You knew R-rated comedies were in trouble when Todd Phillips gave up on them.
Phillips previously directed “Road Trip,” “Old School” and the “Hangover” trilogy. He wasn’t averse to making more funny movies, but he saw the woke mind virus infect Hollywood and said, “no thanks.”
He explained his thinking to Vanity Fair prior to his take on the ultimate Batman villain … 2019’s “Joker.”
“Go try to be funny nowadays with this woke culture,” he says. “There were articles written about why comedies don’t work anymore—I’ll tell you why, because all the f***ing funny guys are like, ‘F*** this s***, because I don’t want to offend you.’ It’s hard to argue with 30 million people on Twitter. You just can’t do it, right? So you just go, ‘I’m out.’ I’m out, and you know what? With all my comedies—I think that what comedies in general all have in common—is they’re irreverent.”
Nature has healed, to a degree, since that cultural low point. Roasts are back. Comic cancellations are on the decline. Podcasters can say pretty much what they want without being fact-checked into oblivion.
Shane Gillis, famously fired by “Saturday Night Live” for his comments about Asians, later hosted the sketch comedy show.
Twice.
Which brings us to “Busboys.”
The April 17 comedy stars David Spade and Theo Von as two under-achievers who dream of becoming waiters. But first, they must pay their dues as busboys.
It’s a goofy premise, and the trailer suggests that tone is echoed by the R-rated high jinks in play.
It’s exactly the kind of movie we might expect from the years 2000-2015. Silly. Outrageous. Potentially offensive. Rude. Crude.
Funny (we hope).
That doesn’t mean the film will deliver at the all-important box office. Von says the movie’s budget came in at roughly $3 million, so even a modest box office run will pay the necessary bills.
“Busboys” could do more than that, though. It might change the culture. Here are some of the reasons why that isn’t guaranteed.
Will Podcast Promotion Be Enough?
Spade is the co-host of “Fly on the Wall” with fellow “Saturday Night Live” alum Dana Carvey. Von’s “This Past Weekend” draws a sizable crowd – nearly 4.5 million subscribers on YouTube alone.
The film’s co-star, Tim Dillon, is no slouch in the podcasting department. Can the co-stars use their respective platforms to get curious consumers into theaters? Podcast promotion matters, but it’s rarely used to put an indie comedy on the map like this.
Is Von Ready for His Close-Up?
The Louisiana native has plenty of TV credits, along with years of chronic stand-up experiences. Movie stardom is … different.
We’ve already seen Spade anchor movies like “Joe Dirt” and “Tommy Boy” (alongside Chris Farley). He’s a known commodity, and that will help “Busboys” immensely. We’ll have to see if Von’s comedy chops translate to a feature film character.
Are We Really Ready for R-Rated Comedies Again?
The woke mind virus is fading, but it hasn’t completely exited, stage Left. Consider the outrage, likely exaggerated but real all the same, regarding Kumail Nanjiani’s “Schindler’s List” joke at the recent Oscars telecast.
Oscars presenter Kumail Nanjiani slammed for ‘poor taste’ Schindler’s List joke https://t.co/DGxjl6wQ3M
— Daily Mail US (@Daily_MailUS) March 16, 2026
That willingness to be offended hasn’t gone away. It just can’t shut comedians down like it did in the recent past. Will some movie goers simply stay away, fearing they might be offended by some of the material?
Will Mainstream Media Attack the Film?
“Busboys” has generated modest news coverage to date, but it’s unlikely to get the kind of fawning Legacy Media push other projects receive. Think “Heated Rivarly,” as one extreme example.
Awareness matters, and there’s a chance “Busboys” will be mostly ignored by the press. That includes the reviewing public.
Will film critics get access to screeners or press showings for review purposes? This critic has yet to receive a single press release about the film, for what it’s worth, let alone a screening invite or link opportunity.
What if Legacy Media outlets turn their fire on “Busboys?” The film may boast some outrageous material that some scribes find triggering.
Is ‘Busboys’ Funny Enough to Change the Culture?
The comedy doesn’t come from within the Hollywood corridors. This is a true independent feature, relying on its stars and a scrappy sense of, “let’s put on a show.”
It is possible the film needed some industry flourishes to help the jokes land?
