“Not Evil Just Wrong” – the Movie

I’ve always claimed to be open minded enough to review and consider all sides of an issue. In keeping with my boast, I endured the public release of Not Evil Just Wrong, Ann McElhinney’s cinematic effort to counter Al Gore’s Nobel Prize winning An Inconvenient Truth.  I knew I was in for a real scientific treat when I walked into the small military church in which the movie was playing and was asked to sign the guest book to validate the Tea-Partier’s attempt to get into the Guinness Book of Records.  It’s not clear why it was important to be a part of history’s biggest opening night for pathetically flawed pseudo-documentary films.  I can only assume that if it somehow wormed its way into the record book, that would prove the rambling nonsense it contained would magically become validated science.  Judging from the number of empty seats in the room, it’s probably a non-issue anyway.

For those of you who chose to not see the film, here’s the summary.  You may have to read it twice to understand the logic.  If I inadvertently reverse a sequence or two, don’t lose any sleep over it.  It won’t make a bit of sense regardless of how you stack the blocks.  Here goes . . .

Al Gore is evil.  Al Gore is an environmentalist.  Therefore, all environmentalists are evil. Some environmentalists believe global climate change is a serious concern.  Therefore, (1) environmentalists want innocent people to suffer and die and (2) global climate change is a myth.  Global climate change isn’t happening because it has happened before, but we can fix the problem (which doesn’t exist) in other ways that don’t cost money. The non-existence of global climate change proves that DDT is good and children in Africa are dying from malaria.  Environmentalists want to ban CO2.  The world will be a better place without ice (except in mojitos).  Al Gore flew on a jet.  Therefore, Al Gore is evil.

I’m sure someone can put these pieces together in some way that makes sense, but honestly, I’m stumped.  But as if the vacuous thinkers that made the movie didn’t have me sufficiently confounded, the Tea Party’s Thinker-in-Chief addressed the group at the merciful conclusion of the movie and pointed out how the film’s impeccable logic also condemned cap-and-trade, minnows, Hollywood, illegal immigrants and healthcare reformers.  I guess there are some trains of thought I’m just not capable of following.  Mine derailed right after immerging from the first syllogistic tunnel.

The crowd for the premier was an interesting mix of zealots and right-wing-nuts.  Fashion statements were made with hats, shirts and no doubt underwear decorated with American flags.  A few young faux-patriots came decorated in tee-shirts proclaiming “Green – the New Red”.  Certainly cute even if simple minded.  Apparently it is becoming stylish in right wing circles to interrupt the experience of others by shouting “Liar” after statements with which they disagree, a clear sign of good manners and intellectual superiority.

By now, you’ve probably concluded I don’t believe this movie deserves critical acclaim.  But just because it was chocked full of quotes taken out of context, outright lies, the insights of idiots, and nearly totally devoid of logic doesn’t mean I didn’t like the movie.  Nor does it mean I don’t recommend it; I do suggest you see it.  It is worth the time and effort.  In it, you will see a fabulous example of blatant propaganda.  The problem is that good propaganda is unrecognizable as propaganda.  This one is pathetically lousy propaganda simply because it was so insultingly obvious.  You’re not 60 seconds into the film when it falls over the cliff of reason and then spends the next hour and a half screaming for help.

The sad thing about this aborted effort to inform is that it had a chance to fairly and objectively present the other side of the global climate change issue.  If there were any honest and objective arguments presented in this fiasco, they were so buried in lies and circus acts as to make them completely invisible to the responsible viewer.  As it is, it amounts to nothing more than a buffoonish cartoon leading viewers to conclude that if that’s all they’ve got, they can’t have much of a case.  I recommend seeing the film.  Everyone needs to experience suffering from time-to-time.  Not Evil Just Wrong turns out to be a self-fulfilling prophecy.