Ep 79. Honest Trailers - The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

In the 79th episode of season 1 of Honest Trailers, the focus is on the second installment in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit trilogy, The Desolation of Smaug. The narrator begins by acknowledging that while the first movie was a bit of a slog, this one actually has some cool stuff in it. Of course, that doesn't mean it's immune to criticism.

The trailer starts off by poking fun at the fact that the movie starts with an extended flashback to when Gandalf first meets Thorin. Then there's the fact that the dwarves just can't catch a break - they spend the whole movie running from one danger to the next. There's also the strange romantic subplot between Kili and Tauriel, an elf character created specifically for the movies who wasn't in the original book. The narrator can't quite decide if it's sweet or creepy.

As the trailer goes on, we see clips of various action sequences and set pieces. There's the barrel ride down the river, which the narrator describes as "the best amusement park ride that doesn't exist." Then there's the confrontation with the giant spider, which leads to a joke about how hard it is to keep track of which dwarf is which (hint: they all have beards). Of course, the centerpiece of the movie is the titular dragon Smaug, voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch. The narrator describes him as "like a Bond villain mixed with Tony Stark," and notes that he's one of the few things in the movie that's truly amazing to watch.

The trailer also takes aim at some of the more questionable choices made by the filmmakers. For example, there's a whole subplot involving the Necromancer, which doesn't really go anywhere and feels like it's just setting up the next movie. Then there's the fact that Legolas shows up even though he wasn't in the book (in fact, his storyline involves him chasing after a character who was also invented for the movies). The narrator also makes fun of the way the movie ends on a cliffhanger, pointing out that it feels like the filmmakers are just trying to string us along for another year until the third movie comes out.

Throughout the trailer, the narrator maintains a balance of affectionate ribbing and genuine enthusiasm for the movie. Yes, there are some silly moments and some questionable decisions, but overall this is a really fun adventure that's worth watching. And of course, it's always fun to poke a little fun at something we love.