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Saturday
07Mar2009

Movie Bypasses Critics, Grabs YouTube Quotes

DateSaturday, March 7, 2009 at 11:09AM
"I am definitely going to watch this," exclaims YouTube user PuttyDutty 123...and YouTube user Kajuiman declares, "Joshua Jackson's best role to date, but how about that Gord Downie? He's so awesome and Canadian?"

Believe it or not, that's actual "criticism" for the new Canadian movie One Week. The distributor has not screened the film for the press, according to Worst Previews, but has instead skimmed the comments section from the trailer posted on YouTube and created blurbs for the ad below.

"Hope the weather is nice so I can ride my Norton to the theatre," cheers Aidanchick...

On the one hand, I doubt too many reasonable Canadians will look at all that praise and find it very valid or even useful. On the other hand, when you watch commercials for bad movies or even see their ads in print, they're culling from the Earl Dittmans of the world. Quote whores say what they think will get them in the ads. But like it or not, Dittman is a professional. Man, it pains me to say that.

So there's really not much difference as far as that goes, in my mind. But I do think the claim that "All of Canada" is talking about this movie isn't supported very well by the quotes they've chosen.

Take a look:

AuthorColin Boyd | | in , | Print ArticlePrint Article | | Comment4 Comments |

Reader Comments (4)

I'm tempted to call out the advertisement's honesty. If these quotes are indeed from YouTube, I should be seeing spelling errors and more cuss words, and perhaps a few juvenile insults glossing the copy above.

At least studios like Sony Pictures had the audacity to make up fake critics to sell their movie. Why does that sound more noble to me than pulling comments from YouTube?

Saturday, March 7, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterD. Bethel

well they didn't say they used every youtube comment posted. It'd be quite easy to pick and choose

Sunday, March 8, 2009 | Unregistered Commentersoapboxguy

From the post: "The distributor has not screened the film for the press"

The film HAS been screened in advance for the Canadian media, both at press screenings as well at the Toronto, Whistler and Victoria film festivals, and I was in attendance for those last two.

There is another more "standard" ad for One Week, of which my review is quoted along with a review from NOW Magazine:

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b35/thejaymanin818/First%20Weekend%20Club%20uploads/oneweek_scan_smaller.jpg

Not sure how I feel about this Youtube-quoted ad, but it certainly is original.

Jason Whyte
efilmcritic.com

Monday, March 9, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterJason

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