Poll of the Day > "It 'insists' upon itself."

(+) Yeah! (+)

This feels like one of those things that ALMOST makes sense and you feel like you've got a partial comprehension of what is being driven at yet can't actually explain it.

So let's try. How would you interpret this popular Peter Griffin-ism?

That line comes to mind for me fairly commonly, especially these days. It would be a movie that is so certain that it's characters or plot or politics or something are so good or clever or right that it takes it for granted that the audience likes/agrees with them when it shouldn't. I.e. having a big dramatic score for a moment when a frankly dull twist occurs. Or assuming that simply having some characters that were previously popular appear in a sequel will automatically be interesting without finding them something good to do. Or, yes, assuming that I both agree with the politics of a movie and (probably even more to the point) want politics shoved in my face yet again in my entertainment.

Or just in general when you get the sense that a movie thinks it is far more clever than it is. Glass Onion comes to mind, although that one was silly enough that you probably wouldn't say it 'insisted on itself'.

The new Avatar maybe: it was pretty insistent that you should still like it's original characters (at any age, in any form) and was so confident that you would like it visually that they could use a generic action movie plot and have Navi talk verbally to whales without explanation. I mean, it was kind of right: it was a fine spectacle in a time of few spectacles, but it doesn't feel like a movie I need to see again.

The "insists on itself" wording is a snooty enough thing to say that it was made for laughs, but it means something.

I dont like that its basically just a family guy quote

a lot of stupid people like to use it and pretend theyre smart but it doesnt work that way

also Peter Griffin is literally using the phrase to insult the Godfather, one of the most beloved movies of all time. That annoys me. But I think thats there point of the quote. Hes supposed to be looking stupid

FrozenBananas posted...

also Peter Griffin is literally using the phrase to insult the Godfather, one of the most beloved movies of all time.

Well what if it's a fair thing to say? Maybe it could be seen as a hot take but that doesn't negate the possibility that there is some pretentiousness or overblown appeal to the movie at the same time.

I believe the phrase means "head up its own ass", only more politely

I insisted upon ur mum lolol

FrozenBananas posted...

I dont like that its basically just a family guy quote

a lot of stupid people like to use it and pretend theyre smart but it doesnt work that way

also Peter Griffin is literally using the phrase to insult the Godfather, one of the most beloved movies of all time. That annoys me. But I think thats there point of the quote. Hes supposed to be looking stupid

Yeah people forget it was a scene where Peter was supposed to be acting like a pretentious dumbass.

mario2000 posted...

Yeah people forget it was a scene where Peter was supposed to be acting like a pretentious dumbass.

I didn't forget, I just think it could actually be poignant if you could nail down the underlying message of the phrase. It's just doing that is tricky but it DOES feel like something is trying to be said by making such a remark.

Solid_Sonic posted...

This feels like one of those things that ALMOST makes sense and you feel like you've got a partial comprehension of what is being driven at yet can't actually explain it.

So let's try. How would you interpret this popular Peter Griffin-ism?

You've also been on YouTube shorts

Just my take: It's taken into consideration because by design, it wants you to consider it.

An obvious example is anything meta. The Stanley Parable insists upon itself heavily.