In the year 2505 the most popular channel is The Violence Channel, and the most popular program on it is "Ow! My Balls!" -- a series in which some poor sap gets his testicles assaulted in various ways -- dogs, wrecking balls, feet, two-by-fours.
Such is the world of Mike Judge's Idiocracy. Never heard it? Lots of people haven't.
The trailers for the movies tested so poorly 20th Century Fox quietly released the movie in only a few selected markets, and soon after it went straight to video.
The movie is not a must-see, and it's not even that funny -- but it is very clever, and it has become a cult hit, like Judge's other cult hit -- Office Space.
Idiocracy offends just about everyone -- yuppies, trailer trash, pro wrestling fans, people who watch cable -- if you're an American, he's going to try to offend you.
Idiocracy is a dyseugenic dystopia: the smart have quit breeding, so the stupid have taken over the world. It's an update on an old SF story called "The Marching Morons."
In 500 years the average IQ appears to be about 70. You can imagine the results. That's how "Ow! My Balls!" ends up being the most-watched program in the world.
I can't give this movie four stars. But I can give it three-and-one-half, and suggest that you watch it. You won't laugh, but you will smile -- because you'll recognize everyone in it.
Posted by Bob Wallace, who also got his law degree from Wal-Mart.
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