ENVY

US, 2004, 99 minutes, Colour.
Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Rachel Weisz, Amy Poehler, Christopher Walken.
Directed by Barry Levinson.

Envy took a long time to be released – initial screenings were unfavourable. However, as Jack Black became more popular, especially with School of Rock, the film was released two years after its production.

Ben Stiller is an uptight executive who becomes envious of his happy-go-lucky best friend, Jack Black, when he invents a machine for vaporising dog manure. Envy takes over his life and attitude – and also means that he kills the rich family’s horse which is in agistment in his own yard. This brings him into contact with Christopher Walken as a hobo with a persuasive tongue, who helps him bury the horse in a swimming pool, then transfers it into the countryside to dispose of it.

Stiller is expert at this kind of deadpan comedy as well as the more exuberant Jack Black style. Jack Black is a genial character, generous to a fault. Rachel Weisz is uptight as Ben Stiller’s wife, Amy Poehler rather more carefree as Jack Black’s wife – enjoying the unexpected wealth and standing for state senate. However, this brings a crisis – the constituents asking where the dog manure vanishes to.

The film was directed by Barry Levinson, a writer who became a director in the 1980s with such films as The Natural, Good Morning Vietnam and his Oscar-winning Rain Man.

The film would probably be more popular if seen in the context of the other Jack Black films as well as Ben Stiller’s many comedies.

1.The reason for the lack of popularity for the film? The cast? The story? The comedy?

2.The affluent settings, suburbia, homes? Workplaces? The increased opulence of the wealthy? The countryside, the woods? The musical score – and the song about envy throughout the film?

3.Tim and Nick, their friendship, driving to work together, discussions? Tim as uptight? Nick as enthusiastic and friendly? His invention, his explanation, the title: Vapooriser? The acceptance, the sudden wealth, the experiment, the humour of the television commercial with Nick? Tim and his stolid refusal? Not explaining it to Debbie? Her wanting to invest the two thousand dollars – and the recriminations afterwards?

4.The passing of eighteen months, Nick and Natalie and their affluence, the big home, the servants, the meals, the children playing the piano? The horse in the yard, eating the apples? Nick and his generosity towards Tim, the range of gifts? Natalie and her enthusiasm? Her deciding to stand for the state senate? Giving something back to society?

5.The contrast with Tim, his not believing in the product, his jealousy, the increasing envy? His resentment towards the horse? The drinking, abusing the boss, getting the sack? The chance meeting with J- Man? The talking? J- Man understanding him? The firing the arrow, killing the horse? J- Man and his arrival at his home, the digging of the swimming pool and Nick stopping it? Putting the horse in, covering it up? The later decision to move it, on the van? Taking it into the woods? Losing the horse? Nick and his taking Debbie and the children to the house, through the woods, the smell, dinginess? Meeting J- Man’s friend?

6.Nick, going to Rome, further success? The excitement, the merry-go-round, his not being able to listen to Tim’s wanting to confess? Natalie and the questions about where the evaporated manure went?

7.Tim, his discussing things with Debbie, J- Man turning up, wanting more money? Debbie and her mercenary attitude, willing to give the blackmail money? The irony of shooting the arrow? Hitting J- Man, Tim and Debbie searching for him, his holding up the people on the road? His giving in, running away?

8.Tim eventually telling Nick the truth? Nick and his genial attitude, willing to forgive? Valuing friendship? The information about the horse, the poison from the product, the apples?

9.The plans, the visit to Rome, enjoyment, the Italian commercial? Extending the product to other animals?

10.The happy ending – the moral of the story, envy being valueless, friendship being everything? The environment – and the cultivation of products?