The Onion Movie
Starring: Steven Seagal, Len Cariou
Directors: Tom Kuntz, Mike Maguire and James Kleiner
The film: The Onion Movie, which is loosely based on the sarcastic cultural commentary found in The Onion newspaper and website, is ample proof of how humour has a hard time translating between different forms of media. At best, it's a rapid-fire 80-minute film filled with short sketches that skewer many different aspects of modern culture. Mostly, however, the skits verge into immature class and racial stereotypes that leave one cringing instead of laughing.
That's as good a reason as any why the film sat on the shelves for five years. As to why one-time Onion editor Robert Siegel walked away from writing the project is anyone's guess, but it most likely had to do with conflicts between what studio Fox Searchlight Pictures wanted and what The Onion team hoped to deliver. The film most resembles the late 70s picture Kentucky Fried Movie, which also highlighted a series of hit-and-run gags that were loosely assembled to resemble a feature-length plotline.
The film centres around two themes: the upcoming release of Steven Seagal's hopeful blockbuster Cockpuncher and an anchorman named Norm Archer (Len Cariou) who reads the hourly news on 'the Onion Network' that everyone in the world apparently watches. The regular use of the Seagal-starring trailer is played for numerous laughs, but when promotions for the film appear on screen while the ultra-serious Archer is presenting the news, he protests to the network CEOs. But they're portrayed as young network buffoons who retort that the company owners want to ensure a high opening weekend at the box office.