lunchers42
Let me preface this by saying that I rarely get high. Therefore, the views portrayed in this comment may be biased.That said, on the particular day that I watched How's Your News, I was high. I had, in fact, recently participated in the "high-ing" event, and walked into a house that was playing this movie. I promptly sat down, and spent the next half hour trying to determine whether this was, in fact, real, or simply some type of Matt Stone and Trey Parker joke. Ironically, it was both. So, let's put it this way: Are you looking for humor that goes far beyond the boundaries of what even the creators of South Park could deem fictionalized? Do you fantasize about jokes that involve people in wheel chairs or with IQ's below 20? Have you ever had the need to laugh at a hippie that, through his own ignorance, herded up a group of physically and developmentally disabled adults, got them on a van, and paraded them to America as some sort of therapeutic exercise? Well, then, you've found your dream movie. Somehow, Matt Stone and Trey Parker learned of a guy that, at some rich Northeastern summer camp for the mentally and physically challenged, had his clients run a grass roots news show. So, he handed a guy with down syndrome a microphone, had him walk up to unsuspecting folks, and ask them anything that came to mind.Yes, there are some touching moments in the movie. And, since it is Matt Stone and Trey Parker, they really do capture important points about how people treat and even try to avoid mentally or physically disabled citizens. But the meat of the comedic attempt is that, for a group of guys that cartooned Ben Afflick jerking off a 10-year-old, even THEY couldn't make something up like this and get away with it. So, they funded this guy to take his top group and travel from the Northeast all the way to the land of people that could only compare to their oddness: Venice Beach.You'll get hymnals. A man with severe cerebral palsy being left in wheel chairs on the streets of New York with nothing but a microphone and a "please talk to me" sign. Show tunes. And, ultimately, psychics paid for palm readings by people that can't even form full sentences.If you need to come up with some heart warming story of why this movie really touched you personally, by all means, do so. There really are important points to be made. But those points are made, as Matt Stone and Trey Parker often do, through the completely politically incorrect humor of it all. Rent it. Laugh your butt off. Then, when the guy at the party talks about how "Chuck and Buck" or "Happiness", or even "Gummo" was the most shocking thing he'd ever seen, you can tell them this...ever see a developmentally disabled adult question a high farm worker about the Fonz? I have.
Henry Krinkle
I wouldn't blame you if you didn't want to watch this film because you were worried that it was exploitive of those with disabilities. I felt the same way before I watched it. I feel different now. If you could see how proud the "How's Your News?" crew are of their work, you'd realize what an accomplishment this was for them. I really admire the courage it must have taken to go out and meet the world face to face. They have a truly amazing perspective on the American experience. I think they probably have a better understanding of how "we" are doing as a society than any of the people who refused to talk with them. They really earned my respect.
delbruk
If you noticed that Trey Parker and Matt Stone were listed as Executive Producers for this film you may wonder how much that would translate into this being a snide comedy. Well, You would be right about the comedy at least but this film extends so far to the human capabilities in us all that South Park is not even on the map. Arthur Bradford has accomplished an amazing feat just by allowing his camera to catch the human interactions of his friends who star in this film as "man on the street" reporters. The success and joy of this road trip across the US comes directly from the actors/stars who along their way meet and interact with people from all walks of life. This uniqueness and honesty is all caught perfectly on camera as the ability of each reporter is highlighted and becomes as much an accomplishment as the trip itself. I had the privilege of meeting many members of the film including Arthur Bradford and Susan Harrington during its showing at the Woodstock Film Festival. After meeting them it was apparent that the energy, honesty, and humor that culminates this film was natural and in abundance.So if you want to take a road trip with some unique, interesting, and genuinely funny individuals then find this film!Bravo!
