Showbiz’s decline drags down critics

I find myself constantly reading favorable reviews of lousy films — “Rat Race,” “Osmosis Jones,” “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” and the most emblematic of the situation, “American Pie 2” — written by estimable critics who have been around a long time and who, 10 or 15 years ago, wouldn’t have had any patience with any of these movies. But like everyone else, critics have been conditioned to give in and go along — or be branded a “drag” and left behind.

A critic who takes the risk of coming out against a cheap, salacious movie such as “American Pie 2” also risks being accused of being a killjoy or, worse yet, of being repressed. If you don’t laugh, see, you clearly have problems. Sacramento Bee