This Week in the Mercury
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Comedy / Film / TV David Cross Has Some Thoughts About Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked
Posted by Erik Henriksen on Wed, Jan 11, 2012 at 11:48 AM
David Cross has discussed his participation in the Alvin and the Chipmunks movies before, and he probably will again, but my favorite part about this particular Conan clip—in which he calls working on Chipwrecked the most miserable professional experience he's ever had—is how awkward everyone else gets when Cross starts mocking one of the film's producers and straight up telling people not to see the movie. It's like nobody told him talk shows are for advertising movies, not being honest about them.
1
Pretty bullshit move to crack on a movie you participated in and collected a check from knowing full well it was going to be terrible. That says way more about David Cross than it does Chipwrecked.
2
Yeah, it says that he likes to make money.
Seriously, David Cross works on stuff that is brilliant and unpopular (Todd Margaret, Arrested Development, his stand-up), and he would have a harder time doing so if he couldn't cash in every couple years. They hired him back for a sequel after he bad-mouthed the first one, what could they possibly have thought would happen? Are people who watch Conan the target audience for a fucking chipmunks movie?
Seriously, David Cross works on stuff that is brilliant and unpopular (Todd Margaret, Arrested Development, his stand-up), and he would have a harder time doing so if he couldn't cash in every couple years. They hired him back for a sequel after he bad-mouthed the first one, what could they possibly have thought would happen? Are people who watch Conan the target audience for a fucking chipmunks movie?
4
I've got no problem with guys cashing checks. It's the business, as you accurately describe. But I think Cross should either put the onus on himself for taking on shit projects or keep his mouth shut.
5
Chuck, have you ever gotten yourself into something you found, in retrospect, sucked? He IS being honest- "don't see the movie" isn't exactly building bridges- and sometimes you can't predict just how shitty that 1 idiot employer/supervisor/colleague will be. You seem more into panning 5 year old's movies and the adults who work on them, than making a legitimate point about David Cross. Were you alive when Mr Show was on HBO? (I didn't get HBO either, but got the DVD's). That's called paying your dues, which he has done, and he's still funny. Unlike most of the posters-- with weird axes to grind-- on this site.
6
This is a good interview about all of that:
http://www.avclub.com/articles/david-cross…
I actually am not a big David Cross fan, since I actually find him more often grating than funny, but I really respect how he's been able to manipulate the existing system to do what he wants to get done as an artist.
I further respect that he simply tells the truth, and doesn't put on a false front for press just because everyone else does in those situations. The Chipmunks people knew what they were getting when they hired him, and they treated him like shit anyway, apparently. I'm not sure why they thought he'd react any other way, given his entire history of speaking his mind.
http://www.avclub.com/articles/david-cross…
I actually am not a big David Cross fan, since I actually find him more often grating than funny, but I really respect how he's been able to manipulate the existing system to do what he wants to get done as an artist.
I further respect that he simply tells the truth, and doesn't put on a false front for press just because everyone else does in those situations. The Chipmunks people knew what they were getting when they hired him, and they treated him like shit anyway, apparently. I'm not sure why they thought he'd react any other way, given his entire history of speaking his mind.
8
If someone paid me a million dollars I would sing their praises even if they were terrible. I would feel grateful for the privilege. For a million dollars you could shit in my mouth and around the poop I would be saying how amazing you were.
For two million dollars I'd give someone a false alibi in a murder case.
For three million dollars I'd kill someone myself.
For two million dollars I'd give someone a false alibi in a murder case.
For three million dollars I'd kill someone myself.
9
Seemed like a pretty clear edit point, after Conan said he didn't know, too. I wonder what David's response was?
10
Spoolo: are you saying Cross legitimately thought Chipwrecked was going to be a good movie/experiance when he signed up for it? Let's not be daft. He knew it was going to suck, he took the money anyway, and now he's on national television complaining about it. I just think it's disingenuous. It doesn't have anything to do with my or your opinion of his work as a comedian/actor.
11
YOUR CYNACISM ISN'T ALL ENCOMPASING ENOUGH. DAVID CROSS SLAGGING HIS CURRENT FILM PROJECT IS A CALCULATED BIT OF PUBLICITY. IF HE'D JUST COME ON CONAN'S SHOW AND SAID, "IT WAS FUN, WE SAID FUNNY THINGS" NO ONE WOULD HAVE NOTICED. BUT BY BEING NEGATIVE, HE'S GARNERED MORE ATTENTION. AFTER ALL, THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS BAD PUBLICITY. ESPECIALLY WHEEN YOU WWEBSITE AS ON INTERNET.
12
@Chuck: From watching this and reading the interview Commenty Colin linked, I get the impression he was contractually obligated to do the third movie. He had a fine time working on the others, and he goes out of his way to praise the cast and crew he worked with, blaming the shitty experience on one or two producers who, for whatever reason, did their best to make it unpleasant. He doesn't name names or anything.
To whom, exactly, does he owe his silence? Why is he obligated to smile and nod just because he took their money? Maybe he should have written this to I, Anonymous instead, they love anti-employer rants.
To whom, exactly, does he owe his silence? Why is he obligated to smile and nod just because he took their money? Maybe he should have written this to I, Anonymous instead, they love anti-employer rants.
14
You're right. That AV Club article explains a lot. If he tried to get off the project and the producers wouldn't let him, then to hell with it. Bag on Chipwrecked to your heart's delight Mr. Cross.
15
I had never heard of this movie until reading this post. Also, this is the fifteenth comment on it, on an alt-weekly's blog in Portland. That can't be their general audience.
I'd say he did them a favor with some earned media reaching people outside their demographics.
I'd say he did them a favor with some earned media reaching people outside their demographics.
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