Cinematical

"In a world ..."

I couldn't even begin to count how many times I've heard the words "In a world" open a trailer. In what world? This world? Is it me, or does every movie take place "in a world?" Where else would they be? We know every film takes place in some world; do we need to constantly be reminded of this? "In a world called Boston, where citizens talk with funny accents and pray to something called the Red Sox ...." Lose it, we don't need this anymore -- and never needed it in the first place.

"And everything was fine until (blank) entered their life ..."

And that's when they'd cut to Robin Williams doing something bizarre -- cue laughter. This line is used in trailers for films that revolve around seemingly ordinary individuals who, for some reason, wind up watching someone who's completely opposite of them stroll into their lives. It's a plot that's been around for ages, and a line that used way too much in trailers. Not that it doesn't make sense, it does (even though the majority of our lives are not fine, were never fine and will never be fine), but this one makes the list simply because I'm sick to death of hearing it.

"There was only one problem ..."

There's always one problem, ever notice that? It's not three problems, or seven problems, it's one problem ... and if that problem gets solved, everyone will live happily ever after. Just once I think I want to hear: "Jack had seventeen problems, and if he can just solve eleven of them, then the urge to jump off a building should go away." No one ever has one problem; when will Hollywood admit that?

"Now he/she's got one last chance to make it right ..."

The way movies are today, that one last chance to make things right usually turns into several last chances -- and if you're talking about an M. Night. Shyamalan film, then most likely the character will realize that one last chance never existed in the first place. Why not be up front about it, and tell us in the trailer that, while the character thinks they have one last chance to make it right, they'll go through several attempts because, well, they need to fill up an hour and a half with something.

"It was supposed to be a routine ..."

If it's a cop movie, then this line will almost always be in the trailer. "It was supposed to be a routine traffic stop ... but when Smith showed up, EVERYTHING changed." Problem is, when it comes to police officers, nothing is ever routine. Every call is different, every assignment has the potential to go wrong, so why is it this line always shows up when a cop is on screen. I don't get this line. I'm sick of this line. And I'd like it to go away. And whenever it appears on screen, you already know where they're heading. Like we'd ever hear, "It was supposed to be a routine drug bust ... and, as always, it was routine. Nothing bad happened. Phew."

"For anyone who's ever had a dream ..."

Whenever I hear this line, uttered during the trailer for some uplifting, tear-jerker (used mostly for sports dramas, etc), I've always felt bad for the people who've never had a dream. Because, then, this movie wouldn't be for them. And then I realize -- wait a second -- who hasn't had a dream? We all dream at some point, and some of us remember our dreams, some of us do not. And who hasn't had a long-term dream -- like, to win the lottery? Yup, yet another line that makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Why even say it? It's pointless.

So, which lines did I miss? And bonus points to the person who can come up with their own trailer dialogue and incorporate all seven of these lines ..."