Freddy Got Fingered (2001)

Director:

Tom Green

Writers (WGA):

Tom Green (written by) &
Derek Harvie (written by)

Release Date:

20 April 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

This time you can't change the channel.

Plot:

An unemployed cartoonist moves back in with his parents and younger brother Freddy. When his parents demand he leave, he begins to spread rumors that his father is sexually abusing Freddy.

Plot Keywords:

Animator | Slacker | Cartoonist | Wheelchair | Penis Fixation

Awards:

6 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Tom Green	...	Gord Brody
Rip Torn	...	Jim Brody
Marisa Coughlan	...	Betty
Eddie Kaye Thomas	...	Freddy Brody
Harland Williams	...	Darren
Anthony Michael Hall	...	Mr. Davidson
Julie Hagerty	...	Julie Brody
Jackson Davies	...	Mr. Malloy
Connor Widdows	...	Andy Malloy
John R. Taylor	...	Farmer #1
Bob Osborne	...	Farmer #2
Fiona Hogan	...	Pregnant Woman
George Gordon	...	Doctor
Ron Selmour	...	Security Guard - Studio (as Ronald Selmour)
Drew Barrymore	...	Davidson's Receptionist

Also Known As:

The Tom Green Movie (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for crude sexual and bizarre humor, and for strong language.

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Portugal:M/16 | Iceland:16 | Netherlands:18 (VHS/DVD rating) | USA:R (No. 38118) | Brazil:18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:R | Canada:18A | Denmark:11 (DVD rating) | Finland:K-18 | France:U | New Zealand:R18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:NC-17 (uncut version/original rating) | Canada:16+ (Quebec)

Filming Locations:

Africa

Company:

Regency Enterprises

Trivia:

The whole idea of the "cheese sandwiches" is from a sketch on _"Tom Green Show, The" (1997)_, when he met an old couple in the park and acted really nice to them and asked them for a cheese sandwich that they were eating. After he walked away from them, he started talking to the camera saying "Who the hell eats cheese sandwiches?, I mean there's salads and meat? Cheese sandwiches!"

Goofs:

Continuity: When the kid gets hit in the forehead with the bottle, his black eye and other facial injuries briefly disappear, then reappear.

Quotes:

Doctor: You did not save the day!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Friday Night with Jonathan Ross: (#13.14)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Toy Parade

Refreshing, disgusting, curious, funny, offensive, strange, idiotic and inventive - all at the same time.

My friend came in saying to me: 'You have got to see this film.' Upon asking him why, he told me that it was one of the most hilarious films he had ever seen. I usually find this particular person's opinion correct, so I bought the DVD.

I must say, I did find it very funny, but also very extreme. This film has very much been built up on it's controversy, like many other films. Some quotes include, 'purile and disgusting' 'highly offensive' and 'stupid, immoral and idiotic.' All of the above are true.

But it is also very, very funny.

I had never heard of Tom Green before, so I didn't really know what to expect. I put on the DVD, and judging by the cover, the blurb and the beginning of the film, it seemed like a light hearted, stupid slapstick fare. I wish I had paid more attention to the rating.

The storyline is non - existent. Well, very little anyway. Gordy, a wannabe animator, tries to make a break for Hollywood, making just enough money as a cheese sandwich factory worker. But he fails miserably, and goes back to living at home with his parents.

That is all the 'storyline' I could decipher. What follows is a barrage of offensively brilliant comedy, including the infamous deer scene.

For 90% of the films running time, it doesn't really make sense. That is the one thing you must remember. But it is not supposed to. I think that it is not the deer scene that sets the tone, though. It's another.

Here's the scene: Gordy and his friend, Darren are standing on a half - pipe built outside Gordy's home. Darren tries to do a bit of skating, and trips up and breaks his leg - bone poking out through the skin, blood everywhere, and Darren screaming. This really took me aback - I wasn't really expecting anything so disgusting. While I was laughing a retching at Tom Green's childish antics during this scene, I never really recovered from it.

Although not all the humour is disgusting; some of it is just plain weird. For example, the sketch where Gordy hangs sausages from the ceiling and hooks them up to the piano strings, so that when he plays on the piano the sausages go up and down, made me crack a grin. He plays while randomly singing in an off - tone voice, 'Daddy, would you like some sausage? Daddy would you like some sausages?" It made me smile just out of pure curiosity.

Also in the bizarre section of the humour of this movie is the 'Treasure' sequence, in which Gordy childishly pretends he is a deep sea diver in the shower, and pretends that soap on a rope is treasure. This had me a bit weirded out, to say the least.

And last, but not least, is the 'Backwards Man' sequence. This is brilliant/stupid depending on who you talk to. In my opinion, this sequence is one of the films stand out moments.

But what I really think makes Freddy Got Fingered shine is the moments which parody the usual Hollywood schmaltz's. For example:

'Oh Gordy,I don't care about jewels. All I really wanna do is.... suck your c***'

'This has been a valuable life lesson. This trip hasn't been about spending about acting like a d***, shouting at the top of my voice like a hyperactive child or whacking off an elephant. This trip has been about the fact that one million dollars should be spent the right way. The American way. Blowing it all in one go on a load of s*** I will never need'

So sure, this movie ain't no masterpiece. But it is a damn fine comedy, one that made me laugh a lot, and a truly offensive one too.

And you don't see that too often nowadays.