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Boat Trip arrives preceded by publicity saying many homosexuals have been outraged by the film. Now that it's in theaters, everybody else has a chance to join them. Not that the film is outrageous. That would be asking too much. It is dim-witted, unfunny, too shallow to be offensive, and way too conventional to use all of those people standing around in the background wearing leather and chains and waiting hopefully for their cues. This is a movie made for nobody, about nothing.

Roger Ebert#26

CriticismFilm criticismEntertainmentMovieFailurePublic perception

About this quote

What does it mean?
The film failed to offend even those it aimed to provoke, instead offering a shallow and conventional product that disappointed everyone.
In plain terms
The movie was so bad and boring that nobody liked it, including the people it tried to upset.
What can you take from it?
A film that offends no one and entertains no one is a failure.

Where it applies

  • movie reviews
  • marketing missteps
  • audience expectations

Putting it to work

  • avoid shallow marketing
  • test with audiences
  • ensure substance

Questions to consider

  • What makes a film offensive?
  • How do you measure success?

Another view

The critique assumes intent where none may have existed.

More from Roger Ebert

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  3. I had a hard time watching Wolf Creek. It is a film with one clear purpose: To establish the commercial credentials of its director by showing his skill at dep…

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