I quite anticipated that after The Year One was slapped with the market limiting R rating (AA here in Canada) that they would suck it up and just move on with it. But Sony has gone back to the editing room and tweaked the film so that the MPAA would grant them their cherished PG-13 stamp!
Sony appealed, hoping to get a PG-13 without making any cuts to the film, but the MPAA stuck to the R, prompting many of the internet usual suspects to speculate that Sony would give in and release the film with the tougher rating. It wouldn’t have surprised me — Apatow has plenty of clout, and a great track record with R-rated comedies; the same, to a lesser extent, goes for Ramis. But no: Sony made cuts to the film, and merely two days after the appeal ruling, Year One is rated PG-13 “for crude and sexual content throughout, brief strong language and comic violence.”
I know there are conspiracy theorists out there who hate the MPAA for stuff like this, but let’s keep in mind that the MPAA is just giving a category. Different people in different chairs might categorize things differently and that leaves a foothold for people to point the 17th finger at “the man” to try and rise against the organization.
But Sony had their day to argue their points, the powers that be said they could not give the rating they were after considering the content in the film (and is anyone surprised by an R Rated Apatow comedy??) so Sony CHOSE to edit the film to gain it the broader demographic that a PG-13 would give it.
And honestly, it is a win win for the studios. They get all this press telling you how raunchy this movie is (which is the angle they cater to with this brand of comedy anyways) and lots of free press warning you all about the naughty bits in this movie.
Then they release a PG-13 version, sell MORE tickets and then get a double dip when the UnRated DVD hits shelves.
Do you honestly think this dance is something Sony is upset about?
