I had a chance to take in the comedy/satire "Thank You For Smoking" on Saturday, and I am glad I did. This film delivers beyond the funny and awkward moments showcased in the amusing trailer, and it has some great lines. It walks a path along believeability and ridiculousness -- successfully.
The film follows the story of tobacco lobbyist Nick Naylor, one of the three members of the "MOD Squad" -- Merchants of Death, including lobbyists from alcohol, tobacco and firearms industries -- and what happens when he tries to get cigarettes to be cool again after dwindling sales and attacks from health advocates.
The story is about 10 years old (read more in The Seattle Times), and it took that long to get the book to screen. As a result, some of the situations and humor is a bit dated or would have been more effective if it had been written today. Still, there are some riotously funny moments. The directing also has some freeze-frame effects like in "Election," with similar comic effects -- on me at least.
The best part is that the movie doesn't try to have a sappy and happy ending where Naylor realizes the wrongs of his ways and sets out to convince people to stop smoking. Instead, it just acknowledges that the world has bad people and bad things and sometimes life is not so great. But even when life is not so great, it can still be funny.
Especially during a season where there is nearly nothing entertaining let alone good in theaters, this shines as a bright gem. Recommendation: Pay full price.
-- Issaquah, Wash.
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