The Spirit of '76

The Spirit of '76

October 12, 1990

Columbia

Comedy, Sci-Fi, Historical

DVD
B-

This is even more of a decade-straddler than its peers, since not only was it filmed in the summer of 1989, but it's mostly set in the summer of 1976.  If this sounds a little early for '70s nostalgia, you're correct.  The film was made for a low budget and didn't make much back.  Even "writer 'n director" Lucas Reiner (son of Carl, who plays Dr. Von Mobil, and little brother of Rob, who is the est-like Dr. Cash) admits on the commentary that they should've waited at least another four or five years.  By the mid-'90s, The Brady Bunch hit the big screen, twice, and before long That '70s Show became very popular on the little screen.

The slight premise, in a not quite rip-off of Bill & Ted, is that three people from 2176 (played by David Cassidy, Wonder Years' Olivia d'Abo, and Geoff Hoyle, who was Scoop the Reporter in Popeye) use a time machine (made out of two hot tubs, much more '70s than B & T's phone booth) to go to 1776 and rediscover what America was founded on, but the machine malfunctions by a couple centuries.  Luckily, it's the Fourth of July, and the Bicentennial, and Julie Brown as "lusty Miss Liberty" is among those who "explain" the founding principles.

The movie is full of '70s touches.  In fact, it's arguably all style and not much substance.  There's enough to look at and listen to that you probably won't much mind.  From Pop Rocks to pop music, much of what you remember (or at least have heard of) about the '70s is represented, including very colorful costumes designed by a teenaged Sofia Coppola.  There are also a lot of cameos, from people I associate more with the '80s (Devo, Moon Unit Zappa) to authentically '70s icons like Iron Eyes Cody and Leif Garrett, the latter in a scene-stealing role as "Eddie Trojan," brother to the insufferable Rodney Snodgrass (played by nobody you've heard of).  There are moments when L. Reiner parodies various '70s movie conventions, like the Inevitable Car Chase, but the movie remains more goofy than clever.

Note, the sci-fi is, per budget, not particularly well done, but it is fun to see the hand-held devices that the futuristic trio use to type, call, and take pictures with.  Who knew?

Arnold F. Turner, who's Voice Talent here, would be Officer Axelrod in The Brady Bunch Movie.

The Tall Guy

The Tall Guy
Sept. 21, 1990
Working Title Films
Comedy, romance
DVD
B

This is another decade-straddler, released in '90, listed as '89 in IMDB, and in fact copyright '88.  Similarly, it's a very British movie with a very American star, Jeff Goldblum.  He's paired with then almost 30-year-old Emma Thompson, in her first film, although she'd done some stage and TV work.  The director Mel Smith (who'd made Morons from Outer Space a few years before) and writer Richard Curtis (whose later films I have mixed feelings about) both have uncredited cameos.  And Rowan Atkinson, who is cruelly parodying himself, had worked with Curtis on Black Adder.  (Much of the cast here had small roles on that TV series.)  So there's an endearing semi-newbies-larking-about feel to the movie, even a quarter century later.

As in Morons, the closing credits show comedy highlights edited jerkily to a pop song, in this case Madness's "It Must Be Love," which earlier appears in a sort of music-video, where much of the cast (including Goldblum's underwear) sing along.  There are in fact two great sequences in this film, surrounded by some pretty good stuff: the room-wrecking sex scene and the five minutes of the stage-musical version of The Elephant Man, known as Elephant.  (It's never clear if this includes an exclamation point.)  As funny as what happens onstage is, the best part is Thompson's trying-to-be-supportive-but-terribly-appalled reaction, as Goldblum's "nymphomaniac" live-in landlady (platonic with him) eats the cheesiness up.

Getting back to that sex scene, when I first saw this movie with a roomful of friends about twenty years ago, we all laughed uproariously at it, then rewound and laughed hard a second time.  It is also sexy of course, but then I have crushes on both Goldblum and Thompson.  The thing is, they both look far from their best here.  Her hair is too short, his too long; and their clothes are unflattering.  But somehow that adds to the charm of the movie, that it's deliberately unglamorous.  And they both have amazing eyes and smiles, especially when they look at each other, so who cares really?  He's playing a struggling actor named Dexter King (working for "Ron Anderson," Curtis was being semi-autobiographical), and she's a deadpan nurse named Kate Lemon.  The plot is slight but it's more of a character comedy, and the characters are definitely interesting, including the supporting cast.

Two decades ago, I'd have rated this higher, a B+ or maybe even an A-, but I have seen it several times and, as with Morons, much of the novelty has worn off.  It's the kind of movie I wouldn't want to oversell, since it is just a little gem, relatively obscure in Thompson's and of course Goldblum's ouevre.  But as "un film de Mel Smith," it's très bon.

Robin Driscoll, who was Space Pilot in Morons, is one of the Actors in Agent's Office here.  Another future Harry-Potterite, then 25ish Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy), makes his big-screen debut here, as Doctor #2.

It must be love, love, love.

Zapped Again!

Zapped Again!
April 14, 1990
Incorporated Television Company (ITC)
Comedy, Sci-Fi, Romance
VHS
B

This movie is far better than it has any right to be, considering it's a direct-to-video sequel to a movie where Scott Baio uses telekinesis to undress girls.  It's been a long while since I've seen the original Zapped (1982), but I remember it as being much less likable.  Not that this movie's protagonist, Kevin, doesn't abuse his powers in a similar fashion, but that's a surprisingly small part of the action.

Like Think Big, this is a decade-straddler, made in '89, released the following year.  But much more than that movie about twin truckers, this high school comedy shows a surprisingly '90s attitude towards the '80s,  That is, yes, we've got some of the usual high school movie stereotypes, from a shallow cheerleader to a horny football coach (Lyle Alzado).  But the nerds don't at all fit '80s stereotypes.  From wise-cracking Kevin to the gorgeous "plain brainiac" to the heavy-metal couple, this is not your usual Science Club.  (Only Elliott seems traditionally geeky, and even he has been given a good sense of humor.)  And the cheerleader and one of the jocks turn out to be nice people.  Heck, the coach quotes e. e. cummings to impress the female principal!

And throughout, there's an offbeat sense of humor, like in the way that Kevin both mocks and befriends the surfer-sounding President of the Ski Club.  Karen Black, who's more memorable in her small role here as a substitute than she was as the mother of The Invisible Kid, and Linda Blair also tweak their roles a bit.  The sci-fi isn't particularly notable.  The effects are cheesy and/or cheap, but like I said, it's not that important to the movie.

Much of the film is driven by the chemistry between Kevin and Lucy, the smart girl who he somehow sees as just a pal, until one night when they have a silly and not all explicit love scene.  (My copy is off late-night ABC, but I did watch a couple Youtube videos to find out what I was missing in terms of nudity.)  They're both very likable, especially together, which I don't recall being able to say of Baio and Felice Schachter.

The movie ends with a video, a full-fledged music video with a separate director.  The band and the cast sing "She's Gonna Get It," and it's actually pretty good.  (It includes the phrase "Zapped Again" but is not a title song per se.)  Then there's a blooper where the Science Club is throwing things and Lucy tells us to not try this at home.  Even with a videocamera and a small budget, I don't think most of us would get as good results.

Brent Hinkley, who plays Larry here, would be Bif the Patriot in Bob Roberts.  Linda Larkin, who doesn't say much as Joanne, would ironically provide the voice of Jasmine in Aladdin.

Paving the way for a more nerd-friendly era.

Think Big

Think Big
March 1990
Concorde Pictures
Comedy, Action, Sci-Fi
VHS
B-

While this isn't a very impressive movie to kick off the '90s with, I nonetheless find it entertaining.  It gets the job done, even if it's never particularly plausible.  "The Barbarians," twin body-builders, play the main characters (truck drivers hauling toxic waste) and sing the title song (over opening and closing credits).  Claudia Christian (later of Babylon 5) is a psychologist.  Ari Meyers (fresh off Kate & Allie) is an electronics genius who dresses like an average late '80s/early '90s teen.  Martin Mull is a weasely villain, and Richard Moll (with hair) is more recognizable than he was as the Abominable Snowman in Caveman.  John Carradine is a repo man.  Michael Winslow, as the twins' friend, isn't given much to do, not even sound effects.

Peter Lupus, as Bad Guy #1, doesn't look drastically different than he did a quarter-century earlier as Flex Martian in Muscle Beach Party, although obviously less creatively named.  David Bowe, who plays a security guard, was Mountain in Back to the Beach.

Earth Girls Are Easy

Earth Girls Are Easy
May 12, 1989
Vestron Pictures
Comedy, Sci-Fi, Romance, Musical
VHS
B+

This last of my movies from the '80s was actually made in '87 and released to indifference two years later, but it holds up as one of the gems of the decade.  It is funny, sweet, romantic, sexy, giddy, colorful, and yes, very '80s in the best sense.  When three furry but attractive-when-shaven aliens land in the San Fernando Valley, it's hard to say which side has more of a culture shock.  They specifically land in the pool of the house that Valerie (Geena Davis) shares with her philandering fiance Ted (Charles Rocket).  The aliens are played by Davis's then-husband Jeff Goldblum (as Mac), Jim Carrey (as Wiploc), and Damon Wayans (as Zeebo).  Note, this is even before Carrey was "the white guy" on Wayans's In Living Color.  It's so long ago that Carrey and Wayans are described as "stand-up comics" on the videobox I have!

And of course this movie "introduces" Julie Brown (despite her MTV appearances and indeed earlier movie roles).  Her song inspired this movie's title and concept, and she cowrote this movie.  There are even scenes, notably "Because I'm a Blond," that are basically just music videos.  (The soundtrack also contains a couple B-52s songs.)  But mostly Brown's contribution is as the best friend/boss you wish you had, Candy Pink.  The other cast member of note is the versatile Michael McKean as Woody the pool guy.

I said of Foul Play that I couldn't think of a cuter onscreen couple than Chevy Chase and Goldie Hawn, but Goldblum and Davis come close.  They both are gorgeous here, and often underdressed, so they're certainly attractive separately, but together?  Hubba-hubba!  While Wiploc and Zeebo are mostly interested in partying, leader Mac is mostly interested in Valerie, and he's kind and sympathetic to her, even when she's confused about her fickle fiance.  The aliens have a "love touch," which in some scenes leads to questionable humor (including two ostensibly straight cops that fall for each other much less naturally than the pair in Who's That Girl), but also leads to a lovely love scene between Mac and Valerie.  You'll wonder why she's hung up on Ted so long, but it gives the plot what little conflict it has.  I almost went with an A- on this movie, because it is such fun in so many ways, but it is a bit too meandering.  But what a journey!

This is pretty obscure, but Larri Thomas is a Curl Up and Dye Dancer and was Woman in Carriage in Mary Poppins.  Another couple of CUaD Dancers, twins Karen and Sharon Owens, danced in Girls Just Want to Have Fun.  Cowriter Terrence McNally plays the Soap Opera Doctor here and was the Policeman in Nine to Five.  And there are a few TV faces, from Larry Linville to Nedra Volz to one of the Head of the Class kids.

Troop Beverly Hills

Troop Beverly Hills
March 24, 1989
Fries Entertainment
Comedy
VHS
C+

While there are things to like about this movie-- Betty Thomas's performance as the villainess, the redheaded-in-this Shelley Long's wardrobe, and the Beach Boys song "Make It Big," which plays over the opening and closing credits-- I must admit I find it a bit toothless and forgettable.  One big flaw is that while Long's character and the pack of not-Girl-Scouts are likable enough, I didn't find myself at all drawn in by their problems, because everything is so cliched and formulaic.  (Even Long's character's estrangement from Craig T. Nelson is blah.)  Mary Gross is the most conflicted character, as a nice person caught up Thomas's schemes, but her problem is also easily resolved.  The other major flaw is that there are a whole bunch of cameos and it's on a sub-Scooby-Doo level, e.g. "Look, it's Pia Zadora," and then she's given little to do, unlike in Hairspray.  (The one exception is Ted McGinley, who boasts-- boasts!-- about being Ace the photographer on The Love Boat, as if he knows that someday they'll name a "Jump the Shark" webpage after him.)

The script was written by two female Saturday Night Live writers from the first half of the '80s, so it's not unreasonable to expect a sharper satire.  Even the jokes about the Marcos-like dictator couple are pretty bland.  Not only Clueless, but this movie's peer Earth Girls Are Easy would more intelligently and more amusingly mock the Southern Californian lifestyle.

Mary Gregory, who plays the judge, was Dr. Melik in Sleeper.  Willie Garson, who plays Bruce, would be Phil's Assistant Kenny in Groundhog Day.  Betty Thomas and Shelley Long must've gotten along a lot better than their characters did, since Thomas would direct Long in the first big-screen Brady Bunch movie.

The battle for Mary Gross's soul begins!

Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death

Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death
March 15, 1989
Beyond Infinity/ Gaucamolle [sic] Pictures/ Phantom Productions
Comedy, Action
VHS
B-

This deliberately bad movie is somewhat in the tradition of Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, with an even longer, more ridiculous title.  (I believe it's the longest title in my movie collection since 1968's Did You Hear the One About the Traveling Saleslady?)  Not only does it offer Adrienne Barbeau and Shannon Tweed as rival feminists, battling for the fate of the title characters, but it has men named Ford Maddox, Dean Stockwell (head of the university), and Col. Mattel.  And the main comic relief/ love interest is played by Bill Maher, yes, that Bill Maher (then 33).  And speaking of political incorrectness, much of the humor derives from mocking academia and feminism, but also their opposites.  And for a native Southern Californian like myself, there are extra chuckles, as when the heroine Dr. Margo Hunt (Tweed) and her sidekick Bunny venture into San Bernardino.  (Much of the film was shot on the UC Riverside campus.)

Still, I don't think this reaches the heights of AotKT, which had a wider range of targets, including of course pop music.  And when Maher's character gets a tribe of wimpy Donnahews [sic] drunk in order to bring out their machismo, this leads to a (not at all explicit) gang rape attempt of Bunny.  Hunt comes to the rescue immediately, but it's still one of the more offensive moments, although admittedly the cannibalism jokes are more tasteless.  (Yes, pun definitely intended.)

Watching the movie this time round, two things most struck me as being, if not dated per se, at least different from a roughly quarter-century's hindsight: that Bunny's worry that her fantasy (of being tied up with Red Vine licorice and spanked) may be non-feminist seems quaint in an era where "kinky feminism" is recognized; and that among the hats that the Donnahews wear is at least one fedora, the supposed favorite chapeau of men's rights activists.

A thrilling adventure!

Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure

Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
February 17, 1989
Orion
Comedy, Sci-Fi, Historical
VHS
C+

Every time I start to watch this movie (and I've seen it a few times since the original theatrical release, when I was 21 and living in Southern California), I wonder why I never got around to watching the Bogus sequel.  There's that awesome Big Pig song "I Can't Break Away" playing over the then-cutting-edge visuals as the opening credits play.  And there's the Bill & Ted bromance.  (With a typically '80s touch of them cheerfully calling each other "fag" after they hug in relief.)  And there's George Carlin as the coolest big-screen Rufus since Groucho's Mr. Firefly.

But then there's that darn time-travel plot.  Nothing against time travel of course, but so little is done with it.  We're meant to find it automatically funny when two modern dudes travel into the past, which it sort of is.  But we're also meant to find it automatically funny when the historical figures enter modern (1988) San Dimas, CA (actually Arizona).  And it just isn't.  Part of the problem is that the writers (and of course Bill & Ted) seem to have only a superficial knowledge of who these figures are, so we get a Beethoven who can hear well enough to appreciate a synthesizer, and a Socrates who hits on girls at the mall.  And a Napoleon who loves water slides and sundaes?

At this point, the movie is most notable for truly putting Keanu Reeves on the map, and for paving the way for Wayne and Garth and so on.  Note, Stephen Herek would also direct Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead, about a very different Bush-Sr.-era teen.

Hal Landon, Jr., who plays Bill's father, was Cornfield in Scavenger Hunt.  Amy Stock was the nameless Girl in Bed in Soul Man, but she had since gotten married (becoming Amy Stock-Poynton) and worked her way up to the more memorable role of Bill's sexy young stepmother.  Philip V. Caruso (who seems to be primarily a still photographer) plays Dance Photographer here and would be War Commercial Photographer in Wag the Dog.

Imagine: John Lennon

Imagine: John Lennon
October 7, 1988
Warner Bros.
Documentary, Musical
VHS
B

This biography, released close to what would've been Lennon's 48th birthday, and less than eight years after his murder, is not perfect.  It doesn't represent all of the important pieces of Lennon's life.  (There's no mention, for instance, of his dear friend Stu Sutcliffe.)  And while it's nice to get interviews with both of John's wives and both his sons, I wish that there had been contemporary interviews with his ex-bandmates.  (I mean, Ringo got along with everyone.  You'd think he at least would be here.)  That said, the movie does work as sort of a mosaic of sights and sounds of John Lennon's life.  You'll get more information from the various books on John Lennon (I reviewed a few on my reading blog), but you won't get the impact of his unique voice, by which I mean not just how he sang but what he had to say.

Beatles assistant/friend Mal Evans had small roles in A Hard Day's Night and Help!  Klaus Voormann was last seen in my movie collection as Von Schitzel in Popeye.  And Dick Cavett appeared in Annie Hall.

Hot to Trot

Believe me, there are worse comedy teams.

Hot to Trot
August 26, 1988
Warner Bros.
Comedy, Fantasy
VHS
B-

This goofy take on Mr. Ed and Francis the Talking Mule (with a stock brokerage, because it's the '80s) provided the first starring role for the sometimes irritating and sometimes endearing Bobcat Goldthwait, then 26.  The voice of the horse is provided by John Candy, who of course has some of the best lines and sounds like he might be ad-libbing some of them.  There are moments of great silly comedy, although by the time Bobcat has become the most implausible big-screen jockey since Harpo Marx, things are wearing a bit thin, and there are a few too many ethnic and other stereotypes (especially Hispanic).  If nothing else, you'll have fun with the cast, including Dabney Coleman as the villain (yeah, big surprise) and 80-year-old Burgess Meredith as Candy's equine father.  Buck Henry plays Goldthwait's father in a flashback.

Peter Hobbs, who plays the veterinarian, was Dr. Dean in Sleeper and the Doctor at St. Ambrose Hospital in 9 to 5 (yes, this is a reunion for him and Coleman).  Jocko Marcellino of Sha-Na-Na appears as Marvin.  Donald Hotton, the minister here, was Mr. Wicher in Soul Man.  Barbara Whinnery, who played Sister Sara in Hamburger, is Denise here.

James Hong who's "Boss" here, would be Frank, Sr. in Too Much Sun.  Kevin Furlong would play a jockey again in Wag the Dog.

There's also a fairly early role, as a dentist, for 33-year-old Gilbert Gottfried.  (He'd start hosting USA Up All Night on cable the next year.)  And 35-year-old Mary Gross (post-SNL) appears briefly as Ms. French.

Note, this movie has an incredible amount of profanity for a PG-rated movie.

The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking

Annika's not even whiny!  And, no, that's not a plus.

The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking
July 29, 1988
Columbia
Children's, Comedy, Musical, Fantasy
VHS
C-

Maybe it's generational bias, but I just can't get into this late '80s take compared to the badly dubbed but endearing European imports of my childhood.  The thing is, although this claims to be "new," there are a lot more adventures recycled from the Inger Nilsson series than from the books.  I'm pretty sure the cows eating Tommy and Annika's clothing only happens in Pippi on the Run, not to mention the appearance of that movie's "glue man" character, here played by Dick Van Patten.  What is new in this version includes things of dubious value: lots of songs, or rather a handful of songs repeated ad nauseam; a setting that's vaguely Florida in the Truman era; and Pippi facing setbacks that make me think Irving Thalberg came back from the dead and advised Ken Annakin.  The Pirate Movie director wrote and directed this, and we can see such PM touches as beefcake (Hello, Fridolf!), talking animals (one voiced by Frank Welker), an ice-cream salesman, and of course pirates.

The Thalbergization is seen in the way the title character (played by relatively over-the-hill but eager thirteen-year-old Tami Erin) is handled.  Yes, she still has strength, spunk, and magic powers, but she twice shows fear, something the book's Pippi (and of course Nilsson's) never did.  Worse than that, while the Pippi of twenty years ago successfully fended off the threats of robbers and a children's home, this Pippi ends up in an orphanage (run by Eileen Brennan, who can't decide if she's auditioning for Annie or playing a well-meaning overworked social worker).  There's an interwoven thread about evil real-estate developers (hey, things had changed in Florida in the 60 years since Cocoanuts) wanting Pippi's house.  Oh, and this was what really sunk the movie for me: even though Pippi has her traditional interest in art, she never brightens up Villa Villekulla when she gets out her painting supplies, and it remains drab and gray.

All that said, I don't hate this movie.  It's harmless enough, especially for kids under the age of maybe 9.

The Invisible Kid

The Invisible Kid
March 30, 1988
Elysian Pictures
Comedy, Sci-Fi
VHS
C

Although this has its share of quirkiness-- Why do they use a picture of Rene Auberjonois for the title character's father? Why does the high school have five mascot costumes?  What's up with the television advice call-in show?-- it also has a lot of predictable moments.  If you know that it's about a teenager who's pursuing the invention of invisibility, and furthermore that this is an '80s comedy, then you know his best friend is going to want to sneak into the girls' locker room.  If there's a chase scene with police cars near the end, then you know they're going to hit a fruit stand and a chicken truck.  If the principal comes across as an insensitive jerk, then you're not going to be surprised that he's a liar, thief, gambler, etc.  And if Chynna Phillips (then 20) is the girl next door, then she's going to have to be dating the star basketball player but end up with the title character.  But you might not predict that Karen Black (as cross-eyed as ever), as the title character's mom, will end up with a love interest.  The movie is mostly innocuous (except when the best friend is spying on and feeling up girls), but it's never quite funny or very entertaining.  I guess watch it if you're into this sub-genre.

Ellen Crawford, who's a teacher here, was a Tiffany saleswoman in Who's That Girl.  

Hairspray

Hairspray
February 26, 1988
New Line Cinema
Comedy, Musical, Historical
VHS
B+

This remains a lot of fun, so much fun that I've resisted seeing the musical remake, onstage or screen.  Although this may not be a musical per se, the music is an integral part of the story, and there are some wonderful oldies and oddities.  The dancing is a joy to watch, especially when Rikki Lake (as heroine Tracy Turnblad) struts her stuff.  The dialogue, particularly anything Divine says, is endlessly quotable.  The movie is well cast, nowhere more so in the stunt casting.  (Divine is married to Jerry Stiller here, while other couples include Deborah Harry & Sonny Bono and Pia Zadora & Ric Ocasek.)  I also enjoy Leslie Ann Powers as Tracy's loyal best friend Penny and Michael St. Gerard as her sexy but sensitive boyfriend Link.

John Waters, in his first PG movie, manages to send up a lot of genres at once, while at the same time paying loving tribute to his hometown of Baltimore, and making some half-serious points about society.  The pacing and energy do fall off in the last half hour.  I understand the inclusion of the governor, but this part of the story seems to have needed editing and tightening, as does much else around then.  Still, there's so much to enjoy overall that the movie is easily in my Top Five for the '80s.

Note: one of my later movie crushes, Josh Charles (then 16) makes his debut here, as Iggy.