Turned On, Tuned In: G.I. Joe: The Rise of Titillation

Posted by Bethany Perryman (bethany@filmschoolrejects.com) on August 3, 2009

turnedon-gijoe

What’s turning me on this week?

G.I. Joe. But not for the reasons you’d think.

Let’s face it. There’s nothing really deep about G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. It’s a summer action movie from a chidlren’s toy franchise that does nothing more but blow a bunch of shit up and set up for a sequel. It’s fun, and it’s better than I thought it would be. Personally, I wasn’t super excited about seeing the movie, but when a certain FSR Editor asked me to a very private screening at a theatre that would serve me beer in buckets, I was game.

Yes, the men are ripped meatheads, and the women are wearing leather and camos. Our main Joe, Duke (Channing Tatum), delivers a near silent performance of chiseled gruffness that I was especially fond of. Oh, and ladies — he cleans up well, too. Like, really well. Really really well. I sort of wanted to be his soap. And, boys, even with her cartoonish cape (which no doubt some of you will find sexy in itself), the Baronness (played by one of my favorites and yours — new brunette Sienna Miller) has got it going on. I spent half the movie mesmerized by the Baronness’s boobs, and the other half wondering how exactly they made Sienna Miller’s specific boobs look like that. I mean, come on, we’ve all seen Factory Girl. Long story short, if you’re a teenaged boy, a fan of muscly all-American-style men, or Sarah Palin (women in camos, y’all.), you’ll think this is a sexy movie. And, while there are certainly some clumsy misfires, overall, the sexual elements work. Translation: there’s enough cleavage and six packs to warrant at least a matinee ticket price.

But, what’s really turning me on? The interplay between Ripcord (Marlon Wayans) and Scarlett (Rachel Nichols). This may not seem like a big deal to most, but I deeply respect what the film and filmmakers are doing here. Think about it. This is a family movie, a movie (despite what the production stills might show you) that will work best on pre-teen boys. It’s a movie geared toward the heart and soul of the American public; it plays on your patriotism and your daddy/older brother/creepy uncle’s favorite toys. The good guys are Americans, the bad guys are a veritable rainbow coalition of every nationality that’s not. (Caveat: Breaker is cast and dressed well, with the message clearly sent that all French people, those of Arab/Persian descent, and/or those who wear those bulky scarf things in the middle of the summer aren’t necessarily pussies or enemies of the United States. Go Joe.)

When you see an interracial Ripcord and Scarlett harmlessly flirting and, in the end, having a more convincing (albeit budding) relationship than the other pair of lovers, it’s a welcome breath of fresh air. The sexiest thing about this movie is that it is both brashly American but subtly nods its head in recognition of the changing landscape of our country. Many families will see this movie, and the young people that populate those families. It’s our job as a culture to nourish positive change, and Rip and Scarlett’s on-screen, relatively neutered relationship definitely does so, and in a non-threatening-to-the-old-ways way.

Could G.I. Joe have taken up the issue of gays in the military? I wish. But this movie isn’t a political forum in the least; it just wouldn’t have been appropriate. Instead, what G.I. Joe does and does well, is recognize that a new status quo has been birthed in America. There’s no implicit comment, specific endorsement or condemning of previously unacceptable romantic standards for the American populous. The relationship is shallow, like the movie, but it certainly shows off what America looks like today and will look like tomorrow. And that, my friends, is sexy.

Want some sex advice? Turned On, Tuned In author Bethany Perryman is here for you. You can get ‘in touch’ with her via email (bethany@filmschoolrejects.com) and/or follow her stream of hotness on Twitter at twitter.com/bethatasitmay


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  • Great post! Glad to see your column back, it's been too long
  • Evan
    But Scarlett is supposed to be moved by the honor and stoicism of Snake Eyes, while pulled by the more fulfilling mutuality of her relationship with Duke. That's a central dynamic in the G.I. Joe canon.

    Marlon Wayans is like a minstrel for the the 21st century; he doesn't represent a progressive image of an african-american man, he milks stereotypes for easy laughs without irony in movie after movie he and his (Wayans) brothers make. I think he's not the star you would want to pick to step up as a token for affirmative action movies.
  • Cole_Abaius
    Yes, ma'am. There's nothing like true subversiveness.

    It seems to be a lost art in our culture, but the act of reeling in an audience and giving them a subtle message that they don't normally want to hear is always awesome. Like my mom listening to the Dooby Brothers and getting a whiff of drug culture simply because the music "sounds wholesome."

    Part of me is confused that the idea of interracial relationships on film can still be a shocking one, but I suppose we don't see that many of them. And if Joe can play the relationship naturally without making a big deal of the skin color of the sexy participants, more power to them.

    Next up, Duke makes out with Snake Eyes. Subtly.
  • You had me until the throw-away line about homosexuality in the military. This is, from start to finish, GI Joe. Not Brokeback Soldiers. You pointed this out but even bringing it up like GI Joe should have considered it is strange.

    And regarding Ripcord and Scarlett, Evan has it right - Snake-Eyes and Scarlett are supposed to be the couple. That's far more interesting. The year is 2009, few people are still shocked by interracial relationships. That's a toss-away. But having an energetic and independent woman pursue a relationship with a silent assassin, someone who never speaks, thats tough to do and interesting. It's a better story. Ripcord is a comedian. Everyone loves a joker. Plus, Snake-Eyes and Scarlett is a mainstay through the comics. Some of the best stories involve those two. Perhaps the best Snake-Eyes story happens after ))) comic spoilers ((( Baroness shoots Scarlett in the head. Snake thinks she's dead so he agrees to go off on a bad-ass kill everyone suicide mission. Cue the action. Further, the Snake-Eyes of the comics wears a mask because of traumatic injury to the face. So he's not all that handsome, depending on the era. His face has been either completely burned off or had deep scars across it. That's a good love story.
  • justadude
    Yeah, I agree that the black male-white female interracial thing isn't all that new. I completely see your point and respect your thoughts, but it would probably be more shocking to have a black female-white male couple; you don't see that very often in movies. I also think it would be more 'revolutionary' to see a black-asian couple (like in "Rumble in the Bronx") or an Indian-white couple.
  • tivius
    A nicely written and thoughtful contribution. Thank you.
  • neonized
    One quick note that everyone is missing. In the 80's comic book canon Snake-Eyes and Scarlet are not a couple. Snake-Eyes is Scarlett’s protector. She reminds Snake-Eyes of the sister he lost in a car accident. He feels obligated to protect her. He is, in essence, her big brother.
  • that's the hint that you get in the movie. i'm sure it will be further developed in the 2nd movie.
  • Alex
    Sorry neonized, but you're dead wrong. Snake Eyes and Scarlett ARE a couple in the comics, and have been for two decades. They are currently engaged to be married. I don't know where you get your information from, but it's obvious that you've never read the comics. Larry Hama, the creator of the comic, has stated time and time again that Scarlett's true love is Snake Eyes. I think youi might be some kind of studio plant that is trying to mislead everyone. The SNake Eyes/Scarlett romance is indeed canon, and all you need to do is look it up on the internet to find out. This thing with Ripcord is sacrilige, and just an example of Hollywood trying to destroy one of comicdom's most beloved couples.
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