Being There: Cringeworthy, 1979 Comedy Film

Being There is an excellent, if sometimes cringeworthy, 1979 comedy film based on a 1970 novella of the same title. The plot is centered on a mentally challenged gardener named Chance (Peter Sellers), or Chauncey Gardiner as he is later known, who is evicted from his home and is mistaken for a brilliant visionary after meeting a powerful business mogul who helps him become a famous public figure. While the script often stretches the suspension of disbelief to its breaking point it does lead to a series of funny moments once the film really gets going. Most of the comedy is based around Chance’s reactions to the complex situations that he is put into and how the rest of the cast reacts to his simplistic statements as if they were insightful nuggets of wisdom. The direction and writing do what they need to do and the cast perform well with few exceptions. The main drawbacks come from the film’s slow start and several uncomfortable scenes that seriously upset the flow of the comedy. While subtle, there is an overarching theme on how television has led to charisma taking precedent over intelligence in today’s world. Despite its flaws, Being There has aged well and is certainly worth viewing. …show more content…
At first it’s easy to be afraid that something horrible may happen to Chance but after he’s out of any potential danger the comedy really starts to shine. One memorable scene has Chance’s statement about gardening seasons misconstrued as a complex metaphor for the American economy that the President of the United States uses in his next speech. However, some of the jokes can be hit-or-miss; in one unforgettably awkward scene Chances love interest Eve (Shirley MacLaine) masturbates after mistaking Chance’s television obsession with sexual voyeurism. Similar moments are sprinkled throughout the film but they are not serious enough to sabotage the film