Mike Birbiglia, the comedian who has just made his first movie, is upset with Suicide Squad.
Not because the new DC comics blockbuster is competing with his own low-budget effort Don’t Think Twice but because the MPAA gave his new movie an R-rating while granting the violent Suicide Squad a PG-13 certificate.
Don’t Think Twice, an arthouse film about a New York comedy group, has a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes- much higher than that of Suicide Squad which is at this writing 32%– but a higher age rating owing to scenes featuring pot smoking and swearing.
Suicide Squad features graphic violence and explosions which the MPAA has long been accused of overlooking in big-budget movies in contrast to its perceived overzealousness when it comes to swearing, sex and drug use.
Birbiglia tweeted his displeasure:
Suicide Squad has machine gun killings and bombings and got a PG-13 rating. @Dontthinkmovie gets an R because adults smoke pot. Confusing?
— Mike Birbiglia (@birbigs) August 3, 2016
He wasn’t done:
Which of these characters feels rated “R” to you? (Hint: the one with the metal teeth) https://t.co/Go7kOnTrDx
— Mike Birbiglia (@birbigs) August 4, 2016
Some notable people waded in to defend him like fellow director Judd Apatow who directed Birbiglia in Trainwreck:
The fact that you can murder hundreds in a PG13 movie but not say fuck twice is a scam.That’s not cynical just true. https://t.co/m5fJj7hGXD
— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) August 4, 2016
Birbiglia responded: “That makes a lot of sense and is insane.”
Radio host Ira Glass tweeted:
I guess the geezers at @MPAA haven’t noticed: shootings are a big problem while weed’s being decrimininalized. https://t.co/EvORqB8Zz9
— Ira Glass (@iraglass) August 4, 2016
But the MPAA wasn’t saying anything. Birbiglia also tweeted the R-rated sentiment: “F— the MPAA”. But he then deleted it.