Don’t See It: Seth Rogen’s Date Rape Movie
Posted by: Amelia McDonell-Parry
Filed in:
news
9:00AM, Friday April 10th 2009
I thought losing weight was to blame for Seth Rogen’s fall from funny. But maybe we never had the same sense of humor to begin with. How else to explain his starring role in “Observe and Report,” which opens today, the extended trailer for which shows his character, Ronnie, a mall cop, having sex with a woman (Brandi, played by Anna Faris) who’s passed out drunk, covered in vomit? This scene has caused quite a bit of controversy, with everyone from The New York Times to Salon’s Broadsheet weighing in on whether the scenario classifies as date rape. (The scene, FYI, is embedded in the trailer, after the jump. Warning: the language in the trailer makes it NSFW.) Rogen says it is not.
“You can literally feel the audience thinking, like, how the f**k are they going to make this okay? Like, what can possibly be said or done that I’m not going to walk out of the movie theater in the next thirty seconds? ... And then she says, like, the one thing that makes it all okay.”
That one thing? When Rogen stop manically pumping away, Brandi, vomit oozing out of her mouth, comes to, and says, “Why are you stopping motherf**ker?” The Times agrees that this is her giving “permission,” writing in their review, “He forces himself on a makeup-counter saleswoman after a date of heavy drinking and drug use. (Before the scene is over she indicates that she had given her consent.)”
Wait a second, he “forced” himself on her, but before he is done she gave consent? How does that make sense? And in any case, are we to believe that a woman who has been unconscious for the majority of a sexual encounter, and so drunk and drug-addled that she’s covered in vomit, is in the proper condition to be giving permission for anything? If she got behind the wheel of a car, she could kill someone and she would certainly be arrested for a DUI, yet this same woman is perfectly capable of telling someone—well after they’ve already started, mind you—“sure, go ahead and have sex with my barely conscious body?” I don’t think so.
I get the fact that this is a movie and it’s fiction and it’s supposed to be funny. For the most part, “Observe and Report” looks amusing in the way that any of those Judd Apatow movies are amusing. But a movie like “Observe and Report” is targeted at a specific audience that make this date rape scene even more disturbing—teenage boys. It absolutely sickens me to think that hundreds of thousands of men and boys are going to watch this scene and potentially think that having sex with a woman who is passed out and covered in vomit is okay because Seth Rogen did it and, oh yeah, she said it was “okay.”
Remember, the language in the trailer below is NSFW:
TheFrisky.com is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network
PinkRanger
wrote on April 10 2009 @ 09:12 am: [report]
From what I’ve read of this movie its an extremely dark comedy and Seth Rogen’s character is supposed to be very twisted and screwed up. I’m not sure if any of his actions in the film are supposed to be taken seriously, hes supposed to look like a bad guy. So mission accomplished really.
but I’m really tired of the current trend that rape is edgy and funny. I blame Family Guy for that one. They can’t have a single episode without some stupid joke about rape. I"m sick of it.
Amelia
wrote on April 10 2009 @ 09:19 am: [report]
@PinkRanger Dark comedy or not, both Rogen and the NY Times are calling what IS a rape scene NOT rape. That’s what’s bothersome to me.
QtMzBri
wrote on April 10 2009 @ 09:39 am: [report]
i think yall are all being rediculous its a comedy and Seth Rogan isnt messed I doubt he would do a movie that would promote date rape. The whole situation is suppose to be funny not disturbing anyone or promoting date rape. Everyone on this site takes stuff to the edge. Yall make it deeper then it has to be. No wonder yall have so many relationship problems or are single. Dramatic
WriteFashionista
wrote on April 10 2009 @ 09:45 am: [report]
No woman who’s been raped wants to go to a movie looking for entertainment and get this scene in return. Frankly, no woman or even self-respectable man wants to see a woman get raped. And to respond to your ignorance QtMzBri, this isn’t about women being “dramatic,” it’s about our society becoming so desensitized to everything that now we’ve moved on to rape for shock value and, in this case, comedy.
PinkRanger
wrote on April 10 2009 @ 09:46 am: [report]
@QtMzBri:You don’t think its overly dramatic to accuse strangers of deserving relationship problems?
@Amelia: That is true. There is no denying its a rape scene, no matter what the intentions are, and that is appalling considering how many girls that exact situation happens too. To not consider it rape is insulting. Call a spade a spade.
mikeyellenlee
wrote on April 10 2009 @ 09:47 am: [report]
It looks like she just passed out in the middle of it. Whatever.
Amelia
wrote on April 10 2009 @ 09:48 am: [report]
@QtMzBri From New York Magazine’s review of the movie:
“It turns out that yes, by any reasonable standard of behavior, Seth Rogen’s character, Ronnie Barnhardt, totally rapes Faris’s Brandi. More surprising is that, in the dark world of Observe and Report, raping Brandi is one of the least unsympathetic things Ronnie Barnhardt does.
The movie doesn’t mitigate that sex scene at all. In fact, it makes it even more clear than the trailer does that when Brandi and Ronnie get home from dinner, she’s unbelievably trashed on antidepressants and tequila. Not only does she throw up all over the place, she can barely walk — and she certainly can’t give any kind of informed consent.”
Anna Faris also said of the scene, “It’s like date rape — that’s funny, right? Or not…”
Look, rape isn’t funny. And it especially isn’t funny when it’s in a movie being targeted at teenage boys who are already getting inundated with confusing messages about sex. And given that Rogen and Faris feel compelled to do “damage control” it’s clear that even they know the scene is controversial. But the thing is, this isn’t a smart, adult movie where there’s going to be a lot of intellectual discourse. It’s a movie that’s going to be seen by tons of teenage boys with acne who are going to laugh. And that effing disturbs me.
Amelia
wrote on April 10 2009 @ 09:49 am: [report]
@WriteFashionista Exactly. I would love for Seth Rogen to sit down with a woman who has been date raped and try and tell her that this scene is funny. Eff you dude.
thegr8brownie
wrote on April 10 2009 @ 10:08 am: [report]
ummm. Just a question, not saying that I ever would, but if a women consents and opens her legs, and we start, and then she passes out, its rape if I keep going? even if she asks, “why are you stopping?”?
but I guess that brings up a better question, is it rape if a girl gives consent when she is realllllly drunk?
mikeyellenlee
wrote on April 10 2009 @ 10:18 am: [report]
@thegr8brownie No, that’s not rape. I’m on the same page as you. He even looks at her and says, “Brandi?” It’s so obvious that she just passed out during sex!
retro chic
wrote on April 10 2009 @ 10:57 am: [report]
What Men and women should get clear on what constitutes rape:
In California law, according to SVU and the DA, the elements of rape are that if a woman is vomiting* and lapsing in and out of consciousness FIRST and DURING, legally (and morally) speaking, means the man violated an INCAPACITATED person who no longer has the ability to give consent. It really isn’t a matter of opinion, but of law, and of (please, god) making sure you are being video-taped, ‘cause it is nearly impossible to prove, hence prosecute.
If this scene is interpreted as Seth’s character as just having the bad taste or manners to go anyway, then we’ve lost our moral compass. Amelia, yes, Seth needs to sit down with a victim AND a law official—and he’ll never send a message like that again.
*Guys, don’t f*ck a vomiting, semi/un-conscious person. They are legally incapacitated, no matter what you think at the time. And why would anyone want to do that anyway? That’s not sex, it’s not even assisted masturbation…
Someone explain why f*cking an incapacitated person is a good idea. Thank you.
thegr8brownie
wrote on April 10 2009 @ 11:48 am: [report]
an incapacitated person can’t call out the wrong name! : P
Lynn
wrote on April 10 2009 @ 12:25 pm: [report]
@mikeyellenlee - that’s what I was thinking. He stops and says “Brandy?” like he doesn’t expect her to be passed out like that. I’m assuming that in the scene they start fooling around, she passes out, so he kind of stops right there while he tries to figure out what’s going on, and she tells him to keep going.
PinkRanger
wrote on April 10 2009 @ 12:30 pm: [report]
@Lynn: Reread that definition of what rape is that retro chic posted. If she is incapacitated to the point where shes passing out during, and especially if he keeps going, then its considered rape.
QtMzBri
wrote on April 10 2009 @ 01:35 pm: [report]
yea freakin out about wat i said callin my ignorant and all the hooha is jus proving a lot of people not everyne but a lot of people on here r dramatic
PamelaSC
wrote on April 10 2009 @ 01:40 pm: [report]
I’ve been reading for a long time, but this is the first time I have felt compelled to comment. Someone please explain to me WHY any guy would want to sleep with a girl who is covered in vomit and/or lapsing in and out of consciousness? I mean, seriously…..and while I can normally see your point, gr8brownie, if I was a guy, I would be too worried about some guy named Bubba waiting to make me his special friend in prison to make the fine distinctions, you know? I know I’ve been really drunk before, and have phased in and out of it. I was lucky. I never came back to only to find a guy on top of me. In any case, no matter which way you cut it, it’s not funny, Seth Rogen, and it is NOT okay.
Leese
wrote on April 10 2009 @ 01:42 pm: [report]
This makes me sick to my stomach. No matter what, even if the girl has said, yes, if she is that drunk and high, it is not consensual sex.
shanka
wrote on April 10 2009 @ 01:49 pm: [report]
lol…for serious? you’re basing your huge opinion of date rape on the 6 seconds of trailer previews? cause when you take into account the whole trailer (mind you, not the actual movie that would, obviously, make the plot and details abundantly clear) it seems that his whole mission is to get the bastard who flashed her earlier. mountains out of molehills, anyone?
CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on April 10 2009 @ 01:50 pm: [report]
@PamelaSC: You evidently are not familiar with the ‘desperate man’ who would stoop low enough to do it.
Lynn
wrote on April 10 2009 @ 01:53 pm: [report]
QtMzBri - um, when you type like that, I can’t blame anyone for calling you “ignorant.” I had to read that comment 3 times before I knew what you said.
shanka
wrote on April 10 2009 @ 01:54 pm: [report]
ps i’ll wait for one of you righteous females to complain about “saving the damsel in distress” theme, too
retro chic
wrote on April 10 2009 @ 02:10 pm: [report]
@shanka, I see your objective stance, but, back to Amelia’s point (which, Amelia, step in if I’m wrong), that these images shouldn’t even BE out there in the first place—in any context.
It’s made sadder these images ARE out there, AND are subject to such (mis)interpretation, when there should be none. It’s just plain wrong.
joyy
wrote on April 10 2009 @ 02:18 pm: [report]
Maybe this will just open up a larger discussion in American society about date rape (what constitutes it and how to avoid it) so that kids don’t just walk away thinking it’s funny but actually LEARN something.
*fingers crossed*
retro chic
wrote on April 10 2009 @ 02:21 pm: [report]
@shanka, didn’t see your last comment—I was thinking the same thing, too, but is a separate issue. She is no damsel, and put herself at-risk, and that is her responsibility. Neither is innocent, but does not excuse the other’s opportunistic, predatory behavior.
ie, not to oversimplify, but, if you saw someone with their purse hanging open and witnessed their wallet being snatched, you’d think, “dang, she’s stupid,” but for the snatcher, theft is theft. There is no excuse/justification for taking what doesn’t belong to you without your permission.
gevlife
wrote on April 10 2009 @ 02:35 pm: [report]
i was a rape counselor in college, and what was always stressed was that if a woman felt that she’d been rape then she was raped. If she didnt feel like she was raped she wasnt. brandi appears to be the latter.
QtMzBri
wrote on April 10 2009 @ 03:36 pm: [report]
@lynn yea im so ignorant because of grammar grow up. Its a movie made for giggles not for people to freak out cuz theres a “date rape” scene. they made it rated r so there is sum type of warning. get over it
AgentBeryllium
wrote on April 10 2009 @ 03:40 pm: [report]
regardless… Seth Rogen is a Douche Bag and this is ultimate proof of that.
kjn0625
wrote on April 10 2009 @ 03:48 pm: [report]
It’s obviously a distasteful scene and offensive and not funny at all - but why are we only blaming Rogen and want HIM to take a stand against date rape? Jody Hill wrote AND directed the film - why no blame for the writer?
Rogen is an actor, not an actual date rapist (as far as anyone knows). Anna Faris is also an ACTOR who delivers the line that’s supposed to make the whole sad thing okay. It’s a little silly to blame Rogen only - he played a part, so did Faris - they were both in the scene. And there was a director telling them what to do.
transubstantiation
wrote on April 11 2009 @ 09:25 am: [report]
Out of curiosity, has anyone here seen the movie and the scene in full, or are you basing your opinion on the 30 (Or 2 minute trailer) and what you’ve read?
transubstantiation
wrote on April 11 2009 @ 10:28 am: [report]
There is no date rape scene in Observe and Report. There is a scene where a self-medicated and drunk Anna Faris has sex with the under-medicated, bi-polar, and highly delusional Seth Rogen.
The fact that people are focusing on this scene instead of the movie as a whole is proof of Jody Hill’s thesis: Society doesn’t know how to handle mental illness. Throughout the movie, Rogen’s Bi-Polar character makes irrational and irresponsible decisions and, several times over, is taken advantage of because although the majority of the cast recognizes that he’s “off” don’t fully acknowledge the fact the he is, in fact, mentally ill. The only character that seems to recognize his illness is Ray Liotta’s Detective Harrison, a corrupt cop who ultimately beats Rogen’s Ronnie Barnhardt to a pulp. And ultimately, the character is made a hero for the most destructive decision he makes in the entire film.
But, if you decide to look at this one scene and be offended by anything, shouldn’t you be offended by how Faris’s Brandi takes advantage of Ronnie? She literally takes his medication out of his hands. She chastises him when he stops having sex with her to see if she’s alright, at which point he apologizes profusely for stopping. She is fully aware of his infatuation with her and because of that, we feel that the power is never taken out of her hands. She may have been intoxicated (a coherent intoxication, despite what you see in the 30-second trailer) but he’s also unable to make a rational decision, something Ronnie is clearly not capable of doing. Lastly, we never feel that Brandi’s character is a victim of the interaction and if she doesn’t consider it rape, wouldn’t that make it consensual?
Most of the response is a result of how the movie is branded. In the trailer, O and R is framed simply as a comedy and not the insightful satire it really is.
transubstantiation
wrote on April 11 2009 @ 10:49 am: [report]
Lastly, can we talk about how irresponsible it is to renounce a movie you haven’t seen and going so far as to tell other people not to see it? I understand the idea of a boycott, but this shouldn’t be one of those situations. This isn’t a review and you’re not saying people shouldn’t see it because you thought it was bad, you’re telling them not to see it because they might be offended. At the least, you’re being condescending and at your worst, you’re censoring people from a film that you (apparently) haven’t seen yourself.
fallonthecity
wrote on April 11 2009 @ 11:42 am: [report]
so…. HAS anyone here seen the entire movie? It was not along the lines of Pineapple Express (stupid funny) - it was *sad*.
Maybe we can talk about what it means to be mentally ill in our society, and maybe how a mentally ill person interprets the cues Brandi gives in this movie. Maybe we can talk about what it means to be that woman who is drunk, high, and vomiting and telling the mentally ill dude to keep on humping. Maybe we can shift the blame in these situations so that it sits *equally* on the shoulders of the woman who gets herself too toasted to give proper consent and the dude who doesn’t realize or doesn’t care that she’s too toasted to f*ck.
I just think condemning this movie outright for this scene when you haven’t seen the whole thing is a little much. I agree that it isn’t tasteful, that it could be offensive, all those things - but don’t make such assertive comments based on a stinking trailer, geez.
Jen2
wrote on April 11 2009 @ 12:03 pm: [report]
He looked concerned when he realized she was passed out and stopped, then she told him to keep going. I take it as they where having sex and she passed out, at which point he stopped and she told him to keep going. I was all ready to watch that trailer and be pissed off, but after watching it I have to say that I don’t see it the way the author of this post does.
transubstantiation
wrote on April 11 2009 @ 12:12 pm: [report]
If you want to be angry at someone, shouldn’t you be angry at the company that produced the trailer, or Warner Bros. for allowing the trailer to lead some people to jump to the conclusion of date rape? Attacking the actors and/or filmmakers not only show misunderstanding of the film, but a misunderstanding of how movies are made and marketed.
yukisukinomoto
wrote on April 11 2009 @ 12:19 pm: [report]
No matter the circumstance, date rape is vile, and the movie should not even suggest it, let alone play it out. I don’t care if he’s mentally ill, most of the people in our country won’t pay attention to that. Some guys will get it in their subconscious that it’s all right as long as the women stumbling around in a drunken stupor says ‘keep going’, when it’s really not.
I’m not condemning the actors, but I am also not about to say it’s okay for something like that to be portrayed on the big screen.
I don’t know, it just makes me literally sick to my stomach.
transubstantiation
wrote on April 11 2009 @ 12:28 pm: [report]
That’s like saying nobody should see Taxi Driver because there’s 1 person out of 1,000,000,000 who’s going to idolize Travis Bickle. It’s like not reading Lolita because you don’t agree with child molestation. It’s like the boycott of Tropic Thunder because some might misinterpret the “Simple Jack” character and think the movie is making fun of the mentally challenged. What’s even more frustrating is that the scene, from the filmmaker’s point-of-view wasn’t even intended to be seen as date rape.
It’s so condescending to say “most of the people in our country won’t pay attention to that.” If this makes you sick to your stomach, how do you handle the rest of the media that even more subtly inundates you with an anti-feminist agenda?
PinkRanger
wrote on April 11 2009 @ 12:43 pm: [report]
@transubstantiation: You make some valid points, and I agree that this is out of context, and perhaps even we’re supposed to hate Seth Rogen’s character and not agree with his actions. whatever. What I’m angry about is the fact that the filmmakers refuse to acknowledge that the scene is rape. thats insulting to girls that have been in that exact situation in which they consented to something when they were too effed up on substances to know any better. Plus I am a little upset that rape is considered so hilarious nowadays from things like Family Guy. I actually plan on seeing the movie and deciding for myself about the context of it.
Arsenic
wrote on April 11 2009 @ 02:16 pm: [report]
While I agree this scene seems overly controversial for what it is (why not make her conscious at first and then pass out mid coitus?), I have to disagree with classifying it as date rape. Passing out and having someone violate you without your consent is one thing. Giving your consent while intoxicated is another - to classify that as rape means two drunk people #&@$% would be raping one another. I agree that this is a fine line, one that can move around in certain circumstances (using certain drugs in combination with psychological domination to convince someone they “want” it would be one). This means that the smart thing to do would be to make consent legally invalid for ALL intoxication - regardless of the circumstances - but by no means does that mean that all consent given while intoxicated is ACTUALLY invalid speaking from a moral standpoint.
Case in point: When I’m drunk (all kinds of drunk, including the really-stinken-puking drunk) the only thing I want to do is #&@$% my fiance, who wont proceed with the deed because he is uncomfortable around alcohol. I am also blessed by never blacking out when drunk. As a result, I wake up horny and disappointed. My consent was clearly legally invalid, but was it from a practical standpoint? No.
That being said, it is impossible to determine what camp this scene falls in because we are simply not given enough information. Does this make it a bad movie? Maybe. I certainly would not want to see it if I had baggage in that department. On the other hand, generating controversy is not always a bad thing.
retro chic
wrote on April 11 2009 @ 02:38 pm: [report]
The fine-line controversy only serves the Box Office this movie will earn from young boys with powerful difficult-to-decipher images in their heads, and under the guise of comedy—that’s the problem. They need not be out there. If only generating controversy was just a matter of discussion—what a nice world that would be.
transubstantiation
wrote on April 11 2009 @ 02:47 pm: [report]
@PinkRanger They won’t acknowledge that it’s rape because it’s not rape. Anyone who has actually seen the movie will tell you the same. You’re right. Rape isn’t funny. It’s not something that should be taken lightly. The same goes for accusing someone of rape, or of accusing the filmmaker creating a scene of date rape when he clearly isn’t. It’s just as irresponsible.
@retro chic This movie is bombing at the box office due to people making knee-jerk reactions to what they perceive to be the content.
transubstantiation
wrote on April 11 2009 @ 02:51 pm: [report]
What I find interesting is that the people who complain about the media pandering to the dumb are the same people who are up-in-arms when they’re not being pandered to. Isn’t it odd that when something challenging like O and R is presented our immediate reaction is to boycott it?
transubstantiation
wrote on April 11 2009 @ 03:00 pm: [report]
Also, I feel a lot of people think this is another buddy Judd Apatow movie and that Seth Rogen wrote or directed this movie. He didn’t. Jody Hill did. And anyone who has seen anything Jody Hill has made would know how intricately his characters are written. We’re not supposed to “love” or “hate” Rogen’s character. It’s not that simple. There’s no clean conclusion at the end of the film and nobody learns a lesson. There isn’t jolly jesting about or a lick of light-heartedness in the entire film.
But this is all a moot point, as the argument is about a date rape scene in the movie THAT DOESN’T EXIST.
manga
wrote on April 12 2009 @ 12:41 pm: [report]
you know what, it doesn’t look like date rape to me.
because he stops when he realizes she isn’t speaking and goes, “randi?” and only continues when she says, why are you stopping?
but this is just what I see from the trailer. if in the movie she was sleeping the whole time I’d say it was date rape.
PinkRanger
wrote on April 12 2009 @ 03:07 pm: [report]
@Manga: so for it to be date rape someone has to be completely knocked out the whole time? Even if they are on tons of pills mixed with alcohol and completely unaware of their surroundings? its debateable, but I’m just not sure.
I still stand by the fact that this is meant to be a dark comedy, and a film can include rape without it condoning rape. I’m actually glad that this trailer has sparked such a discussion about the definition of rape, and the definition of consent. Its been really interesting. There are other images and depictions of rape in the media and pop culture that are much more bothersome to me personally. I’m just tired of people *mostly on other sites to be honest* saying that nothing morally wrong is happening in said scene, when even Anna Faris has claimed that it was a date rape scene. I think most people would agree that to have sex with a woman thats blackout drunk *even if she asks for it* is immoral,but when does something immoral become rape? when are you too drunk to be able to be held responsible for your choices? where are these lines? thoughts?
eatmybook
wrote on April 13 2009 @ 09:19 am: [report]
It seems like an excellent ad against getting #&@$% up on a stupid date. Rules to live by, girls.
We have to take responsibility for ourselves and our behaviour. While no one deserves to have anything forced upon them, being proactive in a complicated world is the ONLY answer.
Get pissed with your girlfriends. Have a DD and a buddy. Or ... control your drinking. Huh?
And no ... I’m not saying anyone is “asking for it,” but you should rely on the world to protect you when you’re not taking the few small steps to protect yourself.
Period.
lilacky
wrote on April 13 2009 @ 01:04 pm: [report]
OK. So… first of all, I have been a rape victim, and I am VERY sensitive to rape in movies. After seeing BLINDNESS and walking out during the interminably long, disgusting group rape scene (which also, somehow, was never mentioned in any reviews as rape, but simply sex. WTF???), I started checking up on movies before going to see them. I am not paying money to be further traumatized.
That said…. this movie did not bother me. I think, for two reasons: 1) It is skirting a fine line and 2) this movie is in NO WAY making it seem okay. Seth Rogen’s character is a pathetic, messed up loser who bashes teenagers on the head and shoots flashers. This movie is all about how sad and f’ed up he is. So I definitely don’t think it’s telling teenagers that date rape is okay.
And is it really date rape? The scene starts with him having sex with what looks like her passed out; however, the fact that he stops and says “Brandi?” shows that he didn’t realize she was passed out before. This is not to say it’s okay, but he is obviously delusional and has some problems. So it’s a grey area. She is drunk and being taken advantage of; he is completely bonkers and doesn’t understand morality very well.
Anyway, in the end it’s a complex situation that in no way condones or glamorizes his actions.
I agree with a lot of what you guys say, but seriously. It sounds like most of you haven’t even seen the movie, but somehow have such firm opinions about it.
rsonnack
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 04:18 pm: [report]
I agree we shouldn’t be making any opinions until we see the movie. The one thing that bothers me after having read the comments are QtMzBri and Shanka thinking that we are “dramatic”, overreacting and “righteous females”...you ladies are females too, and these issues are affecting you. Perhaps certain people are overreacting to this particular movie because they haven’t even seen it yet and are basing their view on the trailer, but it is certainly still an issue we need to think about and talk about. You should CARE when you see another female in a controversial position, and you should CARE about what kind of repercussions that will have. It should matter to you. I agree with WriteFashionista that we are all becoming desensitized to things like this and don’t pay enough attention to it and don’t discuss it. It’s just like that “RapeLay” video game that Frisky blogged about a little while ago, it’s putting the message out there that taking advantage of women is OK, and it’s not OK. Also QtMzBri, you shouldn’t base a woman’s worth on whether or not she is successful in relationships. That’s just insulting.
shanka
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 05:45 pm: [report]
@ rsonnack and whomever else: i do think the people on here are overreacting when they base their opinion on what is really happening in a scene on a 30 second trailer. what if she said, let’s do it, then she gets hammered and pop some pills. is that, too, date rape? we don’t know what conspired because we haven’t seen it! that’s what i said; please don’t put words in my mouth: i never claimed to not care about the plight of women (on a different note, who are you to tell me what i should care about? the only person who has the right to dictate to me what should matter to me is ME). nor am i suggesting that date rape is not worth discussing. as was made perfectly clear by my first post, i was talking about the movie and the movie only.
secondly my phrase “righteous women” referred to my second post, which is where you found it, that basically said i bet someone finds a problem with his need to save her from what appeared as someone who flashed her (how was that her fault, btw?). it appears that you’ve decided to get offended by things that you’ve taken out of context and even rearranged to suit your argument. how is that fair?
holyhotcakes
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 06:19 pm: [report]
i just saw the movie and it NOT promoting date rape. if someone saw the movie you’d realize that seth rogen’s character is in love with the girl and is oblivious to that fact that she’s drunk and high off his meds. he didnt slip her anything she took the pills from him and popped them like they were tic tacs and she guzzled down 4 tequila shots willingly! lol he’s character is no way shape or form in the the position to take advantage of her.
rsonnack
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 06:51 pm: [report]
definitely. i think i was still reeling from the RapeLay video game article, and i kind of lumped your comments together with qtmzbri’s comments. i didn’t mean to put words in your mouth shanka so i apologize for that.
breakthisvanity
wrote on April 14 2009 @ 10:28 pm: [report]
I saw the movie and I feel as though the trailer depicts the situation accurately. Anna Ferris’ character got wasted and took medication, then stumbled home with Rogan, vomited, and he took her inside. The next scene was on the trailer - him on top of her while she was passed out. Even in the context of the movie, it did not seem right. I literally was thinking to myself “....is this really happening?” in the theatre. Rogan practically carried her inside.
Perhaps I am a bit bias because I was actually date raped when I was a teenager. But I feel like this scene in the movie was absolutely unnecessary. Even more, it contributed nothing to the overall plot. Rogan could have left after kissing Ferris, and the same effect would have happened. He fell for her.
Also, I think someone mentioned above that, because he “loved” her (or became infatuated with her), that it does not constitute as rape. This is incorrect. Whether someone is in love with or hates the other person, it would be rape regardless.
missduplicity
wrote on April 15 2009 @ 07:22 am: [report]
As a woman who has had to deal with the fallout after someone I love dearly was sexually assaulted in a fashion similar to what is portrayed here, I have to say that I really don’t give a rat’s ass what sort of context this scene is played out in.
RAPE is RAPE. When my sister was violated by a man who waited until she was drunk and asleep to make his moves, she was in no place to be able to give him consent, or, to deny it, as she would have done, had she not woken up with him crushing on top of her.
But you know what? Because she was too out of it to say “yea” or “nay,” that slimy bastard who hurt her got away with it. He claimed it was just “a misunderstanding” and that he “really liked her” and thought “she would be into it.”
...Sounds a lot like Rogen’s character. I don’t care if his character is supposed to be bi-polar, or “in love” with Feris’s character. There is NO REASON for, and NO EXCUSE FOR, violating the trust and privacy of a woman, especially when she is in a less coherent state. This scene should not be in the movie, period.
Shame on you all for defending a date-rape scene because the movie was “funny.” I sincerely hope that my sister, who loves this site, does not happen upon this article and see you all belittling the thing that happened to her, just because it is “in a movie.”