Post by Heavy Metal on Mar 1, 2011 9:46:15 GMT -5
Thanks to Mike Park, who posted this in the Hangout.
Phony trailers have been around for a long time, but now that one has led to Machete they’ve really come into their own. What used to be a bastion of sketch comedy can now boast high production value and recognizable names in starring roles. Not that there was anything wrong with them before. Gandhi II, anyone?
Anyway, it’s art; so let’s tackle one of these babies. The thing to keep in mind with this new format (and I mention it because it’s getting easy to forget) is that they aren’t real. Two hundred and twenty two seconds is all there is, unless someone is impressed enough to pick up the tab. I feel safe in saying that Archie comics wouldn’t greenlight this sucker in a million years.
Riverdale starts out subtle given its short running time. There are a couple of hints like the cheerleader’s shockingly red hair and a glimpse of a familiar hat in a crowd shot. Otherwise, it’s not blatant until you see the “Riverdale High” sign. The ominous narration by Mister Weatherbee is spot on for the genre, and sets the tone quite nicely.
The next minute is spent introducing us to the core cast and the characters are remarkable in how true to the comics they are. Jughead has his hat, “S” shirt, and pointy nose. Reggie has fiberglass hair and calls Archie “chowderhead”. The actors are well cast and can be spotted for who they are instantaneously. Once we know we’re in Riverdale, there’s no need for anyone to be called out by name. Friedberg and Seltzer can suck on that one.
Also, here begins genuine character development. Betty is getting peer pressure to put out, Archie is torn between her and the slutty Veronica, Reggie is going to be the devil in Archie’s ear, and Jughead has been acting weird lately. Almost everyone has a character trait established within ninety seconds. Betty gets a bit of a short shrift, but hers was always a more reactionary character, and Veronica is enough to make Betty's quiet demeanor more than endearing.
Once we know everybody, the trailer dives straight for the teensploitation. Some of it is familiar, like Reggie wanting Veronica for himself, but it’s obvious the tactics he’ll use are outside what the comic books would call family-friendly. One of the core conflicts is going to be the issue of Jughead’s sexuality, and there's even a build-up scene before the big reveal.
The last part is the actual ‘teaser’ stuff, dealt out fast, furious, and dramatically as possible. Moose is murderously jealous over Midge dallying with Chuck. One look at Dilton’s face makes his verbal threat redundant. Mister Lodge is violent and Hal Cooper is a religious nut. Someone goes into cardiac arrest. Was it Reggie? Did he rape Veronica? Did Betty get an abortion? How far will Dilton get in his plan before someone stops him? Who overdosed? Who died? Did Moose lose it and do something terrible to Midge in a steroid-fueled rage or was that a swerve? Jesus Christ, man, I hope Jughead is going to be all right.
There’s about a seventy-thirty split on real-world versions of Archie canon and shameless exploitation. In this case it might have been of benefit to ditch the latter thirty percent. The former seventy were already exploitative enough and could have put those precious seconds to better use. For example, there’s a 'plot thread' about a hit on Archie that sticks out like a sore thumb. “More Is More” was the battle cry, but I’m not really complaining.
Technically, it’s very professional, while the acting (as was rightly noted) is poor and hammy. Jughead might as well have been screaming “KHAAANNN!” Subtlety rarely works in such a constrained format. It could also be argued that thespian skills were less important than how well a person could be made to look like someone from Riverdale High. Appearance and mannerisms are the only tools to recreate a famous character when you’ve got under four minutes to work with.
Heavy drama and an ensemble cast makes Riverdale stand out. Horror and action trailers don’t really need to present a plot, and one character is hard enough to get across. The depth achieved here in a matter of seconds is impressive. But regardless of style or budget, the success of a fake trailer depends on how sad it is to remember that it isn’t real. Personally, I find Riverdale very sad in that regard.
N’s Rating: Awesome. Now somebody make Gandhi II already.
