While Mike Judge’s politically bent comedy Idiocracy was a box office bomb when in opened in theaters a decade ago – the film only made a paltry $495,303 at the domestic box office – it’s grown in stature in the years that have followed as a modern cult classic in many circles. Judge, the Emmy-winning creator of shows like Beavis and Butt-Head, King of the Hill as well as current HBO show Silicon Valley (not to mention the 1998 cult flick Office Space) knows something about latching onto the cultural zeitgeist even if its impact isn’t felt instantly. In many ways, Idiocracy may feel ever more relevant, particularly in the now of our current political climate.
As such, a screening of Idiocracy has been announced in an effort to stoke the millennial crowd on September 24th at the Echo Park Tennis and Rec Center. The screening is a part of a non-partisan effort to get youngsters to the voting polls this November and is hosted by #MakeAmericaSmartAgain, an organization spearheaded by celebrated graphic artist Shepard Fairley and his wife Amanda. Fairey commented by stating, “It’s really about understanding the dynamics of our political situation and also participating in democracy…”
The screening was put together through the combined efforts of Fairey’s own Obey Giant and Studio Number One, ROCK THE VOTE, Subliminal Projects, Young Literati, POP & Circumstance, The Library Foundation of Los Angeles, Amoeba Music and EAT/SEE/HEAR. As a treat, the screening will include appearances from Judge, who co-wrote Idiocracy as well as directed the film, as well as Terry Crews and Dax Shepard, two of the film’s memorable performers.
In the film, Luke Wilson portrays Private Joe Bauers, a modern-day “Average American Joe” type who is selected for the Pentagon’s high-clearance hibernation program. In droll Judge-ian fashion, Joe was forgotten about only to be awaken five centuries into the future to discover a painful (and painfully funny) extremely dumbed down version of America. Suddenly, our “Average Joe” is the smartest person in the world.
Idiocracy will screen one night only on September 24th. Tickets can be purchased at EAT/SEE/HEAR.
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