God Bless America (2011)

The land of patriotism and macho back-slapping is being brought into question like never before. The voice of those unhappy with the 'American dream' are still the minority but are slowly growing in force. God Bless America is directed by the sprightly named Bobcat Goldthwait and follows the growing ilk of stories telling us about a disenchanted soul from the American land.

The film stars Joel Murray as Frank Murdoch, an overweight office worker who has a child that hates him, an ex-wife who doesn’t respect him, and a job he loathes. Tara Barr plays Roxy, a young teenager who comes from a family that abuses and rapes her almost daily.

The background stories make for a cheerful bunch and the duo are thrust onto each other and become a modern day Bonnie and Clyde. The duo are an odd pairing, which is part of the films strengths. The story also tries to alleviate any sexual chemistry between the two but inevitably tinkers with a degree of attraction. Both actors impress throughout and fully commit to the experience. However, the bloated ageing man accompanied by a young girl is becoming all to familiar. It's like a Mcdonald's version of Leon.

There are actually a number of films in recent years that have questioned American culture so this is by no means alone. God Bless America rightly sets out to berate modern culture and demands us to pay each other with a little more courtesy and respect. You only have to flick through MTV and Viva to see some loose women tearing shreds out of each other whilst greased up men watch on in delight. We can almost sympathise with the duo and we've all thought about emptying a clip of bullets into the bratty teens on My Super Sweet 16.

If you're watching this film you will also probably agree with its message but rather than just telling you how not to be it also includes long lists of things that we are meant to approve of - like Alice Cooper. Well what if you also don't like Alice Cooper? Does that make you next on the kill list? Where do you fit in the battle of glam rock vs teen queens?

Films are at the their best when they inform or create debate, here we are preached to. What speaks loudest in the film is the directors voice and it overrides what could have been a brilliant cult offering. I've never been quite so overwhelmed by a debate and at times wished for Roxy and Frank to end it all. Bobcat is obviously passionate about the subject matter, but ultimately delivers a very one-sided argument. The premise promised so much but the delivery is strung out amongst a series of over played rants. Whilst telling us not to conform the characters are also telling us what to do which is counter-productive.

The culture and world the film speaks of certainly is loud and aggressive but it has nonetheless creeped its way into every home through a drip feed straight into our living rooms. Is TV to blame? It certainly hasn’t helped but perhaps it has only reflected what is happening outside our four walls.

If I was more of a cynic I might also suggest that the gorier moments in the film are merely in place to shock, but I do hope it's actually used to reflect the real horror and pointlessness of the celebrity world.

If you're still tired of bitchy, pink, and tanned pop culture and want to see it destroyed then I recommend you join Project Mayhem and stick to Fight Club.