Heckler
Heckler
R | 04 November 2007 (USA)
Heckler Trailers

HECKLER is a comedic feature documentary exploring the increasingly critical world we live in. After starring in a film that was critically bashed, Jamie Kennedy takes on hecklers and critics and ask some interesting questions of people such as George Lucas, Bill Maher, Mike Ditka, Rob Zombie, Howie Mandel and many more. This fast moving, hilarious documentary pulls no punches as you see an uncensored look at just how nasty and mean the fight is between those in the spotlight and those in the dark.

Reviews
Nonureva Really Surprised!
Seraherrera The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity
Brennan Camacho Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.
Janis One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.
HagenSteele This film takes a look at the heckler, the critic, and those they target for praise or derision. The film draws from a wide variety of individuals, who share their experiences as members in the entertainment industry, and in the world of sports.While the film is interesting and entertaining, I found the enjoyment factor to be significantly reduced due to the approach adopted by Jamie Kennedy throughout the film. Rather than using an empirical approach to explore the issues, Jamie Kennedy seems to go for a more personal and emotional approach, seemingly designed to garner sympathy. In my opinion, this approach was not effective, and tarnished the film as a whole.I found it interesting to hear how individuals from a wide variety of careers handle the criticism that comes with their chosen profession. Most seem to share a healthy outlook on criticism and take it for what it is, an opinion. Others, however, are not as mentally resilient, and are seriously impacted by negative comments written about them by any given stranger, from any given outlet.This film asks the question, "What makes a critic qualified to be a critic?". While seemingly a simple question, I don't believe it's possible to quantify WHAT and WHY anybody likes OR dislikes any given performance. We all have our likes and dislikes, which is why there is so much diversity in the world of entertainment and sports.The film makes a valid point about the nature of criticism, in that rather than addressing what they liked and disliked, and why, many critics simply make unsubstantiated personal attacks that have little to do with the project they are critiquing. Fair enough.Sadly, the film didn't address the enormous amount of "fake praise" by critics (EASILY observed here on IMDb), nor did they address the impact critics actually have on potential customers.Who actually goes off of what a "professional" critic says? I don't.I make my decisions based on the performers in the project, the subject, and the opinions of like minded friends and associates. I can honestly say that I have NEVER made a decision to see ANYTHING based on the opinion of ANY "professional" critic.In the end, this film is worth a watch, and if you can ignore the "emo / wounded" approach used by Jamie Kennedy throughout the film, you'll find it even better than I did.I'd give it 7 of 10 stars, however, I became annoyed with the whiny vibe put out by Jamie Kennedy throughout the film, so I'm taking 2 stars back from the total.End total: 5 of 10 stars.
cobra_freak_006 this documentary goes into hecklers to critics to a-holes like us on the internet. one of the more interesting things i thought was in this film was about the movie critics and self proclaimed movie critics out there on the internet that claim they are being honest but are really writing crap about the person that made the film or the actor.a few things they mentioned was Malibu's most wanted which even i remember people saying it was the worst movie they have ever seen. which to me i wouldn't say it was the best but i thought it was funny because i knew many kids that acted that way and saw the humor in it by dragging those kids in to watch it. only thing i feel this film should of gotten more into detail about was the subject of critics and people writing bad reviews about movies they have never even seen. for example i remember listening to howard stern talk to a person who bashed his film, private parts, in the news paper and also said she never seen the film and never would. overall i enjoyed watching this film and loved it when some of those hecklers got in the boxing ring with some "critics"
bean-d This documentary is a lot of fun, mainly because Kennedy spends a lot of time interviewing interesting people and funny comedians. Not surprisingly, the comedians often have the most incisive, trenchant observations--often cloaked behind vulgarities or inanities.Where the film goes awry is in its conflation of heckler with critic. As a teacher, I can understand the destructive nature of a heckler. There is no benefit in having a student make a smart alec comment while I'm trying to make a point. If the "heckler" truly wishes to help me, then he can come to me after class and offer a suggestion. I think the analogy holds with comedians--although my students aren't normally drunk! A critic, in contrast to a heckler, is not interrupting the show. He is assessing the show/performance/movie/music/etc. after the fact. Admittedly some critics can be jerks, but good criticism should work to make art better by defining the art and helping us to understand it deeper. (As a fan of Roger Ebert, I can attest that he does this for me.) Besides, many of us enjoy reading criticism almost as much as we enjoy the actual art. (In other words, any criticism Jamie Kennedy has against criticism can be turned against him: If you don't like my show, don't attend it. If you don't like my criticism, don't read it.) One thing I think Kennedy fails to understand is that average people don't see a distinction between stars and characters. Jim Carrey is a real person, yes, but I don't know him and never will. To me he is as much a distant character as Ace Ventura. If I make a snide remark about how Carrey's career is on the wane and he deserves an early retirement before he can do any more damage, I don't mean this personally because I don't know him personally! There are several good books about "para-relationships" that people have with stars. Kennedy seems to think that we should relate to him the same way we relate to our roommate or our next door neighbor.And that's my final problem: There is some hypocrisy here. Kennedy seems to be asking for sympathy for himself and his fellow comics: Hey, y'all, we're just people with feelings! But how many comics make a name ripping to shreds women, or Paris Hilton, or conservative Christians, or George W. Bush, or Bill Clinton? So it's okay to laugh these people to scorn, but please, oh please, be nice to me? As they say where I'm from: Don't play with the bull if you don't want the horns.
ritera1 I find it funny that this film is full of comediennes complaining about hecklers and critics. Isn't it the job of a comedienne to be a critic?Sure, hecklers can be a pain in the ass as they are interrupting an attempt at creativity. But critics say what they think after the fact (i.e. comics). What's wrong with that? It's a matter of the opinion of one person. Sure, that opinion might be a landmine of bias and hate. But maybe it isn't. In the end, it's one person's opinion. ONE person. Let me remind you that you will not please everyone all of the time, even if you are "good". All these whiners think that their ATTEMPT at creativity is the finish line. Gawd bless them! Most of the people interviewed likely make very good livings doing what they do. So they have succeeded with enough people to live comfortably. That isn't enough? It sure would be for me (as I'm also an aspiring screenwriter but have never been this blubbery about criticism).Good for them. Good for them. I wouldn't dislike someone who can make a good living doing something that doesn't hurt anyone. But just 'cause something is created doesn't make it good to me. Listen to most people and they don't have a really high opinion of film, TV, music, etc. Some, sure, but never ALL of creativity.Take a cue from professional wrestling. They THRIVE on being booed. They revel in it. Bad press is better than no press.As for the film, I find it a repetitive, slanted, propaganda piece in favor of reasonably wealthy performers against critics who are infrequently represented. The few they had sounded reasonable. The very brief ending groped for balance but was sarcastic and equally vindictive about it. Are you trying to tell me that Jamie Kennedy has no opinions? He's just non-committal and accepting of ALL creativity?