The Wallace & Gromit joke that was too British for Netflix
The Wallace & Gromit joke that was too British for Netflix
Aardman's animated duo may have a charm that plays internationally, but not every joke that works on home turf plays well abroad.
Part of the enduring appeal of Wallace & Gromit is its British charm. The quaint mannerisms of the hapless inventor and his canine pal–from their love of a cup of tea to their knowing colloquialisms–reflect an admiral sense of national pride, both at home and abroad. But while that British-ness is part of the appeal, it doesn’t defend Aardman from being able to get in jokes that might be a little too close to home.
Now that the latest entry in the series, Vengeance Most Fowl, is making its way around the world in January thanks to Netflix, some of the creatives behind the film revealed at recent press conference for the film that they did have to make some acquiescence to notes from the streamer on a joke that wasn’t going to play well outside of the UK.
“There’s some actually that we’ve had to sort of take out, because just in terms of the Britishness of the film and the sort of cultural references, there’s certain things that don’t travel,” Vengeance Most Fowl executive producer Carla Shelley said. “I remember we had a sort of gag about a bog chain at one point… for anybody that doesn’t out there, that’s like a toilet flush. We were talking to Netflix and [the note back] was like ‘what’s a bog chain!?’ There are certain sorts of references that we might pull back on now.
That's so fucking stupid. It's as if Netflix thinks that people outside the UK don't watch other British shows that employ the same humour. I hope the release a non Netflixed version.
It's also just ridiculous to think that people must immediately understand every single aspect of a movie.
I mean sure - it's a movie for kids and the whole family, so it needs to be accessible, but one or two obscure Britishisms in there aren't going to diminish anyone's enjoyment in the slightest.
How do they expect people to learn anything about other cultures.
"I came dangerously close to learning something there" - Netflix
I think the quirky foreignness of British phrases and cultural motifs is a big part of why shows like Dr Who are so popular in the States.
Yeah wouldn't have gotten it but I'm ok with not getting 100% of a show. If everybody needs to get the joke you have to play to the stupid crowd.
#ReleaseTheBogChainCut
While we're at it: Release the complete, unfiltered British comedy charm upon the world. Monty Python did it once, but that's a long time ago.
Edit: i really don't get Netflix... Sick Note was brilliant, also released by Netflix and it surely didn't tone down any of its British-ness.
Yes, please the idiot exec gods, no matter how much of yourself you have to sell out.
This same mentality applied to the music industry for decades is what's lead to the avalanche of talentless manufactured dross that you have to pick the decent artists out of.
There are certain sorts of references that we might pull back on now.
I see what they did there.