Bad movies can be a delight for some people, and if you are in that select group then theaters currently have a treat for you. Released this weekend is a new film starring Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway, and if you are unfamiliar there is good reason.
For Hollywood January is a time dominated between holiday blockbusters (like “Aquaman”) and Oscar-nominated fare (such as “Green Book”) getting most of the attention. As a result studios tend to dump unwanted, or problematic titles into theaters. One such arrived this weekend, and some feel the worst movie of 2019 has already been established.
SERENITY is the kind of bonkers movie that truly must be seen to be believed https://t.co/gB0Ydgw9OH via @christylemire pic.twitter.com/F4YdBU72li
— RogerEbert.com (@ebertvoices) January 25, 2019
Good morning! Are you aware there's an insane movie called #Serenity in theaters today? @ADuralde & I try our best to review it without spoiling its many delights, plus #TheKidWhowWouldBeKing & #TrueDetective, on the Breakfast All Day Podcast https://t.co/ZWc9buTfCM
— Christy Lemire (@christylemire) January 25, 2019
A telling sign of trouble: Major movie stars are featured, the cast and the director have a number of Oscar nominations, and yet few even have heard of the film. The studio did little advertising to save on what it deemed a losing venture, and as a result it debuted low in the top-10.
Having seen this debacle this editor can attest, it is an unravelling mess of a fish tale. It tries to create a Shyamalan-esque plot twist, and in a way it succeeds – in the laughably dense way “The Happening” happened.
At Rolling Stone Peter Travers spared no punches.
Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway are sunk in #Serenity. Read Peter Travers' review https://t.co/EspeQvBKkU pic.twitter.com/o2fYpJ7I1C
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) January 25, 2019
“It’s still only January, but this bats*** bonkers trip through the subconscious has already earned a place among the year’s worst movies.” And Peter was being kind.
Review: ‘Serenity,’ with Matthew McConaughey, is awful enough to be interesting https://t.co/YSJJbFIkbR
— Mick LaSalle (@MickLaSalle) January 27, 2019
In his reveiw LaSalle makes it sound so tempting: “People who can enjoy laughing at something made in dead earnest, who can appreciate, in a perverse way, a phenomenal, jaw-dropping mess, may find an experience close to pleasure in this strange, misbegotten, three-headed freak of a movie.”
I considered giving SERENITY five stars. I considered giving it one. There was a stretch when I thought it might be review-proof. I love it as much as a person can possibly love a movie in which Anne Hathaway goes all choke-me-daddy, which is a lot: https://t.co/yK789Gcv8n
— Charles Bramesco (@intothecrevasse) January 24, 2019
I want to start a book club but there’s only 1 book and it’s actually the movie SERENITY let’s talk about it for 1000 hours
— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) January 26, 2019
2019 gets its first wild movie with #Serenity, a thriller so bonkers it'll be hard for anything this year to top it in the nonsense department.
The Reel Nine review: https://t.co/Mdh4KPqEVB pic.twitter.com/cAnH8uo429
— Reel Nine (@reelnine) January 24, 2019
Many fans are of a similar opinion, encouraging some should go see this to witness the mess firsthand.
1. Serenity (2019) is the biggest, weirdest train wreck I’ve seen in a theater in a long time. Please see this film. pic.twitter.com/itpycQ7lzx
— Buddy Ketelle (@BuddyKetelle) January 27, 2019
Me walking out of Serenity you folks really need to see this film it’s either the most ambitious train wreck I’ve seen in a long time or a stroke of stupid genius that left me reeling with questions and genuine excitement to show this thing to everyone I know. What a fucking ride pic.twitter.com/VfNyrCKI4H
— KBow (@_KB0W) January 27, 2019
Seriously cannot believe major actors (multiple oscar winners!!!) and a major studio all signed up to make something as BONKERS as #Serenity and they're just dropping it into theaters like it's a regular normal movie. People are gonna be bugged-out.
— Bob Chipman #RehireJamesGunn (@the_moviebob) January 22, 2019
Serenity is the most unintentionally hilarious movie of the year already. Highly recommended
— Xtian (@almightywheeze) January 26, 2019
Steven Knight's latest, Serenity, features Anne Hathaway and Matthew McConaughey in a movie so deeply weird that cult movie lovers have to see it. https://t.co/AmVZmtNDhv
— Consequence of Sound (@consequence) January 26, 2019
#Serenity (2018): is B-A-N-A-N-A-S. It’s dumb (let’s call it DOUBLE INDUMBNITY), but bad-good in the way you have to see it with a pal to believe it’s a real movie someone wrote. High wattage bonkers, perfect for @HDTGM.
I would also like to own all of Anne Hathaway’s wardrobe. pic.twitter.com/f3DudAsV0j
— Courtney Howard (@Lulamaybelle) January 24, 2019
If there is any temptation of seeing this marvel do not seek out the plot twist. But if interested — they revealed it over at Daily Caller.
REVIEW: Matthew McConaughey's New Movie Is Complete Trash And An Embarrassment To America https://t.co/O6UVtkOgQY
— The Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) January 26, 2019
This is definitely a “RECOMMEND”, and as always — govern yourself accordingly.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member