This was funnier than I thought, very much has a vibe somewhere between The Orville and Space Truckers. Also has George Takei playing a rubber duck that turns into an inter-dimensional alien.
(Currently showing on Tubi and a few other streaming services)
Also this weekend I finally watched The Blues Brothers for the first time. Over the years, people had told me it was good and I should watch it. But all I knew of it was that it was something about guys getting into car chases, and I’d seen plenty of movies with car chases (and usually shootouts and fistfights.)
Wow did I guess wrong about it. I was missing out. It was so much fun.
My father adored this movie. I have the DVD, and Henry Gibson states in the featurette about the film that it’s a musical with car wrecks (paraphrasing here).
The orange-whip scene is just great. The only problem I have with it is the sexism. And did you see the version where we get to see Elwood go to his job? It explains why he has cans of spray adhesive in his briefcase.
I did! I didn’t really connect that together though. Between gluing down the RV pedal, spraying explosive stuff into the cops’ tires, and tossing Cheez Whiz to the old guy, I kind of just thought it was his shtick to carry around random spray cans and find good uses for them.
Also, you’re the one that gave me the idea to finally watch the movie, after mentioning the nun in another thread.
Kathleen Freeman had such a long and great career as one of the best character actresses ever. And when I recently discovered Sister Michael and “Derry Girls”, I was struck by the resemblance of Sister Michael to Sister Mary Stigmata. Especially when James, the only male student in the school, calls Sr. Michael “the small angry penguin woman” in one episode.
Wow. Hundreds of credits from the 1940s to the 2000s in pretty much everything. That is impressive. From Sergeant Carter’s mother to Peg Bundy’s mother and beyond in both directions.
I recently found her in this, from a low-budget filler from 1951; she must’ve fallen on hard times. Also, she was an out lesbian. Me, I love her smile.
Also: not trying to start a discussion on blackface, okay?
I love this movie. My baby dad and daughter started watching this waaaaay to young for her b/c there is a ton of language in there, but it is so damn funny that it’s worth it.
I’ve been re-watching Married With Children. Just finished the first season.
I still think of it as the beginning of ‘trash TV’ and when we went from happy-go-lucky perfect sitcom families to the more cynical and sarcastic dysfunctional sitcom families. And yeah, a lot of it is them insulting each other. But they all take it in stride, accept it, nobody gets upset or anything. It’s just their dynamic.
I typically think of it in terms of the shows that were on at that time like Growing Pains and Family Ties and stuff, which is why it seems so different. But it’s really more like All In The Family, which certainly had its share of insulting and bickering. It’s not quite that high on ideals, but it sure gets the humor.
And so far every episode has some real laugh-out-loud moments. It’s actually really quite fun. I’ve missed that sort of “just sit back and laugh” time. And this still brings it.
Also tonight I tried Coherence (2013). It wasn’t very coherent. Or really very good. I don’t know why it’s rated 7.2 on IMDB.
It did have some ideas that could’ve been interesting, but presented with poor acting and direction. You just don’t really care about any of the people. And the ‘surprise’ ending doesn’t really matter.
I wish I’d watched one of the other movies on my list instead.
I never follow standup comedians and I never watched SNL. So I was only vaguely aware of Norm MacDonald. But this is one of those TV moments that is emblazoned in my memory.
Although in my memory he did actually win. I forgot about Kato Kaelin too.
DO not watch this if you’re hungry. I watched a review of it, & the reviewer said that, & I didn’t believe him.
I couldn’t watch it when I was younger because it just seemed so sad. But now I know what poignancy is. And DeLuise is a fine actor, not just a comedian; kind of like how Don Rickles was in dramatic roles.
It’s been on my list for quite awhile, and it is highly rated, and in almost all the trucker/road-trip movie lists. Also, I discovered, it was the first ever Steven Spielberg movie.
It’s a really slow burn, not at all like modern movies, but that kinda helps build the suspense and uncertainty. The sense of isolation and terror and helplessness and mystery just grows gradually throughout the movie. Everything is laser-focused. And the ending is great.
I quite liked it, but I’d have a hard time recommending it due to how slow and limited/focused it is. It’s great for its moments of intensity, but also, it’s mostly kinda dull. If you’re in the mindspace to just sit back and relax and let it play out, then you’re going to enjoy it. But if you’re wanting quick intense action, or more depth and criss-crossing plotlines, this ain’t that.
It’s pretty-much a straight ride, with only a couple of detours, that just happens to be a rough ride. Which makes it good and interesting, but maybe not for everyone.
