Movie – Edtv

Edtv (1999) – A video store clerk (Matthew McConaughey) agrees to let his life be broadcast live on cable TV.  Unedited and unscripted.  Quickly his entire family and the woman he loves will begin to feel the burden of the lack privacy when thier lives become “reality TV”.  In the end he will have to decide what’s most important in his life.

The instant you bring up this movie the comparisons with Jim Carrey’s “The Truman Show” will begin.  The two movies share a common concept, a man’s life broadcast as entertainment, but they take two very different approaches to the topic.  If you let yourself get caught into the “either/or” argument here you will miss out.  “The Truman Show” got there first (1998), was a huge financial success and picked up a fair number of awards and nominations.  Add in the devoted fandom of Jim Carrey’s and the usual “winner” in the discussion is “The Truman Show”.

But “Edtv” has steadily grown a following in the years after it’s underwhelming first run.  While Carrey’s story has an almost otherworldly feel to it, this one is much the grittier and, well, more “real life”.  “The Truman Show” may offer more high flown concepts about the intrusion of media, existentialism and theology but “Edtv” forces us to look a little more closely at ourselves as consumers of this kind of programming. When transform real people into our entertainment we need to be aware of the impact it will have on their lives.  They don’t stop being human beings.  The movie gives a fairly unblinking look at the effect of making real life simply entertainment for the masses can have.

Both these movies come at the very beginning of the “reality TV” boom.  While the quality of “The Truman Show” remains steady, I think the years have shown just how in tune with what was to come “Edtv” really was.

Why I Like The Movie : I like the grittier approach to the subject here.  “The Truman Show” (which is a great movie), makes the whole thing too antiseptic and remote.  You can shake your head about the poor behavior of “those people”.  This movie is much more about US and our bad behavior.  Our glorification of fame and idealization of “television stardom” are behaviors that we could certainly stand to reduce.  At the same time, the movie brings the message with plenty of laughs and character depth.

Why You’ll Like The Movie: Start with a great, “spot the stars” cast (Jenna Elfman, Woody Harrelson, Ellen DeGeneres, Sally Kirkland, Martin Landau, Rob Reiner, Dennis Hopper, Elizabeth Hurley, Clint Howard and a slew of familiar supporting actors).  Add in Ron Howard’s deft directorial touch and a solid, if slightly predictable, script.  Just like the TV show version, “Edtv” is going to give you a little of everything – comedy, romance, drama, sex and death.  You will have fun along the way.

It may also make you just a little uncomfortable about your viewing habits.  Almost 20 years later reality TV is woven even deeper into our media culture.  And it hasn’t gotten any better along the way.

Rating – ****Recommended