Dude with a Problem

derrida · Kitten Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Posts: 1

Hello everyone,

Can anyone recommend some great Dude with a Problem movies? Other than the ones listed in the book, I’m curious what additional movies people believe exemplify the genre.

Thanks for your help

Mike Rinaldi · Liger Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Posts: 1810 Location: California

Often action movies where a hero finds him/herself in a situation and has no choice but to act, like Flight Plan. Zombie movies are often DWAP, as are many horror movies that don't fall into MITH. There's a lot out there, but it's difficult for me to just think of a lot of titles off the top of my head.

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kody · Kitten Joined: 12 May 2008 Posts: 2

The Big Lebowski is one of my favorites. He even calls himself "Dude"

William · Tiger Joined: 28 Feb 2009 Posts: 169

Focus on the lead actors.

Arnold
Bruce
Jean Claude

etc

Many action movies are dude with a problem. So, just think of all the action heroes out there.

Sudden Death is one of my favourites. Van Damme mostly does DWAP films. Not the best films on the planet, but if you watch them you will get a good idea about what makes something DWAP.

The important thing to notice are these

1. The hero should be INNOCENT at the outset. They can have personal issues (Bruce in Die Hard certainly did), but they must be free from moral impropriety - otherwise they aren't much of a hero. If the focus is on the hero's bad history then you may be dealing with a Monster in the House instead (Fatal Attraction comes to mind here as an example)

2. The story must focus on the problems and how they are resolved rather than the character of the hero. If a lot of emphasis is on the character of the hero then you are dealing with Superhero rather than DWAP.

Also you may want to refine your DWAP genre a bit. Pick a flavour of DWAP from STC2 book and focus there.

Epic problem? Domestic problem?

Michael Douglas has also done a few good DWAP - Black Rain being my favourite, with Disclosure coming in a close second.

The Ghost and the Darkness is one he produced and did a supporting role in. Val Kilmer is an Engineer sent to Africa to build a bridge but the work camp is terrorized by two Lions. I had considered MITH as the Lions are presented as supernatural in power, but where's the sin?

I would suggest you watch The Ghost and the Darkness and see if you can tell why its not MITH rather than DWAP. Its a good exercise. I say its DWAP. See if you find different.

Dirk Riptide · Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:36 am Post subject:

Hey Kody, Lebowski is an interesting one. When I first saw that you put Lebowski in the DWAP genre, I thought isn't that film a Whydunnit? Then I thought, no Kody's right, it is a DWAP; every meeting in the bowling alley is an eye of the storm beat.

Then I thought some more. Now I think it's possible that The Big Lebowski may even be a Fool Triumphant! He is a "fool" whose innocence is his strength and whose gentle manner makes him likely to be ignored. The "establishment" - the world of the big Lebowski - that the Dude comes up against. There is even a "name change", which is actually a prominent story device; Dude, Jeffrey, Mr Lebowski etc.

I'm still not certain though! Very Happy

auntieant · Tiger Joined: 11 Oct 2008 Posts: 189

Big Lebowski - one of my favourite movies ever!

It could be anything, really. But I think it's more FT than DWAP.

He isn't really THAT innocent, and he isn't thrust into a life or death situation. His rug gets pissed on and he goes to get a new one. Then he is offered money (not threatened) to carry out his task, which thrusts him into a New World, where - actually - he flourishes. He figures out the double cross (at the point the toe appears it's kind of a whydunnit), he solves the mystery, and beats the institution at their own game.

There's elements of golden fleece too - the quest, the team, etc, but it's main ingredient are FT (I think).

zampana · Leopard Joined: 30 Jul 2009 Posts: 42

I'm also looking for dude with a problem references, but stuff more like Norma Rae or Matawan -- movies that are political in nature, maybe with a little secondary action. I'm sure there were a bunch in the 70s and early 80s but I am too young to remember - any old geezers on the list remember political dude with a problems?

martinm · Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 12:42 pm Post subject:

All time favorite DWAP -

Disclosure (Michael Douglas)

Others:

The Fugitive
North by Northwest
The Net
Three Days of the Condor
Open Water

I'm not sure if The Visitor qualifies - but...

The Visitor

zampana · Leopard Joined: 30 Jul 2009 Posts: 42

GREAT!!! The Visitor was already a ref for the film in tone and nice point as it's definitely a strong dude with a problem example. Thanks!

Deano · Cat Joined: 27 Jul 2009 Posts: 11

Actually I have been meaning to ask: What are people's favorite Dude With A Problem comedies?

Dirk Riptide · Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 3:01 am Post subject:

Favorite DWAP comedy? Hmm, Evil Dead Army of Darkness - or is that a FT?

William · Tiger Joined: 28 Feb 2009 Posts: 169

jinchoung · Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 4:34 am Post subject:

actually, my problem is that dwap is so much of a "catchall" that I dislike it as a category. It's too general and almost every movie can be a dwap.

IMO, schindlers list is far more "institutionalized" rather than dwap. And I'm trying to think of what else die hard can be. It can probably be superhero actually. I mean if gladiator counts as superhero, it seems like all the testosterone pack movies can as well.

Can anyone come up with a compelling reason to keep dwap as a useful category?

Or maybe change the name to really emphasize the crux of this story type - which I think I just Rearticulated to myself from book: ordinary Joe vs. Extraordinary circumstances.

If you're in good hands like James bond or Indiana jones, it's not a dwap. If the nuke is coming and you're superman, it's not a dwap. If the nuke is coming and you're Clark kent, it's a dwap.

Most of the story is about the disjunction of the INADEQUACY of this guy for this situation.

Hmmmmmmm. Maybe then dwap is essentially "fish out of water" which is not a bs genre.....

Mebbe call it "the Hitchcock". Or "average dude with a disproportionately big fing problem"

Actually, maybe it can be catgorized by the profession of the protag. If soldier, cop, spy, soldier of fortune, or anyone else who regularly carries a gun - not a dwap. School principal, teacher, lawyer, soccer mom, writer, dr - can be but not necessarily dwap.

Jin

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TriggerStreeter · Cub Joined: 26 Nov 2009 Posts: 9

Monsters, Inc.
Planet of the Apes

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