Orange County (2002) Film Review

Shaun (Colin Hanks) is a kid who has grown up in surf heaven Orange County. His parents are divorced and his ultra rich father, Bud (John Lithgow) lives with a young gold digger and their nightmare child. The mother has remarried and her husband is in a wheelchair and out of his mind. Then there is the brother, Lance (Jack Black), who is constantly high or recovering from partying. Shaun decides he wants to go to college and become a writer, and feels like everything in his life, his surfer buddies, his family, his incompetent school (with the wonderful Chevy Chase and Lily Tomlin), everything. Oh, no, his girlfriend Ashley (Schuyler Fisk) is on his side.

This is one of those films that I remember coming out and thinking it was a bit of a Porky’s or one of those other ridiculous stupid teen films. So, the other day I felt like watching a ridiculous stupid teen film and got this. And guess what? It’s not. But it’s not really good either. It’s really boring, quite predictable, and things just don’t quite gel. It’s like they have Shaun and Ashley as believable, normal characters and everyone else in the film is a parody, and it just doesn’t work. At all.

 

Three Amigos! (1986) Film Review

It’s the height of the silent film era, and one of the big acts is The Three Amigos – a trio of heroes who play Mexican heroes who ride into small towns to save them from evil warlords. However when the three actors, Lucky Day (Steve Martin), Dusty Bottoms (Chevy Chase) and Ned Nederlander (Martin Short) get too big for their boots and end up out of work, they need to find a new way in life. A telegram comes from Mexico offering a huge reward if they turn up for a show – however they do not realise it was from Carmen (Patrice Martinez) a girl from a small town threatened by the evil El Guapo (Alfonso Arau), and she does not understand that movies are not real. When they arrive and find all is not showbiz, they show their cowardly side. But, they cannot in all conscience leave Carmen to El Guapo and his evil ways.

This is most definitely a classic comedy. Well structured with lots of ridiculous jokes, tonnes of slapstick and is the best work of all three leads. I love this film and I will always love this film.

 

Christmas Vacation (1989) Film Review

Having seen European Vacation almost yearly (given how often it is screened on television) I’ve somehow made it this far without seeing Christmas Vacation, and I’m glad I’ve finally seen it, in all its slapstick glory.

The story is pretty typical of a Christmas film; a man wants a perfect Christmas for his family, and has little consideration of how it may affect those around him. The man is Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase), and his family are his wife Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo), son Buck (Johnny Galecki now known for The Big Bang Theory) and daughter Audrey (Juliette Lewis). And all the ring-ins – both sets of parents and trailer trash brother-in-law. Clark is expecting his Christmas bonus, and has put a deposit on a pool in anticipation, however he is left waiting for a long time. Meanwhile, everything he does seems to be ruining the lives of the yuppies next door (Julia Louise Dreyfus and Nicholas Guest)

It’s fun and stupid and worth a watch, just don’t be expecting Citizen Kane. Unless you really like disappointment; or hate Citizen Kane.

European Vacation (1985) Film Review

Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase), his hot wife Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo), teenage daughter Audrey (Dana Hill) and son Rusty (Jason Lively) win a trip to Europe on a ridiculous game show and it is on; Americans in the eighties travelling.

This is such a classic eighties film. It’s ridiculous and wonderful and oh-so-wrong in a way that totally holds up so well today. Except the fashion – though the clothes they purchase in Italy are magnificent.

Community – TV Review

I didn’t get Community for a few episodes. It was sort of funny, but not hilarious. The characters were quirky, but didn’t grab me and I wondered what the hype was all about. After a few episodes, however, it started to get surreal and absurd, and I fell in love with it.

Set in Greendale Community College (kind of like TAFE, from what I can tell), the show follows a study group made up of seven students of a variety of ages and backgrounds. Each has a role within the group, however challenging these roles and expectations creates some interesting episodes. Plus, there is the post-modern twist from the character Abed who often refers to the scenario which is occurring as an episode.

Got a bit first year arts student there. Sorry. The show is ridiculous and funny, and totally beloved by many. And its got Chevvy Chase, who I cannot recall seeing in anything for about fifteen years, and he’s fantastic. Though unsubstantiated rumour has it that the fourth season will possibly not have Chevvy Chase, and that the show’s creator, Dan Harmon, is not on board. I hope neither of these are true, or the show may have jumped the shark. (Although, as Troy pointed out, in one episode of Happy Days a guy did actually jump a shark and it was awesome)