The Onion Movie

''The Onion Movie'' (released in some countries as ''News Movie'') is a 2008 American comedy film written by ''The Onion'' writers Robert D. Siegel and Todd Hanson. It was filmed in 2003 and released on June 3, 2008 direct-to-video. The film was Rodney Dangerfield's final film role, prior to his death in October 2004.

Plot

The plot revolves around a fictitious ''Onion'' television news anchorman, Norm Archer (Len Cariou), who is forced to face the inevitability of a corporate takeover by the ''Onion'''s perennial fictitious multinational, Global Tetrahedron. ''Onion'' news is described as "fair and balanced" in the context of the film. The plot serves as a springboard for various comedy sketches featuring ''The Onion'''s satirical humor. Vignettes include parodies of music videos reminiscent of Britney Spears' work, and Steven Seagal appearing as a parody of the type of action hero he normally portrays. The film is interrupted (fictitiously) by film reviewers and commentators weighing in on the progress of the film, with one commentator preparing to stage an immediate walkout of all African American audience members unless a positive portrayal of an African American is inserted into the film.

Cast

Production

In 2003, New Regency Productions and Fox Searchlight Pictures were on board to produce and release a movie written by ''The Onion'' staff. Tentatively titled ''The Untitled Onion Movie'', it was to be directed by music video director Tom Kuntz and Mike Maguire and written by then ''Onion'' editor Robert Siegel and writer Todd Hanson with the rest of the Onion staff. After delays and previews to test audiences, the film was shelved and eventually dropped by Fox. New Regency Productions continued on with the project.

In a March 15, 2007 interview, Scott Aukerman said that the Onion movie was at a "dead standstill". Additionally, ''Onion, Inc.'' President at the time, Sean Mills, indicated ''The Onion'' was no longer associated with the film project. In August 2007, the IMDb listing was restored.

In November 2007, then-President Sean Mills told ''Wikinews'' that the movie was a dead project. Although Fox Searchlight had an option to release it on DVD, there was no immediate announcement of plans to do so. Eventually, the trailer appeared on the DVD for ''The Darjeeling Limited''.Shankbone, David, " An interview with The Onion" ''Wikinews'', November 24, 2007. The trailer also appeared on the ''Hitman'', ''Charlie Bartlett'' and '' Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem'' DVDs.

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment released ''The Onion Movie'' DVD on June 3, 2008. The UK release's packaging styles the film ''News Movie, a.k.a. The Onion Movie''.

Critical reception

''The Onion''s own non-satirical entertainment website ''The A.V. Club'' did not review the film. The site's film critic Nathan Rabin explicitly declined to review the film for his "Dispatches from Direct to DVD Purgatory" feature on poor-quality direct-to-DVD films because he wished to avoid a conflict of interest.

References

External links

*
*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Onion Movie
2008 direct-to-video films
2008 films
Movie
2008 comedy films
American comedy films
Regency Enterprises films
3 Arts Entertainment films
2000s English-language films
2000s American films