It might be that Mike Judge’s Idiocracy is more notable for what happened to the movie before it hit theaters than for what shows up on screen.

[Idiocracy was] expanded to only 125 theaters, not the usual wide release of 2500-3000 theaters. According to the Austin American-Statesman ^[5], 20th Century Fox, the film’s distributor, did nothing to promote the movie — while posters were released to theatres, no movie trailers, television ads, or press kits for media outlets were provided. The film was not screened for critics^[6]. Lack of concrete information from 20th Century Fox led to speculation that Fox may have actively tried to keep the film from being seen by a large audience… Wikipedia Entry

It’s not hard to imagine 20th Century Fox being less than thrilled with Judge’s look at 500 years into our future. At that time, intelligence has been completely bread out of the human population. Corporations have both hastened our fall and ensured the populations’ continued depravity. Starbucks sells handjobs, and Braundo, a sports drink manufacturer, has bought both the F.D.A. and F.C.C. in order to replace water as the preferred beverage nationwide.

The President of the United States is a porn-star and champion wrestler. The only thing that doesn’t change is FOX News.

Idiocracy is funny and entertaining, as most things from Mike Judge are, but the script is light – it gives the distinct feeling that more should be said – damn witty commentary but not every bit the biting social critique it could be.