disappointment media
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • The Snake Hole
  • About

PAINT -- Owen Wilson's Clever Bob Ross Parody

4/4/2023

0 Comments

 
Review by Tatiana Miranda
Picture
While the film's lead does have a striking resemblance to the PBS icon, Paint is not about Bob Ross and his hit program The Joy of Painting. Instead, Paint centers around a similar yet fictional PBS host, Carl Nargle. Played by Owen Wilson, Carl Nargle resembles Bob Ross in more ways than one, including his famous afro and serene nature painting tutorials. But unlike the character's blatant inspiration, Carl is less lovable than Bob Ross. Full of himself and unaware of his declining fame, Carl begins to lose everything and everyone he loves to a younger, more modern artist that takes over his show.
​

While Bob Ross's The Joy of Painting ran from 1983-1994, Paint has a more modern setting. In this way and others, Paint separates itself from its source material while also cleverly utilizing these changes. Quite literally, Carl Nargle is an old soul. He uses an old-time pipe to smoke tobacco and weed, regularly wears denim-on-denim, and has difficulty using technology such as his phone. In some ways, he is a hipster icon, much like his real-life predecessor.​

Almost thirty years after his death, Bob Ross has had a resurgence as both a meme and a source of nostalgia for many hipsters and millennials. Older generations who used to watch his program also have a continued love for him, similar to Carl's fanbase in Paint. While most of his fans seem to be older people watching PBS in their retirement homes, Carl has also taken on the role of a sex symbol for his younger female fans. This is perhaps the crux of the film's comedy, as Carl is routinely followed by different adoring program employees. His pursuit of the youngest of the crew closely resembles that of his show's manager, Katherine, who also had a former fling with Carl.
Picture
Katherine hopes to leave PBS and decides to hire a new host for Carl's show. The new host, Ambrosia, is young, mixed-race, and queer, which ultimately makes her a symbol of modernism. This is something that goes against Carl's old soul nature and makes them perfect opposites. Even Ambrosia's art is completely different from Carl's. Whereas Carl tends to paint the same idyllic nature landscapes, Ambrosia shakes things up, even painting a UFO spewing blood on her first show. Although Ambrosia and Carl seem to be complete opposites, they are not enemies, but Ambrosia's outgoing art and personality act as a sort of wake-up call for Carl.

Paint is a clever parody of Bob Ross's fame while also being a wholly unique comedy. Packed full of interesting characters and incredible performances, this movie is a great time for both Bob Ross fans and those unfamiliar with his work.

Paint releases in theaters on April 7.​

Rating: 4/5
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019

    Authors

    All
    Adam Donato
    Alan French
    Allison Brown
    Borja Izuzquiz
    Camden Ferrell
    Cole Groth
    Daniel Lima
    Dan Skip Allen
    Erin M. Brady
    Jonathan Berk
    Joseph Fayed
    Josh Batchelder
    Paris Jade
    Rafael Motamayor
    Sarah Williams
    Sean Boelman
    Tatiana Miranda

disappointment media

Dedicated to unique and diverse perspectives on cinema!
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • The Snake Hole
  • About