Five Awful 4th Wall Breakers

4th wall breaks in Movies and TV are always fun. Sometimes it’s a wink to the audience or a gag, and other times the character is also serving as a narrator. Oh sure sometimes it works, it’s clear that Winnie the Pooh and friends know they are storybook characters for instance. And do I even need to mention Deadpool or Ferris Bueller? But there have been a few times when the wall breaking comes out of nowhere, or makes no sense. And I had to ask, why was this 4th wall break here?

Here are five 4th wall breaks which are either bizarrely random, or just plain stupid.






Mary Poppins

Someone please explain to me why Bert introduces us to the Banks at the start of the film? It would be fine if HE EVER DID IT AGAIN but he doesn’t. He’s no narrator, he’s just in the movie after that point. And he doesn’t tell us anything that couldn’t have been handed off to another character with a line or two. Yeah he tells us who Admiral Boom is but why couldn’t have the housekeepers told us that? And why did we need to know the address anyway, are we having a test at the end of the movie?








Alaadin

Ok I admit this one is kind of tricky. But what on Earth is up with the merchant in the beginning? Yes I know the theory, that it’s really the Genie in disguise. It is Robin Williams doing the voice. But that doesn’t explain why he’s here, and giving exposition we don’t need. I hate it when a movie throws he moral at you before the movie has even begun. Yeah I know there’s plenty more 4th wall gags in this film but the opening felt, well, pointless.







Fuller House

I hated it also when Mary Kate and Ashley Olson didn’t return for the new show. Even just for a cameo. But the way the show dealt it was pretty, well, nasty. When D.J. asks where Michelle is Danny explains she is busy with her career, and then the entire cast gives a look to the audience. There were a couple other tines when a cast member broke the fourth wall to tell them to appear. In a way I don’t blame them but, that was kinda mean.







Inspector Gadget

Oh well all know this painful gag don’t we? I mean, a good 4th wall gag has to be subtle. Well, at least try to be subtle. And it’s true this whole movie is one big 4th wall gag. But still, the “joke” about Saturday morning cartoons is awful. Made even worst when you remember the show never was a Saturday Morning cartoon, it was a syndicated show. So not only is it painful, it’s inaccurate.








Nutcracker 3D

This god awful movie is way to much for me to describe here. But one of the oddities is that Nathan’s Lane character of Uncle Albert breaks the 4th wall and talks to the audience for a part of the movie. For…reasons. No really, why was that there? Most of the movie is a dream anyway! Unlike Bert who at least provides important information, this is just a pointless detour.







Did I miss your favorite example of a bad 4th wall break? Comment and let me know.