Unintentional Comedy Award
Bennett relishing Matrix's challenge to fight
In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 00:42:45Read transcript
- Introduced as not a new category but a special one for this movie; nominees are Arnold chopping wood in a tank top, the father-daughter montage, the hard-to-understand Boy George one-liner over a Creem magazine, Dan Hedaya's accent, and Arnold stripping to a bathing suit to row, part of three gratuitous shirtless moments.
- The pick is Matrix goading Bennett to drop the guns and fight, with Bennett reacting almost orgasmically, as if on take eight after being told to be creepier.
- There is a long-running internet theory that Bennett is in love with Matrix. — Kyle Brandt
- The romance is described as intentional: the director said his coaching was that Bennett hates but loves Matrix, Bennett reminisces about him, and the final exchange ('don't deny yourself the pleasure', shooting him in the balls) is sexually charged, comparable only to Tango & Cash.
- The theory is rejected: Bennett is more like Zero in John Wick 3, a fan who respects Matrix's killing skill and wants to measure himself against him. — Shea Serrano
- Bennett wearing a sleeveless shirt with no muscle tone next to Arnold shows huge confidence; he was never frightening, suggesting the filmmakers did not yet know what they had in Arnold.
- Vernon Wells described his look as Freddie Mercury on steroids; director Mark Lester, coming off Firestarter, said Bennett was in love with Matrix but hated him too.