The Happening (with Rifftrax)

[Twitchy]

Funny? Awful? Awfully funny?

Better with Rifftrax or without?

[Haruhiist]

Awful and funny. I think it would have still been very funny even without Rifftrax, but the Rifftrax was occasionally amusing (mostly for "hawtdaaawwwwggggsss") if also occasionally a bit annoying or tedious.

[feeshy]

I think it was a bit like the other Rifftrax we've had in that although it would be pretty funny without, the additional commentary does add a lot because it wasn't totally ridiculous (compared with, say, Hercules in New York).

It was pretty special... Particularly crazy old woman. With the lemon drink and doll and killing herself by repeatedly headbutting windows (?). Frankly most of the suicide methods were a bit stupid. But entertaining.

[Pureferret]

Frankly most of the suicide methods were a bit stupid. But entertaining.

I think M.Night ran out of ideas some where near the begining...or even before then. Also cheapest CGI monster ever....the wind!

Rifftrax did make it worth watch though some places their more american humour was lost on me.

[KingJ]

I think this would have been a terrible movie without the Rifftrax. I'm extremely glad that we had a near-constant ongoing mocking from the Rifftrax.

Best moment: "It's raining men...". Couldn't stop laughing

[Lambada]

I'll stand by what I said after the movie. The Happening is not too bad as a movie on its own. It didn't need RiffTrax. Yes, the acting is somewhat wooden, but the plot is quite well done (perhaps if the RiffTrax hadn't spoken over the whole reason of why plants are attacking etc you might agree with me).

[Pureferret]

I'll stand by what I said after the movie. The Happening is not too bad as a movie on its own. It didn't need RiffTrax. Yes, the acting is somewhat wooden, but the plot is quite well done (perhaps if the RiffTrax hadn't spoken over the whole reason of why plants are attacking etc you might agree with me).

I followed the reasoning, but it seemed quite arbitrary...the plankton analogy falls down on that 1)it was one species that produced the toxin 2)that species had recently surfaced (i.e. had new interactions with the environment) after thousands/millions of years.

Also why was it confined to boarders with other states/cities etc? Surely showing a prevailing wind and a spead in that direction from the central point of release would have been more believable. Then a chase away from the weather front could have taken place. Also...it only effects large groups? Wth?

[Lambada]

I'll stand by what I said after the movie. The Happening is not too bad as a movie on its own. It didn't need RiffTrax. Yes, the acting is somewhat wooden, but the plot is quite well done (perhaps if the RiffTrax hadn't spoken over the whole reason of why plants are attacking etc you might agree with me).

I followed the reasoning, but it seemed quite arbitrary...the plankton analogy falls down on that 1)it was one species that produced the toxin 2)that species had recently surfaced (i.e. had new interactions with the environment) after thousands/millions of years.

The plants environment had changed rapidly in a few short decades (e.g. climate change). Sure the analogy isn't perfect (as you said, multiple species), but analogies never are - and it's adequate for the film.

Also why was it confined to boarders with other states/cities etc? Surely showing a prevailing wind and a spead in that direction from the central point of release would have been more believable. Then a chase away from the weather front could have taken place. Also...it only effects large groups? Wth?

I agree with you about prevailing wind, but I think artistic licence is appropriate here - "getting to the border" is much easier to convey than "go in direction x until it stops happening". As for affecting large groups - it wasn't that as such. It was that the plants only released the toxin when large groups were near, gradually targeting smaller and smaller groups of people. Like a terrorist attack they target the major populations first, then once their in chaos attack smaller gatherings etc.

[Pureferret]

The plankton the mentioned, was said to have surfaced from laying dormant for thousands of years, and instant change when they awoke. The plants have/had/will have years to adapt. The plankton's reaction could be as simple as releasing toxin's due to the increased level of oxygen in the atmosphere due to a previously unused aerobic process becoming a dominant method of energy production. We could through pseudo-science back and forth til the plants come home, but I don't want to take away from the fact that you enjoyed the film which is much more important!