Stand-up comedian and filmmaker Bobcat Goldthwait has put together a nightmarish satire for our uncertain times, the wryly titled “God Bless America.”
The black comedy, which seems to us to be the bloody bastard offspring of “Natural Born Killers” and “Falling Down,” skewers the gamut of modern distractions — unabashedly partisan cable news shows (yup, that’s President Barack Obama in full Nazi regalia featured at the 0:15 mark), mind-numbing reality TV competitions, crass commercialism and vitriol-spewing religious groups — that have woven themselves into the fabric of everyday life.
(Note: The trailer contains strong language.)
Goldthwait has apparently come a long way from his “Police Academy” days, though anyone who’s followed his filmmaking trajectory (“Shakes the Clown“) will likely appreciate this latest exercise in psychotic catharsis.
The film’s star, Joel Murray, is clearly onboard, having worked with Goldthwait for decades; the two have collaborated on various films, including 1980s mainstay “One Crazy Summer,” holiday classic “Scrooged” and Goldthwait’s directorial debut, “Shakes the Clown.” Murray has most recently had recurring roles on “Mad Men” and “Two and a Half Men.”
God Bless America is available on demand in certain markets and hits select theaters (none near us, though) May 11.
