Do Average Films Get Maligned?

[Junkyard]

These days, there's often a sharp line dividing good movies and bad movies. However, there is a pretty consistent minority of films that are just
"Average." They're not epic, not especially meaningful, but they are solid, with relatively good acting and scripts. However, these films seem to get more negative attention than especially bad films, for ambiguous reasons.
So, questions:
What are some films you would consider "Average?"
Am I right in thinking they get too much grief from critics?
If so, why?
Likewise if so, how does this affect movies in general?




One example I would claim is "The Reaping." It wasn't an amazing tour de force, but it was a pretty solid film with some good twists. Came on a little strong on the faith issue, maybe. And yet the critics were cruel.
I'd guess that, with such a wide divide between really good and really bad films, critics just leave bad films to speak for themselves, and focus on the upper crust.
The worrisome effect: more movie makers find themselves forced to either try for huge epics or niche-marketed bad movies, depending on their budget. In in-between movie may not be worth the risk.


But I may just be interpreting the whole situation askew

[Minnesota]

I try to see most every mainstream movie that comes out (... so yes when "the Reaping" hits redbox I will rent it). If I happen to miss a movie, chances are that I will catch it sometime on HBO or Shotime. But like a lot of movie fans there are certain movies I avoid. The more common reasons are actors that I hate, soul stealing flicks, or movies that offer nothing new. Recent examples of movies that I will skip include Norbit and Fracture. Often times I will rent a movie knowing full well that it will suck (recently rented the Return and Sleeping Dogs Lie) but I know that I can always fast forward the slow parts or watch the special features/ commentary. Just something that goes with being a pop culture junkie I guess :/

[Petey Wheatstraw]

One example I would claim is "The Reaping." It wasn't an amazing tour de force, but it was a pretty solid film with some good twists. Came on a little strong on the faith issue, maybe. And yet the critics were cruel.

I remember seeing advertisements for that. That was supposed to be a comedy, right? Every time I saw a clip promoting it, I laughed all the way through it.

[Big Blonde]

The Reaping preview also had a part where it asks the audience "What hath God wrought?" and literally right after that, Hilary Swanks' name comes on screen. Needless to say, I had a good chuckle after that one.

[Minnesota]

The Soup had a funny skit about "the reaping", not sure if its up on youtube or not

[Big Blonde]

The Soup had a funny skit about "the reaping", not sure if its up on youtube or not

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ83huVw6io

[RobtheBarbarian]

I thought 300 was average, actually. Not bad, not good, but enjoyable. Like Mike more or less said in Aeon Flux, "The reason video games are so popular is because we actually get to play them, not just sit there and watch".

[mrbasehart]

Not bad, not good, but enjoyable.

I think that right there sums up what an average movie is for me.  I usually go by how I feel at the end of the movie, and whether the two hours I spent with it was worth it.  Average movies I tend to enjoy because I realise how much worse I could've had it