God Bless America – STREAMING

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Known primarily for his unique comedic style, Bobcat Goldthwait has garnered fame not only from his stand-up performances but also from playing Zed in Police Academy 2,3 & 4. His delivery is a mix of squawks, outbursts, and seemingly random nonsense, making him appear only slightly different from a presidential candidate with an orange spray tan. However, over the past two decades, Goldthwait has switched roles to become a writer-director, creating several darkly satirical films. Among these, God Bless America stands out as one of the most astonishing and incendiary.

The film’s first half hour is particularly striking, especially the opening scene where Joel Murray’s likable character, Frank, sits on a couch, channel-surfing through TV shows that take biting swipes at modern celebrity culture, including TMZ news, reality shows like My Super Sweet 16, and American Idol. If there was ever a comic looking to vent their frustration against the superficiality of contemporary fame, this is it. This scene unfolds against the backdrop of his neighbors’ crying baby, culminating in an astonishing scene where Frank knocks on their door and unleashes fury.

Despite living a noble life, things are about to take a tragic turn for Frank. He loses his job due to showing kindness to a coworker in an apparently politically incorrect manner, and then receives devastating news from his doctor – he’s terminally ill. In response, Frank decides that if he doesn’t have much time left, he might as well eliminate the self-centered individuals who he views as a drain on society. He starts by targeting an ungrateful teenager on a reality show, ‘My 16th Birthday’. However, the plot takes an unexpected twist when Roxy (Tara Lynne Barr), instead of being shocked by Frank’s actions, supports and even applauds him. She encourages him to eliminate more targets similar to the TV brat, leading them on a lethal rampage together.

The movie “God Bless America” can be seen as a blend of “Natural Born Killers” and “Network,” with hints of Tarantino’s dialogue, even borrowing a line from “Jackie Brown.” It’s a grim satire featuring two characters cruising around in a vibrant sports car, their faces clearly captured on CCTV, yet they remain elusive and never apprehended. The film ends with a live television broadcast of an American Idol-like show where a heavily overweight, out-of-tune singer has become a national joke. Despite her inability to carry a tune or hit a note, the TV producers have exploited her for public ridicule on national television.

The film explores a central theme: Why maintain civilization if we can’t uphold its core values? Throughout the movie, viewers may find instances where they fantasize about overcoming the apparent decay of society, particularly noticeable in social media – just consider the growing influence of influencers who often misunderstand their role as a fleeting trend instead of a lasting profession.

The phrase “God Bless America” frequently serves as a pointed critique of contemporary media, delivering biting commentary with a closing speech that condemns it all – from the commercialization of hate-mongers, to the glorification of the most reprehensible figures in celebrity culture, and the emptiness of their lives. However, when the film begins to target trivial and petty dislikes, it crosses the line into moral ambiguity.

We chatted with Bobcat Goldthwait about the film…..

Here’s the God Bless America trailer…….

You can now stream ‘God Bless America’ on STUDIOCANAL Presents, which is accessible through both Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.

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2025-05-03 02:24