I have always noted how the term "the good ol' days" seems to have an automatic association with the 50s and that this view seems to be perpetuatied by the sitcoms of that era. Though I think that are few who would openly claim life was really like that back then, I think on an unconcious level we tend to idealize that portion of the past. (For what it's worth I don't think we are a whole lot different than our 50s counterparts, we are just more apt to show our ugly side today via a lack of decorum or simple pride--think "Jerry Springer"). So the idea to enter this antiseptic world with "real" people with modern values was a good one (though not orignal of course).
Though this film has numerous flaws (the inconsistency of color-changing, the ever-preaching main-character, the overwrought, forced ending, the silly fact that they were transported into the sitcom world via a TV remote--just to name a few) its overall merit still makes it an important, thought-provoking work. It is a strong study of reality vs. fantasy/memory and how life is lived in respect to both. In fact I think that a compelling thesis could be made in comparing this work with two other existential films: "The Truman Show" and "Groundhog Day".
One note for the reviewers that complained that too many comentators were overanalyzing this project, listen to the DVD commentary, it's informative (is what a commentary should be in my opinion--10% technical film making, 10% antedotal behind the scenes stuff, 10% comment on the actors and 70% dicussion of the themes, characters and what was trying to be expressed), but borders on the pretenious.
Though this film has numerous flaws (the inconsistency of color-changing, the ever-preaching main-character, the overwrought, forced ending, the silly fact that they were transported into the sitcom world via a TV remote--just to name a few) its overall merit still makes it an important, thought-provoking work. It is a strong study of reality vs. fantasy/memory and how life is lived in respect to both. In fact I think that a compelling thesis could be made in comparing this work with two other existential films: "The Truman Show" and "Groundhog Day".
One note for the reviewers that complained that too many comentators were overanalyzing this project, listen to the DVD commentary, it's informative (is what a commentary should be in my opinion--10% technical film making, 10% antedotal behind the scenes stuff, 10% comment on the actors and 70% dicussion of the themes, characters and what was trying to be expressed), but borders on the pretenious.