Comedy, comedy, comedy

And to bring you up to date…..

February 5^th…. Classic John Hughes

Movie #1:  The Breakfast Club (1985, with Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson, Anthony Michael Hall, Emilio Estevez, and Ally Sheedy)

“Don’t you…forget about me…..”   Unless you have lived under a rock for the last 30 years, you hear that song and immediately think of this movie.  They are inseparable.  THE movie to forever speak for angst-ridden teenagers everywhere, this is John Hughes’ masterpiece.  So…. Which one were YOU in high school, all my readers out there in blog-land?   The athlete?  The criminal?  The princess?  The brain?  The basketcase?  I, myself, suppose I would best be classified as a “brain”; however, I firmly hold that my “true” identity in high-school would really be more “band geek”.  But that’s not an option in this film, and I digress.  Most of John Hughes’ movies are highly comedic with not a lot of deep drama.  This one, though, is the furthest from that.  Oh there are some hilarious moments—my favorite being the principal going down the hall with the paper toilet-seat cover hanging out the back of his pants—but this particular slice of Hughes’ genius has some rather dark scenes (for a teenage movie).  It discusses a lot of issues that most kids just avoid or ignore, for many individual reasons.   The Tales of the Crypt from earlier this week looked at how far humans will go to hurt others.  This movie kind of does the same….although it’s more a microscope examining WHY we’re so mean to each other at the most difficult period in a person’s life.   No matter who you are or where you come from, everyone finds someone they identify with in this movie.  That’s what makes it endure and why so many people have such strong attachments to it.  And even after 28 years, it is still just as relevant to real life as it was in 1985 when the country was introduced to “The Brat Pack”.  

What we liked:  The famous last scene…Judd Nelson’s raised fist as he walks down the football field (cue music  “Don’t you….forget about me….”)

Ratings:  Jason 4.5; Kathy 3.5; Me 4

Movie #2:  Sixteen Candles (1984, with Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, and Justin Henry)

This is classic John Hughes comedy.  The most momentous occasion in a teenage girl’s life—her 16^th birthday—is completely forgotten by her entire family.  Enter the annoying siblings, the creepy grandparents, and then the stress of navigating the mine-field of high school student hierarchy (Nerds to the left, jocks to the right, rich kids in the center…. Single file, please people, single file.)  There’s a lot of slap-stick comedy, the confusion of a Chinese foreign exchange student, a family wedding, and one pair of very famous red heart panties.  And in the center of all this chaos, one very cute senior—Jake Ryan.  (Okay, if any of you out there say you didn’t have a crush on that guy when you saw this movie, I call you out right now for the liar you are!)  Of course like all comedies, as dictated by Shakespeare, the confusion gets cleared, mistakes are mended, and in the end—the happy union.  One of the sweetest moments in film history is the end when Jake and Samantha kiss over her belated birthday cake.  (So sue me, I’m a gushy romantic….get over it.) 

What we liked:  1.  The scene with Jake when Anthony Michael Hall’s character (who is only known as “The Geek” in the whole movie) is mixing martinis and giving Jake advice on dating to a background of Frank Sinatra music!  2. John Cusack as a true “nerd”.

Trivia Tidbit:  Michael Schoeffling who played hunky Jake Ryan’s acting career only spanned 11 years, ending in 1991 with Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken after 1990’s Mermaid.  He was a champion wrestler in college, met his wife while modeling for GQ, and since the 90s has been living with his family in Pennsylvania making hand-crafted furniture.  (Anyone need a chair?  Road trip!)

Ratings:  Jason 4; Kathy 3; Me 4

February 11^th… Little known comedies

Movie #1:  In & Out (1997, with Kevin Kline, Joan Cusack, Matt Dillon, Debbie Reynolds)

What happens when an English teacher from a small mid-western town is outted as gay during an Oscar acceptance speech by his former student?  Well, this movie explores that….   Mr. Brackett’s whole world shifts after his student stuns the town by announcing that he was inspired for his portrayal of a gay man by his beloved English teacher.  Mr. Brackett is getting married in 3 days and is now having an identity crisis.  This movie is hilarious.  It’s definitely tongue-in-cheek and over the top.  Every stereotype is pulled out of the woodworks for this movie.  In the end…. Sure, there’s tears.  There’s shock.  There’s suspicion.  But past all that, there’s hope.

What we liked:  Cameo by Bob Newhart.  We just love him.  He has the greatest facial expressions.

Ratings:  Jason 4.5; Kathy 5; Me 4

Movie #2:  For Your Consideration (2006, with Catherine O’Hara, Harry Shearer, Eugene Levi)

Another “mock”umentary like Best in Show, this movie is all about the hype surrounding Oscar nominations.  We watched this one since it’s Oscar season right now—seemed appropriate.  Catherine O’Hara plays an aging actress who is rumored to be up for a nomination for her role in a period movie.  The whole movie is centered on displaying the world of show biz—the over-hype, the sleeze, the poor writers who just want their work recognized but no one even knows who the heck they are much less what they write.  At one point, the whole cast but one is “up for consideration”.  Of course, who wins… (this is no spoiler, you see it coming a mile away)… the Oscar nomination goes to the one guy who never had any buzz.  It’s pretty funny, and the movie is just filled with tons of great character actors.

Ratings:  Jason 3.5; Kathy 3; Me 3

So now you're all updated!  See you next week!

Crypts, Comedies, and Choirs

Been lazy about posting, but we have still been watching movies every week.  Over the next few posts, I’ll be trying to catch y’all up to speed!

January 22^nd—an eclectic duo of features

Movie #1:  Tales from the Crypt (1972, with Joan Collins, Peter Cushing)

Before the popular tv series started, this movie appeared in theaters.  At the beginning stages of the modern horror genre, this film is segmented into 5 stories with each centered around a specific character.  The catalyst for this is that each of the 5 characters wind up together in a cave with a monk or soothsayer of some sort (the Crypt-keeper)  who reveals to them their evil deeds.   The stories are told through flash-forwards in order to show each one what their fate holds.  The stories involve greed,  desperation, and cruelty.  It’s definitely interesting to see what lengths one human being will go to in order to harm another—or simply the very cold, disinterested contempt for another person.  This one is a little dated, but then, this is the early ‘70s after all.  Cheesy fashions…melodramatic acting…horrible effects.  But despite that, it’s an intriguing look at the capabilities of the human soul when it bends to evil.

What we liked:  The 300 bottles of red fingernail polish they used for blood in this movie.

 Ratings:  Jason 3.5; Kathy 2.5; Me 3

Movie #2:  Brighton Beach Memoirs (1986, with Blythe Danner, Jonathan Silverman, Judith Ivey)

Taking a complete detour from the Crypt, this movie was a bit more light-hearted.  A period piece that serves as somewhat of a veiled biography for Neil Simon, this movie reflects the life of a Jewish family in the late 1930s living in New York.  If you love Ralphie and his family in A Christmas Story, then you really need to see this movie.  This movie is very similar in its format of “nostalgic and tongue-in-cheek coming of age vignettes” and is told through the teenager addressing the audience like in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (‘nother great movie!).  It is hilarious.  You’ve got the overcrowded Jewish household complete with widowed aunt and her children which causes untold burdens for teenage Eugene’s mother (although she is certainly the queen of complaints—“But I don’t mind.  They’re family.  It’s my duty.”  Poor Eugene is trying to navigate the rigors of adolescent manhood with the help of his older brother’s worldly experience and wisdom.  Eugene’s antics create most of the storyline with the other family members rounding out the picture of American life pre-WWII.   Heart-warming.  Funny as hell.  Excellent portrayals of the quintessential Jewish family.  Your stomach’s gonna hurt from laughing so much—Surgeon General’s Warning for you.

What we liked:  Blythe Danner as the mother.  She was fabulous.  And the end… when poor Eugene finally gets his dearest wish….you didn’t really think I’d tell you, did you?  That would spoil it for you!  (And I do not believe in spoilers.  So not fair.)

Ratings:  We all gave it 4s.  Excellent feel-good comedy.

January 29^th—a classic 80s comedy and a newbie (we don’t watch many of those!)

Movie #1:  Pitch Perfect (2012, with Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow, Rebel Wilson)

This is one of the rare times that we have a movie that none of us have ever seen previously.  The best way to describe this movie is Glee meets Bridesmaids.  Beca (Anna Kendrick of Twilight Saga fame) is a freshman in college and looking for a way to “get involved” to satisfy her father’s demands that she experience all that college has to offer.  Enter the a cappella singing clubs.  She finds herself sucked into the Barden Bellas, an a cappella group that seems more like a sorority than a glee club.  You’ve got overinflated egos, fierce competition, ridiculous ceremonies and rituals, and a girl called “Fat Amy” (Rebel Wilson).  Lots of crude humor and absolutely spectacular music.  Now granted, this movie has some faults (one of them being character development), but then, no one has ever named this as an Oscar-contender either.  It serves its purpose which is to make you laugh.  And laugh we did.

**Warning:  If you have a sensitive gag reflex—there are 2 heinous projectile vomit scenes.  They were pretty gross—I had to turn away.

What we liked:  The singing—excellent.  And—the little nerd gets his shot in the end.  Perfect.

Ratings:  Jason  3.5; Kathy 4;  Me  3.5

Movie #2:  Weekend at Bernie’s (1989, with Andrew McCarthy, Jonathan Silverman, Terry Kiser)

Most folks have seen this movie.  Even me, who was sheltered from such “trash” as a child, I’ve seen it.  Jason, who has seen way more movies than I have, had never seen this movie.  Therefore, we had to correct this failing.  Picture it:  New York City, 1989.  (I always loved when Sophia did that in Golden Girls, didn’t you!)  Two young accounting yuppies stumble upon multiple payouts from their insurance firm on bogus accounts.  Thinking they’ll be the toast of the company, they inform their boss, Bernie.  Now here’s the tricky part—Bernie’s in with the mob, and these idiots have just unveiled the money-laundering scheme.  Enter the contract hit on the two morons by Bernie.  Except—wait for it—the mob puts out their own hit on Bernie (apparently he’s a loose end).  Fast-forward-----everyone ends up at Bernie’s house in the Hamptons for the weekend.  The mob has killed Bernie, the boys are trying to pass Bernie off as alive, and the entire population of the Hamptons villages is partying at Bernie’s house.  The whole movie is slapstick comedy revolving around dead Bernie, the mob hitman returning to finish his job, and the boys trying not to get caught. 

Trivia Tid-bit (cause it’s cool):    The house used in this movie was not in the Hamptons.  It was actually built on a state park at Bald Head Island, North Carolina!!!!  There is a clear shot of the Bald Head Island lighthouse in one of the pier scenes.  Because the area is a state park, no vehicles were allowed on the island—hence the golf carts in the movie!  Last thing—the pier used to get into the boat is located in Wrightsville Beach beside the Harbor Island drawbridge.   How awesome!

Ratings:  Jason 2; Kathy 2; Me 2.5   (It’s an ‘80s comedy, not Gone with the Wind)

Stay tuned for another post tomorrow to catch you up!