Thank You for Smoking

PLOT:

Nick Naylor is the Vice President and chief spokesman for the Academy of Tobacco Studies and the protagonist of the film, which follows his career as a talking head for Big Tobacco. Naylor appears in public speaking engagements and on television programs defending the cigarette companies. Each week, he meets with Polly Bailey and Bobby Jay Bliss, lobbyists for the alcohol and firearms industries respectively, and refers to the trio as “the M.O.D. Squad” (“Merchants Of Death”). The antagonist of the film, Senator Finisterre (D-Vermont) (William H. Macy), advocates adding a skull and crossbones label to all cigarette packaging, attempting to ward off the American people from smoking. To deal with this PR nightmare, Naylor attempts to convince big wigs in the film industry to “put the sex back in cigarettes” by making actors smoke tobacco on screen (product placement). Nick also plans to appear before the U.S. Senate to fight the packaging bill. Amidst his plans, Naylor tries to build a better relationship with his son, Joey, and has an affair with Heather Holloway, a seductive reporter with a secret agenda of her own. When Naylor’s world seems to come crashing down, his true talent as a public speaker and strategist emerge.

REVIEW:

Thank You for Smoking has been on my list of films that I’ve been putting off and putting off, but because of some weirdness wtith Netflix this week, it slipped in and I was able to watch it.

I’m going to get straight to the point with this. The film is a satirical look at how ridiculously over-the-top people have gotten with trying to curb smoking.

Aaron Eckhart has some of the best lines in the film. I’m not going to quote him, but let’s just say he says what we’re all thinking in regards to the witch hunt against tobacco companies.

Eckart leads a talented cast that includes William H. Macy, Katie Holmes, J.K. Simmons, and cameo appearances by Dennis Miller and Joan Lunden. Eckhart has all the suave and sophistication needed to pull off this role, and headline this flick. I won’t say he hold it together, though, because everyone contributes equally.

The L.A. segment if this film didn’t sit right with me. I know that his son is more or less learning what exactly his dad does for a living, but it still didn’t sit right with me that he took him out there with him. Also, the bribe of the Marlboro Man confused me a bit, but that may have been because I got a bit distracted by something else when he was convincing him.

While I didn’t love this picture, I did enjoy it. Was it worth the wait? Eh…I can’t say that, but it wasn’t a waste of time watching it, either. The subject matter alone should make you want to at least check it out, especially if you’re a smoker or have strong feelings about smoking. If you get the chance, check this out.

3 1/2 out of 5 stars