Alcohol abuse

Alcohol abuse

Name: Smashed

Film: Drama/ Comedy

1. Was alcohol displayed positively or negatively?

The film displays alcohol negatively by revolving on the life of addicted couples. They experience hangovers every morning after spending their nights in karaoke bars. The first negative effect of alcohol is displayed when the wife vomits in front of the class immediately after swigging from a flask when she was driving to school (James, 2012, 30:49). She stops drinking, but her husband continues, which leads to a lack of fun from the social life the two shared.

2. Was alcohol consumption minimal, moderate, risky, both, etc.?

The alcohol consumption was high in the film. The couple visited karaoke bars every day and drank every type of alcohol that made them happy. Their house was always full of alcoholic bottles, and they would drink whenever they felt like. This made the habit risky because the wife almost lost her job due to the act. The husband, who is a music writer, does not have to work because he comes from a wealthy background. Therefore, he had a lot to spend on alcohol.

3. Was alcohol use tied to any other questionable behaviors, crimes, drugs and how?

Alcohol use was tied to drug abuse and how a person can be affected due to addiction. The film dwells on couples who thought that alcohol was their source of happiness. The result is an addiction contrary to what they thought, and the wife struggles explicitly to quit after facing an embarrassment in school. She is forced to lie that she is pregnant to cover up the situation.

4. Was alcohol consumption social or isolated?

The film portrays alcohol consumption as social. Most friends and coworkers of the couple which the film dwells on are drunkards. They attend parties with the husband’s brother Owen who is also a drunkard, and when leaving, she meets a strange woman who offers her a ride. The woman offers her a crack, and the next morning she finds herself alone in the streets. She is also invited for a drink by her coworker Dave who is also an addict.

5. When characters consumed alcohol, how were they portrayed emotionally and physically (healthy vs. unhealthy; intoxicated vs. unphased, etc.)?

The characters are portrayed as desperate and physically worn out people who are trying to quit alcoholism. The main characters Kate and her husband Charlie, both acknowledge that they are both addicts but later get intoxicated and have sex, which saw Charlie pass out (James, 2012 01:16:00). This portrays them as unhealthy people who need immediate help to get out of alcoholism and live a healthy life.

Pick 1 or 2 characters.

The characters chosen are Charlie and his wife Kate Hannah, who are the two main characters.

1. How did alcohol impact the persona and families of the key characters in the film?

Alcohol harmed both the characters and their families. This is portrayed when the couple visits Kate’s mother, who is bitter about their acts and tries to fix them (James, 2012, 57:26). The school principal also shows little sympathy for Kate even after she quits alcohol.

2. Did the film follow standard stereotypes of drinking (For example, men drinking beer, whiskey, etc.; women drinking wine and fruity beverages)?

The film generally had no standard stereotypes, and the characters drank together whichever alcohol they bought. However, after an instance where Charlie passed out after the two had sex due to intoxication, Kate heads out to buy wine on her won but is turned down by the cashier.

3. Was alcohol used as a branding technique or generically?

Alcohol was used generically to portray a couple that both believed that alcohol was a source of happiness. They drink together, and despite the wife quitting the habit, later on, the husband continues drinking with his brother and friends.

4. If alcohol were removed, how would it have impacted the film?

Removing alcohol in the film would have made the film baseless with no story outline. This film is basically on abuse of alcohol and the effects that accompany the injury. Therefore the film would not be possible to understand without alcohol.

5. Write a summation paragraph(s) analyzing alcohol’s impact on the film, plot, and characters. This is subjective based but should focus on how you portray the usage of alcohol in the movie. (This may include content not included in the questions above.)

The film conveys an endless partying as well as how career, relationship, and friendships can be shattered due to alcoholism.it also includes the break of ties that comes after quitting alcohol. Alcohol is a drug substance that, if not adequately controlled, can lead someone astray. The effects which include severe hangovers and intoxications can lead to deterioration of health.

References

James, P. (2012). Smashed [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_chA0J8F9Q