10/04/2006

Two Movies. One Good, One Not So Good...

I'm going to talk about two movies that I recently saw on cable. They both have similarities and differences. Let's start with the good one:

This is one of those movies that sucks me in each time it's on. First, it has an all-star cast: Tobey Maguire, Reese Witherspoon, Joan Allen, William H. Macy, Jeff Daniels, J.T. Walsh, Paul Walker, Don Motherfuckin' Knotts, Marley Shelton (cute as a button), and Patrick Thomas O'Brien. Mr. O'Brien has some "Saved By The Bell" crossover - he played monotone teacher Mr. Dewey in a few episodes. He's the guy in the bowling alley with the ironing burn on his shirt. This movie is pretty sappy, but in a clever way. The use of color is great. The music is well done. Joan Allen is an incredible actress and I actually like Reese in this one. A feel-good story with a lot of heart. Now the bad:
This movie also has an all-star cast: John Murray (Bill's younger brother), James Keach (Stacy's younger brother), Jennifer Tilly, Brian Backer (Mark Ratner from Fast Times At Ridgemont High), Adelaide from Diff'rent Strokes (Nedra Volz), Clara "Where's The Beef" Peller, Wendi Jo Sperber, Fred Willard, and Sally Kellerman. I remember watching this when I was younger. It contains comic gems like an old lady mistakenly sitting on a urinal (because she's old and senile), trying to go to the bathroom and wondering why her back is wet. You also have Wendi Jo Sperber drinking a bottle of Crisco and rubbing grease all over her ass, then jogging on the freeway. A movie so bad it's a must-see.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

ahhh yes... Moving Violations. I remember that one. Drinking Crisco because the "doctor" told her to grease everything up and run it for a while or something.

I like Pleasantville, too, but I really like the bad movies.

Frank Sirmarco said...

John Murray is very underrated. Good movie. Lotta laughs.

vikkitikkitavi said...

No shit Don Motherfuckin' Knotts! The possibility that his character might return was the only thing that kept me going through that movie. Sorry, Chris.

If you want to taunt me in return, you may taunt me for my irrational fondness for "Heartbreak Hotel," a deeply flawed and corny movie that chugs along on a premise that is truly wafer-thin.

Jen said...

HAHA!
I remember watching
moving violations
when I was a kid

I thought it was the funniest
thing ever when the old lady was driving on the runway!!

Now I feel like seeing it again..
I wish I didn't cancel my netflix account! damn!

Some Guy said...

Vikki- Lucky for you I'm unfamiliar with that movie. Otherwise you'd be toast!

GETkristiLOVE said...

I've always wanted to attempt a Pleasantville halloween costume, but never have.

Moderator said...

Pleasantville was mildly entertaining.

Jenny Jenny Flannery said...

We were just talking about Moving Violations over at the Tiki Bar the other night. We couldn't think of the name of it though. We all found it funny, though I couldn't put my finger on why I felt creeped out by the mention of the film. But then you reminded me: the grease scene.

And Vikki, I too love Heartbreak Hotel. What a sweet and daffy movie. Another corny one that I love: Heartbreak Ridge.

Anonymous said...

I've never seen "Moving Violations." However, I have seen "Pleasantville" and do I ever hate that movie. I know it's my fault for not turning off my brain and letting myself be amused by a combination of color and black-and-white photography for two and I half hours, so I choose not to rant.