NEW YORK (CNS) — Going by "Bucky Larson: Born to be a Star" (Columbia), there are still some aspects of rock-bottom-worst left to be explored.
An obsession with bodily functions and blithe acceptance of human degradation permeate this attempted comedy directed by Tom Brady and scripted by Adam Sandler, Allen Covert and Nick Swardson.
Swardson, as the title character, is an emotionally and intellectually stunted bucktoothed Iowa boy, who, when he learns that his parents, Jeremiah and Debbie (Edward Herrmann and Miriam Flynn), were in pornographic films in the 1970s, moves to California to achieve the same warped "stardom." Inexplicably, he finds a girlfriend, waitress Kathy McGee (Christina Ricci) and a director mentor, Miles Deep (Don Johnson), and in the process becomes a cult hero for underendowed men.
From this film we learn that all Midwesterners are flannel-wearing cretins, pornographic performers are just like regular Hollywood actors, and any kind of fame is a worthwhile quest.
The film contains frontal upper female nudity, fleeting frontal and frequent rear male nudity, repeated references to body functions and bodily fluids, and pervasive rough, crude and crass language. The Catholic News Service classification is O — morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
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Jensen is a guest reviewer for Catholic News Service.
