News

How Accurate is The Viral Cycle in ‘Osmosis Jones’?

Published

4 years ago

March 24, 2020

Let’s face it, the average person knows nothing about the spreading of disease, but Bob and Peter Farrelly attempted to nail it back in 2001 with their animated sleeper Osmosis Jones.

The world is currently living through one of its worse pandemics. Television news and social media are alive with updates, rhetoric, and doom speak.

Osmosis Jones kinda puts everything in perspective (although inaccurately) as far as human pathology and anatomy, complete with a very scary villain. Along with Contagion and Outbreak, it couldn’t be more timely.

Here’s a synopsis of Osmosis Jones:

Out-of-shape, middle-aged, and slovenly Frank DeTorre (Bill Murray), contracts a deadly virus after consuming an egg off the ground invoking the ten-second rule (which I always thought was a three-second rule).

The virus, named Thrax, is a serial pathogen attached to the egg and makes it his mission, like any other virus, to wreak havoc on the human body.

This would seem easy if it weren’t for Osmosis “Ozzy” Jones, a white blood cell whose job it is to protect Frank by killing off foreign bodies.

The truth is, the body has three lines of defenses against foreign bodies not just the white blood cells, but that wouldn’t make for a suspenseful action-adventure mostly aimed at children.

Osmosis Jones moves between live-action and animation. The latter is inside Frank’s body that resembles a big city (named Frank) and is populated by anthropomorphic microorganisms. It’s the perfect setting for the Farrelly Brothers signature brand of gross-out storytelling.

Mayor Phlegmming (William Shatner) oversees the metropolis, who appears to have been modeled after the character Mayor Larry Vaughn from Jaws because, despite all the warnings, Phlegmming still wants to put Frank in danger by increasing his urges to eat junk food and compete in the “Chicken Wing Festival.”

Thrax leaves his mark on Frank’s throat upon entry which causes inflammation. Frank uses a cold capsule to ease the effects. This capsule named Drixenol “Drix” Koldreliff (David Hyde Pierce) soon joins Osmosis in an investigation to find and rid Frank’s body of the deadly virus.

In this time of COVID-19 when many people are so confused about how a virus takes hold and what it can do to elderly people or people with underlying health issues such as obesity Osmosis Jones is like a flow chart, albeit flawed, of the viral lifecycle.

My limited knowledge on how a virus works is this:

Basically it enters the body, it takes a cell hostage and uses it as a host. Once inside the cell, it commandeers the cell’s replication code and begins to copy itself. After the host cell has outlived its purpose, it dies and the virus moves on to another one.

Osmosis Jones takes an artistic approach here. Thrax isn’t trying to copy himself and to my understanding, he is independent of any viral replication tactics, although he does employ some very inept henchmen. Could this mean he’s a bioengineered virus developed for warfare?

Then there’s the body’s defense system. As mentioned before our bodies have three lines of defense against a virus, the white blood cells (check), macrophages, and finally our body’s specific Cell-mediated response and Antibody-mediated response which if working correctly targets the infection and kills it.

Osmosis Jones leaves out a lot scientific truths but even at its most basic, the film creates interest in its intended younger audience about the human body.

They learn about the importance of hygiene, that a virus can enter by way of the mouth, nose or eyes. Even though the City of Frank is a metaphor, the film explores human anatomy in clever ways which kids will find amusing.

As for adults, the movie has beautifully animated sequences, directed by Tom Sito and Piet Kroon, they are pretty gorgeous; a combination of computer rendering and hand-drawn cells.

And of course, this is brothers Farrelly film and contains plenty of body fluid humor both in the animated world and in the practical one which should entertain both kids and adults.

One problematic aspect is that even though Frank has a strong white blood cell fighting off the infection, some people don’t have a hearty Osmosis in their body and therefore the contagion might be dire for them.

Not scientifically accurate, Osmosis Jones gets some bonus points for humor and pseudo-science. It might not get a lot of things right which probably isn’t helpful right now, but what is helpful is that it gives us a chance to laugh which they say is indeed the best medicine.

Osmosis Jones is currently available to stream on Starz.

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Related Topics:Covid-19 Osmosis Jones Pathogen Virus

Movies

Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

Published

5 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

News

Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

Published

7 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

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Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

Movies

’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power

Published

8 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Danny Boyle is revisiting his 28 Days Later universe with three new films. He will direct the first, 28 Years Later, with two more to follow. Deadline is reporting that sources say Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have been cast for the first entry, a sequel to the original. Details are being kept under wraps so we don’t know how or if the first original sequel 28 Weeks Later fits into the project.

**Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes**

Boyle will direct the first movie but it’s unclear which role he will take on in the subsequent films. What is known is Candyman (2021) director Nia DaCosta is scheduled to direct the second film in this trilogy and that the third will be filmed immediately afterward. Whether DaCosta will direct both is still unclear.

Alex Garland is writing the scripts. Garland is having a successful time at the box office right now. He wrote and directed the current action/thriller Civil War which was just knocked out of the theatrical top spot by Radio Silence’s Abigail.

There is no word yet on when, or where, 28 Years Later will start production.