya rolling in the aisles, you must be

overburdened with empathy or something. I think most Republicans find it pretty funny.

[SeattleGirl]

10. You're right. I was going to get my emphathy removed, but the

insurance company denied my claim. :crazy:

[Jackpine Radical]

13. Wow, that's weird.

They're usually very willing to pay for procedures that increase your likelihood of voting Fascist and opposing universal health care.

[SeattleGirl]

15. Well, to compensate, they DID say they would increase my hate

cells, but I decided I didn't want that.

[Jackpine Radical]

18. Why? Most people would jump at an offer like that.

All of a sudden you'd discover what an entertaining, informative genius Rush Limbaugh is.

[SeattleGirl]

19. For that, I need special ear implants, which translate the mumbled

hate-filled bile he spews into something inspirational that will, in the end, make me love Gee Dubya Boosh. :P

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

11. Good question, we discussed this after the movie's release, because that was how it was promoted in

television ads.

Lazy marketing, definitely.

They should have shown moviegoers saying, "It was amazing, I loved it" "Everyone should see this" "It's the best movie I've seen for years" and so forth, keep hyping it without labeling as anything in particular.

But what do I know? :-) MKJ

[SeattleGirl]

14. I was somewhat shocked when I actually SAW the movie, after

hearing the bad hype for so long.

I like your suggestion.

[Yael]

12. Ever heard a review that said, "I laughed, I cried"?

The first movie that I both laughed and cried at was SiCKO.

[SeattleGirl]

16. Yes, I have. Not with SICKO, though.

I think "I laughed, I cried" would be a good description for this movie.

[Yael]

17. There were some really snarky moments and the 'hit you in the gut' ones came out of no where

I have always maintained that the critics that slapped the "I laughed I cried" lable on <insert film> were walking emoticons.

Finally experienced that emotional roller coaster with SiCKO and I understand it now.

[Warpy]

20. I'm sure GOP viewers found all the pain and death

absolutely hilarious, especially the ones who are heavily invested in the health care industry.

For the rest of us, I think Moore is being sarcastic.

[SeattleGirl]

21. I'm sure they did.

And I "get" Moore's brand of humor.

I just thought it was weird that the movie is only described in terms of being funny. Some parts definitely AREN'T funny, and neither is the primary message of the movie.

[nancyr]

24. Sickening.

I've seen it advertised as 'Hilariously Entertaining". My God. I don't recall doubling up with laughter. There's not anything hilarious about people going bankrupt because they're unlucky enough to get sick.

[SeattleGirl]

25. I know.

Extremely bad marketing, IMHO.

As I said, it does have its funny tongue-in-cheek moments, but it is NOT hysterically funny.

I don't find people going bankrupt, or people dying because they were denied medical care, very fun either.

[nadinbrzezinski]

26. Marketing

[SeattleGirl]

27. That does seem to be the consensus.

I've seen better campaigns.

[Chovexani]

28. I thought it was the most depressing movie Moore's done to date

Even Fahrenheit 9/11 had some funny jokes in it, despite the subject matter.

I didn't laugh once during Sicko. In fact, I've been putting off the DVD because I don't know if I can sit through it again. :cry:

[SeattleGirl]

29. I do think SICKO is a great film, but also pretty depressing.

Also makes my blood pressure rise when I see it. x(