Butter (2012)

You will love this heavy handed off the shelf PSA for the standard suite of things that rich white Hollywood liberals. It's the kind of movie that TV shows pretend to put on inside an episode. If the fake writers on 30 Rock were fake making a movie about how much they hate everyone who's not a bicoastal rich liberal progressive, this would be it. It's the liberals 'Birth of the Nation'. Because remember, it's only satire if YOU know it's satire. If you don't then you're just being David Letterman.

Why You Might Like It: If you enjoy goofy and silly movies that set out to mock and poke fun at people who are overzealous about strange things, then this movie is for you. The cast is noticeable (Jennifer Garner, Olivia Wilde, Ashley Greene, etc.) and do a fine job in their roles. Jennifer Garner is particularly good. There are some positive messages that the film gets across that some might find value in.Why You Might Not Like It: The most evident thing to say is that the movie is nothing special and very average. There is no doubt it is goofy and over the top, but it is meant to be. You might also been turned off by the film if you are one of the people that it sets out to mock. It is a fairly ordinary and I don't think anyone should go out of their way to see it. Afterall, the movie is about butter carving.Acting/Casting: 6.5* Directing/Cinematography/Technical: 5.5*Plot/Characters: 5.5* Entertainment Value: 5* Total - 6.5+5.5+5.5+5 = 22.5/4 = 5.625* - Might be Worth watching on TV

This movie in it an attempt to be non-p.c. makes ALL kinds of grotesque generalizations and stereotypes. It is so filled with grotesqueries that frankly it made it a struggle to sit through. I did sit through it though...just to see if it could and would redeem itself. It doesn't.Perhaps there are people and places that are this ridiculous but let's say for the sake of comedic exaggeration, it's sloppy gratuitous, disjointed and all over the place. In the end, the sentimental and gooey moralism tries to tie it all together but it falls flat and makes it more banal than it's already worked itself up to be. A a tragic piece of work from writers who have no real message and a director who has clearly gotten lucky enough to have the opportunity to work with talented people. Don't waste your time with this.

Butter develops its satirical tone right away and makes it clear that it won't be taking itself too seriously. The entire backdrop for the characters' stories is a cutthroat butter carving competition, after all. This competition envelops the entire world of its handful of participants, with two in particular: Laura, the self-important, over-privileged wife of the 15-year title holder, and Destiny, a cherubic foster child with a sweet disposition and natural talent. These may be the most straightforward foils I've ever seen. Their stories are expanded and developed with the support of the impressive ensemble cast, and the number of actors playing against type make for quite a few laughs. The contrast between the two primary sculptors fits nicely into the film's ironic tone and actually brings up a bit of a social commentary on both art and privilege, though this aspect of the story is underdeveloped. Ultimately, the light tone, character development, and social commentary make this a fun but forgettable film.The story begins with a super cheesy political-style video introduction praising Bob (Ty Burrell) and Laura (Jennifer Garner) Pickler for his great accomplishments and her unwavering support. The excessive self-importance of the voice-over delivery immediately sets the satirical tone of the film. This overly serious mindset...about butter carving, mind you...is highlighted by the subsequent introduction of Destiny (Yara Shahidi), who takes everything in stride, mostly because she has no other choice. Nearly every character in the film is more of a caricature than a realistic, multi-faceted human being, further developing the sarcasm director Jim Field Smith has set from the outset. Even the extras contribute, as they appear in massive crowds, pushing and shoving for a great view of the "Iowa State Fair Mastery in Butter" competition.As with most caricaturized figures, the characters in this film are primarily one-dimensional archetypes set to serve a very specific role in the development of the story. This time, we have Garner's ambitious, even ruthless Laura; Burrell's spineless, unfaithful Bob; Olivia Wilde's gold-digging stripper mistress; and Yara Shahidi's perfectly pure Destiny in a great contrast with her overzealous competitor. While Jennifer Garner does an admirable job implying that Laura's character does have some degree of growth, all of the characters are quite static. And in this case, it works. To manufacture a great improvement of character would be a disservice to the sarcasm of the comedy. All of the actors fill their roles well, though I was particularly amused by Rob Corddry and Hugh Jackman, both playing against type here. Jackman is hilarious as a dim-witted car salesman used by Garner's character as a sexual pawn, and Corddry is surprisingly effective as Destiny's foster father, giving this mostly superficial comedy a few brief, heartfelt moments and a bit of emotional depth that I quite enjoyed.While the film is generally superficial, it does make an attempt at some social commentary, and while it does so with a satirical tone, it is not truly satire. By definition, a satire must work toward the goal of evoking change. Butter points out some common flaws in human behavior, but it does so with such a wink that change seems less necessary than a brief chuckle. It doesn't take itself quite seriously enough to encourage social change, particularly since none of the characters, with Laura as a possible exception, feel the need to do anything drastically differently themselves. The contrast between Laura, who is excessively put-upon in spite of her privilege, and Destiny, who seems bothered by nothing--likely because she has never had anything, certainly emphasizes the triviality of those things so many of us lament in our own lives. But that doesn't really lead to anything here, other than a quick mental note or personal criticism. The film does raise a question in the end about the nature of art itself, particularly about the difference between an artist's intent and her audience's interpretation, but it is more to evoke further reflection than to encourage any change.Ultimately, I did enjoy the film and I would recommend it for a quick, light watch. The cast and crew did their jobs well, and it was fun to watch. The cast was impressive, and they didn't disappoint; in fact, the surprises arising from those actors playing against type was very p0ssibly my favorite aspect of this movie. Make sure to stick around for the credits, too. The outtakes are a great reminder of the absurdity of the story's content, and the actors' difficulty in playing the comedy straight-faced actually drive home the director's goals in the film.