8, 7, & 6. That's My Boy, Ted, and The Dictator
Crude humour can be disturbing just by definition. Crude - it's in the name. Though many viewers (your teenage little brother, maybe) out there surely appreciate such humour I consider the humour of That's My Boy, Ted, and The Dictator to tread on offence to the point of being disturbing. Think about it: did you really pay to see misogyny in Ted? Xenophobia in The Dictator? Homophobia in That's My Boy? You may say it's all in good fun, and as for the Dictator, yes, it's an intetionally provocative satire. However, humour can be achieved sans the tastelessness of these three summer teen-targeters. Their wide release availability amidst unfavourable critical reception and general lack of sensitivity is disturbing enough to make the list of most disturbing films. The across-the-board list qualification for these films is a no-brainer, much like Adam Sandler's recent approach to characters (there's no need to relive Jack and Jill). Before you loyal Sacha Baron Cohen fans protest (and I, indeed, am a big fan myself), let me explain a few clarifications behind what it means (or doesn't mean) for something to be termed "disturbing." For some films, particularly comedies, "disturbing" can be the ultimate goal through raunchy sorts of humour meant to provoke people. Therefore, though I do classify these three films amongst the most disturbing of the year, "disturbing" should not always be assumed a synonym for poor reception amongst audiences or one for failure. I do believe that all three of these films sought some sort of disturbing quality to their humour in a way that, to them, reads as success when achieved. Do I dislike the humour used and find offence in it? Yes. Do I find it disturbing (for me, in a personally negative reception) and the films themselves equally so? Yes. Does this mean these films are inherently bad? No. To me, the films were bad because that kind of humour does not sit well with my own tastes. To others, this kind of humour might be ideal and appreciable because of it, in fact, being disturbing; to them, this humour holds great entertainment value and is commendable. Let this be understood in approaching the implications beyond surface meanings of the term "disturbing" so as not to mistake a description (the titular adjective at hand) for a value judgement (which is not the aim or implication here).