killjonny
This movie is so well done. A hidden gem! Great casting, great script, great acting. Simple, but great story.
Uriah43
This movie essentially begins with a man named "Bob Pickler" (Ty Burrell) living in the state of Iowa and being the champion 15 years in a row for his butter sculptures at the annual state fair. His wife, "Laura Pickler" (Jennifer Garner) is extremely proud of this accomplishment and plans to use it to further advance her fortunes by having Bob run for political office. But that all changes one day when the organizers of the butter carving event ask Bob not to compete this year so that others can have a chance. Naturally, being the understanding type of person he is Bob reluctantly agrees. His wife, on the other hand, is incensed and sees this as an attempt to thwart her ambitions. To that effect, she announces that she will compete in his place instead. That being said, although Laura has some artistic talent she soon becomes distressed to learn that a young black orphan by the name of "Destiny" (Yara Shahidi) has also chosen to compete--and Destiny happens to have a natural artistic ability that is quite extraordinary. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that what made this film so entertaining was the way it tended to highlight some of the attitudes of certain people living in the "Bible Belt" of America. While they may profess to being Christian their actions clearly say otherwise. Yet--even though many of these scenes were quite funny in their own right—I must admit that there were a couple of scenes that were just plain vulgar and they detracted from what could have been a truly outstanding piece of comedy and satire. Even so, I enjoyed this movie for the most part and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.
SnoopyStyle
After 15 years on top, Bob Pickler (Ty Burrell) is being pushed out of butter sculpting and he's fine with it. On the other hand, his ambitious wife Laura (Jennifer Garner) is not fine with it at all. While Bob seeks comfort from stripper Brooke/Tokyo Rose (Olivia Wilde) in his car, Laura crashes into them. Brooke still wants her $600 that she works so hard squeezing out of Bob. Laura enters the butter contest to continue the family winning streak. Brooke enters the contest to spite Laura. Meanwhile foster kid Destiny (Yara Shahidi) has another new family in Jill (Alicia Silverstone) and Ethan (Rob Corddry). She just wants to sculpt butter.It's more quirky than funny. Even though it takes a lot of jabs at middle America, it's not anything terribly mean-spirited. For a dark comedy, it has very light tone. Other than Laura, everybody else is quite nice. In fact, it also takes jabs at the soy eating Jill. If there is any problematic stereotype, it's yet another wise old soul in a little black girl. They're better off to add a sharper edge to her character. There is a low simmering charm about this movie that grows over time. The funniest characters are the two edgier characters Laura and Brooke. They deliver a couple of funny moments.
banzanbon
This movie in it an attempt to be non-p.c. makes ALL kinds of grotesque generalizations and stereotypes. It is so filled with grotesqueries that frankly it made it a struggle to sit through. I did sit through it though...just to see if it could and would redeem itself. It doesn't.Perhaps there are people and places that are this ridiculous but let's say for the sake of comedic exaggeration, it's sloppy gratuitous, disjointed and all over the place. In the end, the sentimental and gooey moralism tries to tie it all together but it falls flat and makes it more banal than it's already worked itself up to be. A a tragic piece of work from writers who have no real message and a director who has clearly gotten lucky enough to have the opportunity to work with talented people. Don't waste your time with this.
AD
