Watch the scene that sparks the film's central 'Buttgate' controversy: Marci X (6/8) Movie CLIP - In the Butt (2003) HD Movieclips YouTube• May 22, 2012 Behind-the-Scenes Trivia & Reception
: Critics at Variety noted the film’s unusual pedigree, featuring director Richard Benjamin and screenwriter Paul Rudnick, both known for more sophisticated comedy [20].
: Critics and audiences on Reddit have often remarked that the film feels like a "movie within a movie" due to its exaggerated stereotypes and stylized production [24].
The film's plot centers on (Kudrow), a socialite forced to manage her father's hardcore rap label, Felony Assault , after he suffers a heart attack over a controversial song [1, 2]. The most infamous "interesting feature" of the movie is the fictional song "Shoot Ya' Teacha" by the rapper Dr. S (Wayans), which sparks a national outcry led by the conservative Senator Mary Ellen Spinkle (played by Christine Baranski) [1, 6]. This escalating feud eventually culminates in a media frenzy known in the film as "Buttgate" [1, 22].
: Despite being a box office flop, reviewers at The Aisle Seat highlight the "bite" in the screenplay by Paul Rudnick , particularly one-liners targeting conservative politics [10].
: While Metacritic shows that many critics found the film "clueless," some retrospective viewers suggest it should be savored as a collection of satirical skits [11, 18].