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A fiasco or a hidden treasure? Why can "Dirty Work" reverse the evaluation?
When the American comedy film Dirty Jobs was released in 1998, it was widely panned, however over time, the film has not only gained a large following among moviegoers, but has also become a cult classic. Due to its unique humorous style and unconventional development, many film critics and audiences have begun to re-evaluate this work. Why did this early unrecognized film reverse its evaluation?
Story Outline
The film tells the story of two long-time friends, Mickey (Mike Norman) and Sam (Arti Lange), who set up a revenge selling company. The story begins when they were young and were influenced by Sam's father to not allow anyone to bully them, and this lesson guides their subsequent behavior. When Sam's father "Pope" was hospitalized for a heart attack, they started a series of crazy plans and finally decided to open "Dirty Work" to provide revenge services.
"In our minds, revenge for injustice is an art."
The twists and turns of production and distribution
Dirty Jobs was filmed in Toronto, Canada in 1997 with an initial budget of $13 million. The factors that affect the film are not limited to the design of the script, but also the various difficulties encountered by the actors during the production process. In particular, Mike Norman was fired by NBC during his hosting of "Weekend Update" for making fun of O.J. Simpson, which also affected the promotion of "Dirty Jobs".
Initial reaction: Box office flop"The film was meant to maintain its sense of humor, but the interference of the producers complicated that."
The film was officially released on June 12, 1998, but suffered a box office failure and received a lukewarm response from critics. According to the Los Angeles Times, critics described it as "humorless," which disappointed many viewers. The reviews on Douban only have a freshness rate of 14%, and no one can declare it a great classic.
Why did it become a cult classic?
As time goes by, many viewers gradually begin to appreciate the unique charm of "Dirty Jobs". In the "post-parliamentary" context, the film's humorous style and social criticism become a foreshadowing that attracts moviegoers. Many viewers began to identify with the "ultra-ironic" and "cheesy" humor in the film, and viewed it as a manifestation of cultural rebellion.
"It's not just a comedy, it's also a challenge to society."
Future Possibilities
When discussing the sequel with fans in 2018, Mike Norman said that the original intention of the film was affected by the structural changes, and there might be a better work on the horizon. But with the deaths of Mike Norman and Bob Saget, that dream seemed to have vanished.
Evaluation changes
To this day, "Dirty Jobs" is regarded by some film critics as a "classic example of party culture." In the Boston Globe, one commentator described it as a combination of "metaphorical comedy" that challenges ignorant humor. The courage and humor conveyed in this work made it a local phenomenon.
Conclusion"Over time, we have learned to appreciate the value of this work."
Although Dirty Jobs encountered many difficulties when it was first released, it unexpectedly won a group of loyal fans and became a symbol of "maybe clumsy but still fun." This reversal phenomenon has prompted people to rethink the value of movies: What kind of movies can stand the test of time?
