What is the appeal?
Okay, first, I have to admit that I’m not big on gross-out stuff. I mean, yeah, I grew up with three brothers and seven cousins of the male persuasion…and each of my brothers always had at least two friends EACH at our house. I grew up entirely surrounded by testosterone–and yet, I hate bugs, snakes, spiders, farts, boogers, puke and all the other things that seem to drive boys crazy with glee. I was blessed with a female child, so I thought I was safe.
Ha!
Just last week, my agent sent me a box of books. Have I mentioned how I love my agent? One of those books was a children’s tome that she represented: THE MONSTROUS MEMOIRS OF A MIGHTY MCFEARLESS by Ahmet Zappa. First, isn’t that a great title? I love alliteration. And trust me, an alliterative title makes perfect sense for this book. It reflects the poetic quality of Ahmet Zappa’s writing. Assonance, too. He uses a lot of assonance. (For those of you who weren’t listening in your Freshman English classes…or don’t remember…assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds within words.)
Frankly, Zappa reminded me of Poe, just with a sense of humor. (I was going to say a “better sense of humor” but for as much as I love good old Edgar Allan, the boy didn’t know how to make a funny.)
Anyway, the book features a female protagonist, Minerva McFearless. She’s 11 years old and not only snarkily sarcastic, but incredibly brave. She and her 9 year old brother Max discover that they are the youngest in a long line of monsterterminators. When their father is monsternapped by the Big Bad, they team up with a monstrous talking book and a mysterious coyote to rescue their father and save the world from being overrun by monsterkind.
It’s a quick-paced monster of a tale…but it’s also gross. So gross, I laughed.
And that never happens.
I do not find this stuff funny. I’m a real snob when it comes to comedy. I can watch ANIMAL HOUSE with a completely straight face (most of the time.) AMERICAN PIE? Never have seen it. SOMETHING ABOUT MARY? Wouldn’t waste my time. But there’s something about disgusting kid humor that just totally cracks me up.
And as a mom, I appreciated that the book’s disgusting humor kept my very easily-scared child from getting scared.
Score, Zappa!
This weekend, we’re going to see HOW TO EAT FRIED WORMS. Normally, you would not catch me anywhere near a movie like that…I was totally grossed out by the trailer. However, my brother’s very good friend’s son, Austin Rogers, has a major role in the film. 
Austin’s family bought out a theatre for a little home town premiere and we’re going. I would have been very wary about my nightmare-prone (yes, it’s inherited) daughter seeing this flick, but after reading Zappa, I think I’m comfortable that humor will cancel out the disgustingness. (And isn’t Austin a cutie?)
Anyway, that’s my hope. Humor + grossness = enjoyable experience for my child. Fingers crossed, people.
So, how do you feel about gross-out humor? Which movies and books stand out to you as worth the test of your gag reflex? Which movies make you laugh in spite of yourself?
I’ll report back next week on our experience…here’s hoping no worms were harmed in the making of the film, as they claim in the trailer.
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Oh! There’s a special treat up at my Marisela blog today. Do go and visit…or you can go directly to the SOURCE OF FUN right here.
I confess, I’m almost as bad as a boy when it comes to gross-out humor. But I blame my father for that. When I was twelve, he informed me it was time for a very important rite of passage - watching Blazing Saddles. Part of the rite was laughing hysterically at the campfire bean scene.
Hope you enjoy the movie!
Comment by Jamie — August 23, 2006 @ 6:28 am
I think part of the silliness is how it makes even grownups act like kids, especially guys. I actually happened to love “Something About Mary” - I laughed so hard I cried - but the friend I went to see it with hated it. Her idea of a good time to go see B movies which are boring and not even funny, but I digress. And most people “get” gross-out humor, plus I think parents and kids can bond over it. I may not always appreciate it, but you have to admit that sometimes it’s just hard not to laugh at some of that stuff.
I don’t know if I could watch the Worms movie, but I sure do remember the book. I sure don’t feel very hungry right now…
Comment by Stacy ~ — August 23, 2006 @ 6:43 am
I admit that I hate to watch gross things and think you are really brave to go see the movie. My first reaction to the title was oh yuck, so I doubt very much I will be going to see it………..
Comment by Cryna — August 23, 2006 @ 8:07 am
I don’t really like gross out humor. I loved the book “How to Eat”, but it’s not at the top of my list, right now.
Comment by katie — August 23, 2006 @ 9:17 am
I love Something About Mary, it cracks me up everytime I see it. As for Blazing Saddles, well there is nothing that can compare. I love Mel Brooks. Give me Monty Python too. My daughter (21) just told me about the fried worms movie. She wants to see it. ick. no thanks. I don’t do stuff without legs. Forget Snakes on a Plane too. :thumbsdown:
But there is certain “guy” humor that just tickles my funny bone. Maybe it was growing up on a farm and for years being the only girl around. Dad used to chase me with tomatoe worms. How I hate those things. But farting contests, burping contests and food fights were just what we did. And some great memories they have been too. LOL
Comment by ev — August 23, 2006 @ 9:22 am
Okay–
I sometimes get and love the gross-out humor. Other times I just shrug. What can I say I have a reputation fo r being an “EEWWW”-ie gal.
For anyone who did not visit the Marisela Link–you just gotta.
I literally
to whoever came up with that scene. Great JOB!!!:thumbsup2:
Comment by Debbie — August 23, 2006 @ 9:30 am
I agree with Debbie you have to go check out the Marisela Link
Comment by cherylann — August 23, 2006 @ 9:33 am
I have two girls, and both enjoy gross-out humor. So do I — to an extent. I loved Something About Mary, and another gross-out humor movie was Me, Myself, and Irene with Jim Carey.
I’m thinking they’ll both enjoy How to Eat Fried Worms. Enjoy the premiere, Julie — sounds like fun!
Comment by Janelle — August 23, 2006 @ 10:04 am
I’m crazy about anything gross out. Since my kids are grown and there are not any grandchildren (long time off, they are not that grown) then it’s not something that I feel I have to do.
I can’t wait to hear what you thought of the movie though. Way cool about your brothers friends son.
Comment by Vicki — August 23, 2006 @ 11:12 am
I loved gross stuff as a kid. Rember Slime, anybody? that viscous green stuff we all liked to hang from our noses while in the back seat of the car and stopped at a traffic light? good times.
Now I like gross stuff in books cause it makes my9 yr old little professor son laugh til he hiccups.
My six year old daughter just likes it gross in general.
Comment by Michelle Buonfiglio — August 23, 2006 @ 12:03 pm
Michelle, then you must get him MIGHTY MCFEARLESS. He’ll love every word. The main character is a girl, but her little brother, Max, is awesome. And he’s nine!
Comment by Julie Leto — August 23, 2006 @ 12:12 pm
I was never the gross out kind of girl. But I heard the movie is supposed to be great:thumbsup2: Have a great time!
Comment by Yolanda — August 23, 2006 @ 12:58 pm
Austin is so cute! I won’t be seeing the movie but I have a feeling my 7(but will be 8 in a few days!) & 10 year old grandkids would like it!!
Now slapstick will get me going every time! I Love Lucy never fails to make me laugh, Red Skelton was a favorite & Uncle Miltie was so funny when he did his female schtick!!
Gross out humor is not for me. I have never seen Animal House, Something About Mary or American Pie–euww!!!
I watched Rumor Has It last night, if you have passed this up it is a good movie & not very long. Shirley MacLaine is priceless in her role. It is not fabulous but worth watching.
Comment by Donna M — August 23, 2006 @ 1:49 pm
I will have to check out the Zappa books for my 12 and 9 year old boys. That sounds right up their alley! Thanks!
Comment by Jill Vatican — August 23, 2006 @ 2:42 pm
loved American pie and American Wedding. Funny stuff.
I don’t think I could stand to watch the worm movie. I never liked to watch that show on Nick Slime time when the kids watched it. YUK!
Comment by Gigi — August 23, 2006 @ 6:47 pm
First movie to come to mind is Dumb and Dumber
Comment by jeanne — August 23, 2006 @ 8:41 pm
I do not like gross out comedy. The movies you mentioned are the ones that are awful.
Comment by Estella Kissell — August 23, 2006 @ 10:38 pm
I’ll have to get a copy of Zappa’s book. Sounds neat. Have fun at the movie! It does sound gross, but the kind of movie kids will love!
Comment by Melissa Mc — August 24, 2006 @ 1:20 am