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Movie Critics are Doing Some 'Dirty' Bashing

By Sean Bradley

As much as MGM tried to delay those pesky movie critics by not screening Norm Macdonald's "Dirty Work" for the press, the very negative reviews are starting to hit newstands. Here are some selected quotes from The Calgary Sun , Screen It!, The New York Times, Mr. Showbiz, The Boston Globe, and The San Francisco Chronicle....

"Alas, the victims who should be seeking retribution here are, in fact, the audience which gives $8 each to Macdonald and Lange. 'Dirty Work,' now playing, is a monumentally unfunny film that will alienate even the most devout Macdonald fan."
-- Tyler McLeod, The Calgary Sun

" ... it essentially comes across as a lowest common denominator film that features a bland series of revenge vignettes that will probably appeal to fans of movies such as 'Black Sheep' and 'Tommy Boy.'"
-- Screen It!

"If you thought the Asian economy was bad, try assessing the state of film comedy on the basis of 'Dirty Work.' Phrases like 'terminally stupid' and 'brain dead' leap readily to mind."
-- Lawrence Van Gelder, The New York Times

"Ohlmeyer was right."
-- Bob Graham, The San Francisco Chronicle

" ... it's the cinematic equivalent of rolling in a pile of steaming excrement."
-- Kevin Maynard, Mr. Showbiz

"There isn't a single glimmer of intelligence in 'Dirty Work.' It's a must-miss movie."
-- Cate McQuaid, The Boston Globe

As you can see, the critics were not impressed. Screen It! probably went easiest on the film, praising the movie with a couple of compliments and giving it a "two out of ten" (Mr. Showbiz gave it a four out of 100). Screen It! was also the only review to praise Macdonald. "Norm Macdonald has a certain charm and an okay deadpan pause that he uses effectively when not delivering occasionally funny one-liner wisecracks," read the review. "While I found a few bits to be funny, some in the audience laughed in hysterics, so I guess that one's reaction to the film will depend on their appetite for low brow, sophomoric humor."

My review:

If an appetite for low brow, sophomoric humor is what you need to enjoy this movie, I guess I have it. "Dirty Work" is one of the funniest movies of the year. Not only were my friend (who wasn't even familiar with Norm Macdonald) and I laughing constantly, but the sold-out movie had the rest of the audience in stitches as well. Don't go in thinking your going to see a sophisticated comedy, because you won't. But if you enjoy Macdonald's comedy style, go in prepared to laugh yourself silly.

Rating: 3 out of 4 stars

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