Caddyshack

PLOT:

This comedy classic follows the travails of young caddy Danny Noonan as he gets tangled in high jinks involving the eclectic and ridiculous members of Bushwood Country Club. Meanwhile, assistant groundskeeper Carl Spackler battles a pesky gopher.

What people are saying:

“They don’t make ’em like this anymore … The plot wanders around the golf course and involves a half-dozen elements, but if you simply dig the gopher, the caddy, and the Dangerfield, you’re not going to be doing half bad.” 4 stars

“Essentially Animal House on the links, it’s neither as raucous nor as outrageous as that definitive college comedy but it has the same rebellious spirit and a great cast of comedy legends showing the young co-stars how it’s done.” 4 stars

“The funniest part about watching this was when my friend said, “We still need to make millions of dollars,” imitating the producers’ thoughts and reasoning for the nude scene. It’s unfortunate when you want to like a movie, you keep waiting for it to get good, giving it the benefit of the doubt, and at the end you just have to ask yourself, “Why?” 1 star

“In this eminently quotable directorial debut from the tragically late, yet unquestionably great Harold Ramis, we get to see a few of comedy’s finest names collide in some great scenes of banter and wit and some other fantastic scenes of slapstick and bombast. And does the comedy age well? You’d be surprised at how funny all of this stuff still is. And structurally speaking, this is also something quite interesting to feast upon as well, for Caddyshack is essentially a series of vignettes and sketches strung together by a very flimsy narrative throughline. And, while most movies that attempt this often fail miserably, there’s just something about Caddyshack’s spirit and charm that powers the film through the occasional aimless scene. A truly unique and occasionally masterful comedic feat overall.” 3 1/2 stars

“According to Harold Ramis, Caddyshack was originally supposed to be a dark comedy about the American Nazi Party. Instead we’re stuck with one of the best timeless comedies with one of the greatest ensemble casts of all time. Chase brought his A game, Murray won at Augusta, and Dangerfield worried that he was bombing when none of the crew laughed at his jokes during takes. What makes Caddyshack work above all else is the classic style of comedy used in a fresh context. This film should be held up as an example of what great mainstream comedy can accomplish.” 5 stars

Vacation

PLOT:

Hoping to bring his family closer together and to recreate his childhood vacation for his own kids, an adult Rusty Griswold takes his wife and two sons on a cross-country road trip to Walley World. Needless to say, things don’t go quite as planned.

Trying to bond his family together and relive his childhood memories, Rusty Griswold takes his family to Walley World, an amusement park. On the way they face challenges, overcoming fears, and troubles with mischievous people. When his family admits that they never wanted to go, he starts to think his family thinks he’s a loser. Will they make it to Walley World or will the family separate?

Rusty Griswold takes his own family on a road trip to “Walley World” in order to spice things up with his wife and reconnect with his sons.

What people are saying:

“Surprisingly funny and at times charming.
As a huge fan of the 80’s films I was really not expecting much. But it’s not half bad. No it’s not great like the old ones . But good enough .” 2 stars

“It has some laugh out loud moments that are peppered throughout the film, but the majority of it needed to be polished by better writers. It wasn’t terrible, but it could have been so much better.” 2 1/2 stars

“I’m so glad I ignored the bad ratings and watched this film anyway. It’s hilarious! I haven’t laughed that much at a film in a long time. Quite a dark sense of humour which made it even better! Great film.” 5 stars

“Nice family comedy. kinda far fetched and unbelievable but it kills a couple hours and you get a few laughs out of it.” 3 stars

“I gave this movie a solid 23 minutes before I had to shut it off with extreme prejudice. What a complete hunk of garbage. This movie make European Vacation look like a god damn masterpiece. I’m embarrassed for anyone who had anything to do with the production of this turd.” 1/2 star

Fletch Lives

PLOT:

Chevy Chase once again plays the reporter Irwin M. “Fletch” Fletcher, who learns that he has inherited a plantation in Louisiana. Upon arriving, Fletch’s aunt’s lawyer is murdered, leaving Fletch to unravel the mystery.

In order to catch the real killers and clear his name, Fletch dons a series of disguises and infiltrates the congregation of television evangelist Jimmy Lee Farnsworth (whose techniques are virtually identical to those used by real-life televangelist Peter Popoff), who the audience is led to believe wants to gain control of Fletch’s land in order to build a Christian theme park. It is subsequently revealed that, in actuality, a chemical company wants the land so it can dump its toxic waste there.

REVIEW:

Chevy Chase returns to form, and the screen, with Fletch Lives, a sequel to his sleeper hit, Fletch. The question is, was a sequel really necessary and were people really clamoring for it? Going even further, there are rumors of a third film, do we really need that one, as well?

What is the film about?

Picking up a few years after the events of the first film, we find that Fletch is still working at the same newspaper, though he is growing more and more frustrated with it. Just as he’s about to quit, he receives a notice that his rich relative from Louisiana has passed away and left him a plantation. Fletch quits his job and heads down south, only to find that there is a conspiracy afoot and the plantation is one of reasons for it.

What did I like?

Bringing funny back. The first film wasn’t really that funny to me, but then again, early 80s flicks tend to be hit or miss in my book. This one, though, was more my speed, as I was chuckling, giggling, and flat out laughing throughout big chunks of the film. Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do when watching a comedy?

C’mon Cleavon. Fans of Blazing Saddles may recognize Calculus as Cleavon Little, who was the star of the film. To my knowledge, these are the only two films he’s starred in. He ma have been in some other stuff, I just don’t know about it. Still, it is great to see him. I wonder why he doesn’t have more to his resume.

Southern hospitality. Kudos to the filmmakers for capturing the essence of southern hospitality. While I do think their idea of what we southerners are like is a bit exaggerated, they got their point across.

What didn’t I like?

Not right. As someone who has lived in Louisiana for quite some time, I think I know what our accents are like. The southern accents that they use in this film are more stereotypical than accurate, especially for south Louisiana, Thibodaux, to be exact. I’m not saying this should have been 100% accurate, but they could have at least gotten a bit closer to the real thing.

The plot thickens. I loved how the plot seemed to thicken, but never really got too thick or confusing. The perfect tone for a film such as this. The first film tried to do this, but unsuccessfully.

Green. There is a “go green” theme underlying here that, while I have no issue with it, seems to be used a bit more for political reasons than for comedic purposes. The whole toxic waste thing was just a cop out to make a statement about government and corruption.

Fletch Lives is a much better sequel that it’s predecessor. It is funnier, better written, and plays more to Chase’s strengths. With a great story, cast, and characters, this is picture that you should not live your life without seeing at least once. I highly recommend it, but it isn’t good enough to stop what you’re doing to rush out and see. It is more of a catch it on television or rent it when you think about it kind of film.

3 3/4 out of 5 stars

Fletch

PLOT (spoiler alert!!!):

The film opens with a monologue by Fletch about his latest story, dealing with the drug trade on Los Angeles’ beaches. While undercover, he is approached by Alan Stanwyk (Matheson), who says he has inoperable cancer and wants Fletch to kill him so that his family will receive his life insurance. Stanwyk thinks that Fletch is the perfect man for the job, as he appears to be a person who can simply disappear after the shooting without any suspicions being raised. Fletch agrees to kill Stanwyk when offered $50,000, but is suspicious of Stanwyk’s motives. Investigating Stanwyk, Fletch uncovers a story much greater than his exposé of small-time drug dealers. As he uncovers the truth about Stanwyk’s double life, he discovers that the police chief (Baker) is behind the drug trafficking.

REVIEW:

In the 80s, films about cops, reporters, etc. who didn’t quite fit the mold were all the rage, as best seen in the Beverly Hills Cops films. With Fletch, we get another member of the Saturday Night Live cast, this time Chevy Chase taking on the criminal underworld of drug trafficking and perhaps something much bigger!

What did I like?

Chase. Say what you will about Chevy Chase as a person after that whole incident with the Community producers, the man was comedic gold in the 80s, and this is no exception. Everything that makes Chevy a funny guy, he gets to use here, except for his SNL news desk, of course, and it works to perfection.

Good book. I’ve never actually read the book series that these films are based on, but if it is anything like this movie, then I may have to actually pick up one of those old-fashioned things and read it.

Strengths. With a film like this, where there aren’t any real strong actors or action stars, there is no need to try to play up the action or drama. Had this been made in this day and age, you know that is what would have happened. However, back when this was made, they actually knew how to make movies, and played up to the strengths of the cast, which was comedy and interaction amongst each other.

What didn’t I like?

L.A. No, I’m not talking about hating Los Angeles, but rather the fact that at every opportunity he got, Chase (who is an avid Laker fan in real life) made reference to the Lakers. I’m no hater, though I am a Spurs fan, but this just seemed a bit much, especially since he was wearing a jersey for most of his “normal” attire.

Soul Glo. There is a dream sequence in there that is actually kind of funny, except for the Afro and Fletch’s supposed “Harlem upbringing”. I’m sure there were those that could be offended by that, but my qualm is that it just looked silly, and not in a good way.

I hear people applaud this film as one of great pictures of this decade. While I don’t deny that is a good time and a pretty good flick, I’m not so sure it deserves such high praise. To me, Fletch is a B movie (that’s grade not genre, btw) at best. That being said, I highly recommend it. Lord knows we all could use a laugh, right?

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Zoom: Academy for Superheroes

PLOT (spoiler alert!!!):

Decades prior to the start of the film, the American military sponsored a superhero group called “Team Zenith.” Its leaders were Jack Shepard (Tim Allen), aka Captain Zoom, who possessed super-speed, and his brother, Connor (Kevin Zegers), aka Concussion, who could project sonic blasts. The military tried to increase the team’s powers by exposing them to an experimental form of radiation called “Gamma-13”. This caused Concussion to become more powerful, but it also turned him evil. Concussion killed his teammates Marksman, Ace, and Daravia. Concussion was believed to be killed by Zoom in an explosion, but he had been sent into another dimension instead. Zoom lost his powers, and his brother.

Thirty years later, Dr. Grant (Chevy Chase), the scientist behind the original Zenith Project, discovers that Concussion is making his way back into their dimension. General Larraby (Rip Torn), the military officer in charge of the Project, decides to form a new Zenith Team to fight him.

Jack finds himself dragged back into the Project, this time as an instructor. He is told that a new team is needed to battle a great menace but is not told what it is. He is also told that if natural training does not prepare the new team in time, they will be exposed to Gamma-13. In their secret base, Area 52 (a reference to Area 51), he meets Marsha (Courteney Cox Arquette), who is a beautiful but clumsy psychologist, a big fan of Zoom’s, and knows of him only through the comic book propaganda adaptations of the team’s adventures.

The project holds an audition of would-be members, most of whom possess useless or disgusting powers. In the end, four young people are selected:

Dylan West, a 17-year-old boy who can turn invisible and has clairvoyance.
Summer Jones, a 16-year-old girl with telekinetic powers and empathic senses.
Tucker William, a 12-year-old boy with the power to enlarge any part of his body.
Cindy Collins, a 6-year-old girl with super strength.
All of them are shown as having problems adapting to normal life because of their powers. At first things do not go well. Jack is bitter about the past, and his sarcastic attitude disappoints Marsha. Dylan keeps trying to escape, Tucker has self-esteem problems and trouble controlling his powers, and the kids are annoyed by Jack’s attitude. The team eventually forces Jack to face the fact that he’s not really putting his heart into their training. Slowly things begin to come together. As the new team’s abilities improve, they adopt superhero identities.

Eventually, just as Concussion is about to arrive on Earth, it is discovered that Dylan also possesses a kind of clairsentience that allows him to discover not only Concussion’s location, but also the project’s true purpose: the team is meant merely as a distraction from the military’s plans to capture Concussion in a special net to send him back into another dimension. Marsha also reveals that she secretly possesses a superpower of her own: “super breath”, which appears as clouds of rainbow-colored wind. She uses this power to aid the team in their escape. Using a malfunctioning flying saucer stored in the base, Jack escapes with the team, including Marsha. He is dropped off at a point in a desert where Concussion will arrive, planning to try to talk to him. Jack tells the team to stay away, but they refuse.

When Concussion arrives, he refuses to listen to reason and starts firing sonic blasts at his brother. The rest of the team takes him on. Larraby orders the net to be fired, but Concussion blasts it away, and it almost lands on Cindy. This causes Jack to react and recover his speed, and he saves her. He then runs back to the base (tripping over in the process), puts on a new costume, and returns to battle his brother. Working together, the team (plus Marsha) knock Concussion into a high-speed vortex that Zoom creates by running around in a circle at super-speed; Dr. Grant yells to Zoom that if he closes the vortex, they can save Concussion; the vortex ultimately sucks the energy out of his body and restores him to normal. The two brothers are happily reunited.

At the end you see that Dylan is dating Summer, Summer is on the cheerleading team, using her telekinetic power to help build the pyramid, Tucker is the goalie on the soccer team, and Cindy is in a play, Rapunzel, and uses her power to pull the “prince” up the tower. In addition they still work together with Zoom as the new Zenith Team

REVIEW:

Remember the X-Men movies? What about Sky High? Well, Zoom: Academy for Superheroes is some kind of unimaginative, uninspired hybrid of the two.

I won’t waste too much time on this, because, quite frankly there is nothing here you haven’t seen before. First off, the plot…kids with super powers go to some school to learn how to use them. The difference here is that they are being trained by the government to stop a superhero turned villain that they accidentally created. See, nothing new, except maybe the government created villain…oh wait, that’s not new, either, is it?

The powers these kids have are…well, special. First we have the kid who can turn invisible. Nothing new there. Then there’s a psychic…another familiar power. Super strength…covered by a little girl. giving that strength to a little girl was actually one of the few strokes of brilliance encased in this schlock. Finally, there is the token fat kid who can make any part of his body grow? WTF?!? While this is a new power for the superhero genre, that doesn’t mean it is something audiences were clamoring for.

Tim Allen has super speed, or at least he was did before he lost his powers. Something else he lost apparently was his ability to act. It seems like all his movies involve him playing the same character. Here he is playing an almost identical shmuck like the one he portrayed in Galaxy Quest. I’m tempted to check out his new show and see if he’s just recycling his Home Improvement persona.

Chevy Chase and Courtney Cox-Arquette may very well be the best part of this otherwise worthless film. Both play scientists, with Cox being a lifelong fangirl of Zoom, who has a super power of her own….rainbow breath. Hey, it’s still an upgrade from making parts of your body grow, right? Chase does his usual goofy, absent-minded guy thing, and it works.

Fun fact: Both Spencer Breslin and Kate Mara have siblings in the business. You may have heard of Spencer’s little sister, Abigail, and Kate’s younger sister, Rooney (recently starring in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo). One more thing about Kate, her family owns the Super Bowl champion New York Giants as well as the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The visual effects here seem to want to be a watered down, Saturday morning version of the kind of stuff we get in other superhero flicks, but they just seemed to not work here for some odd reason. Maybe it was the way they were executed along with this hopeless story?

Look, this isn’t as bad as I’m making it out to be. There are some good moments sprinkled throughout, but just when it seems as if things are going right, they take a wrong turn again. None more obvious than the final “battle”. I’ve never been more disappointed with a climax that I was this that. Even thinking about it has my blood pressure boiling!

To say that you should not see Zoom: Academy for Superheroes would be a disservice to the hard work that was actually put into this. While the finished product may not be that worthwhile, there was some thought put into it. Too bad that they just couldn’t come up with a better finished product than what this is. The film cannot decide what demographic it is after, be it teens, tween, kids, or whatever they can get. While I cannot, in good faith, recommend it, I can say that a good time can be had by all when they watch.

2 3/4 out of 5 stars

Funny Farm

PLOT (spoiler alert!!!):

Andy Farmer (Chevy Chase), a New York sports writer who moves with his wife, Elizabeth (Madolyn Smith) to the seemingly charming town of Redbud, Vermont, so he can write a novel. They do not get along well with the residents, and other quirks arise such as the Farmers being given funeral bills for a long-dead man buried on their land long before they acquired the house. Marital troubles soon arise from the quirkiness of Redbud as well as the fact that Elizabeth was critical of Andy’s manuscript, while secretly getting her ideas for children’s books published. They soon decide to divorce, and entice the town’s residents with a $15,000 donation to Redbud, as well as a $50 cash bonus to whoever would appear as a friendly small town person in the presence of prospective home buyers visiting the area, which causes everyone in Redbud to join in on the charade of remaking their quirky town into a Rockwellesque small town. The townspeople’s charade dazzles a pair of prospective buyers, who make the Farmers an offer on the house; however, Andy declines to sell, realizing that he genuinely enjoys small-town living. He and Elizabeth decide to stay together and stay in Redbud, much to the chagrin of the locals, who are now angry that they lost their promised money. Ultimately, the mayor does not hold the Farmers liable for the $15,000, as the sale of their house did not occur, which had been the deal that the donation would occur after sale. However, because the people did do their part of appearing like friendly small-town folk, Andy decides to pay everyone in Redbud their $50, which helps to significantly improve his standing among the townspeople. The film ends with Andy taking a job as a sports writer for the Redbud newspaper, and Elizabeth, now pregnant with their first child, has written multiple children’s stories.

REVIEW:

 Don’t we all know at least one person who we believe should be sent to the funny farm? Well, if they were being to sent to the one here in Funny Farm, then they most definitely would be on the verge of having to go the real one.

This film deals with Chase’s character, Andy Farmer, who has just retired from sports journalism, bought a house in the country, and is supposed to be writing a novel. If you’re familiar with Chase’s work before he became the old guy we see on Community these days, then you are more than aware that he is the master of physical comedy. This is no exception.

As with his exploits in National Lampoon’s Vacation franchise, Chase is next to oblivious as to his surroundings, or at the very least, doesn’t care about injuring himself. He also has a unbelievaly hot wife, though this one doesn’t compare to Beverly D’Angelo.

The thing that makes this film enjoyable is that the townspeople are just as colorful as Chase’s character. Those of us that grew up in small towns know that there are some colorful folk to be met. well, this film just takes that to the extreme, if you will.

I mean, seriously, a sherif that hasn’t passed his driving test and a mailman that gets drunk and throws the mail…ok, the mailman part is more believable, but you get the idea.

While I thoroughly laughed for most of this film, it suddenly got all serious and lost my attention when they brought in the whole drama of Chase lying to his publisher about his wife’s book being his, which led to her wanting a divorce. Sure, that was a way to really tap into the comedic talents of the townspeople, but it just didn’t really fit in there for me. I’m for some, it may have been a perfect break, bt not I.

What is my final verdict of Funny Farm? Well, it is no National Lampoon’s Vacation (or any of the others in the franchise), but it does have the same sense of hilarity and Chevy Chase acting like a big buffoon. I don’t highly recommend this, but I do say that it is worth watching if you get the chance.

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Vegas Vacation

PLOT (spoiler alert!!!):

At work, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) has invented a long life food preservative, earning him a large bonus check. Clark announces to his family that he is taking them on vacation. Enthusiasm wanes, however, when Clark says they are headed to Las Vegas, Nevada.

His wife, Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo), and teenage daughter, Audrey (Marisol Nichols) have their doubts, as Las Vegas is not known for its family-friendly atmosphere, while teenage son Rusty (Ethan Embry) appears to be more eager, even asking if prostitution is legal there.

Upon arriving in Vegas, the family embarks upon a series of mishaps and adventures. Clark crosses paths with Cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid), the husband of Ellen’s cousin Catherine (Miriam Flynn). Eddie and his family now live in the desert just north of Las Vegas, on what used to be an H-bomb test site.

While on a group tour of the gigantic Hoover Dam, Clark foolishly leaves the group after accidentally creating a leak in the dam’s inside walkways, and is forced to climb the scaffolding to the very top of the dam to get out, because his cries for help cannot be heard over the roaring water of the spillway.

During the vacation in Las Vegas, Clark becomes addicted to gambling (mostly Blackjack, which he usually loses), Rusty gets a fake ID and becomes a winning high roller (taking on the pseudonym ‘Nick Pappagiorgio’), Audrey starts hanging out with Eddie’s wild stripper daughter Vickie (Shae D’Lyn) (and hanging out with impersonators of The Beatles as well), and Ellen becomes addicted to Wayne Newton (playing himself), who may have feelings for Ellen, and it’s making Clark jealous.

After Clark gambles away the family’s $22,600 bank account, Eddie—who has money buried in his front yard—tries to come to the Griswold family’s rescue in return for everything the Griswolds have done for him and his family over the years.

Ultimately, the family begins to fall apart, thanks to Clark’s obsessive gambling, Ellen’s infatuation with Wayne Newton, Rusty’s new winning lifestyle, and Audrey’s desire to engage in exotic dancing with Cousin Vicki rather than spend time with her family.

The Griswolds must learn how to come together as a family, or “Sin City” just might destroy their very fabric.

Near the climax of the film, the Griswolds gamble their last two dollars on a game of Keno. They take a seat next to an older man (Sid Caesar in a cameo) who compliments Clark on his lovely family, and hints that he’s been lonely all of his life. Out of guilt, Clark tells the man to consider himself part of the Griswold family for the night. The man happily accepts Clark’s kind words, and both parties begin the game. At first, the Griswolds are hopeful, but as they realize they’ve already lost the game, they sadly sit for moments in silence. Suddenly, the man next to them ecstatically declares that he’s won the game. As he continues to express joy, he suddenly begins to slip in and out of consciousness while Ellen sends Rusty for help. He awakens one last time and whispers a message to Clark, before dropping his winning ticket and falling one final time. Clark, puzzled, tells Ellen that the man said “take the ticket”. When the casino security guards and paramedics arrive, they declare the man officially dead. They tell the Griswolds his name was Mr. Ellis, and commented on how sad his loneliness was to them. As Mr. Ellis is carried away, a janitor approaches with a vacuum cleaner; walking straight for the winning ticket on the floor. Though it appears Clark is going to allow it to be lost, he at last moment pulls the ticket out of the path of the vacuum.

Clark and Ellen remarry at the end. Afterwards, Clark hands Eddie a large pile of cash (Eddie can be overheard saying $5000 after counting it) and explains by telling him that “we were very fortunate last night”. Rusty tells Clark of the four cars he had won, a Dodge Viper, a Ford Mustang, a Hummer H1, and a Ford Aspire. Clark takes all the keys away from Rusty, but instead of confiscating them, he gives the keys to each family member. The movie rolls credits as the Griswolds are shown on Interstate 15, driving back home to Chicago.

REVIEW:

 The Griswolds return once again, this time taking a vacation to Las Vegas. Yeah, that’s the perfect family place, lemme tell ya!

Vegas Vacation is supposedly the last in the Vacation franchise. Notice that there is no “National Lampoon” in front of the title. I’m not sure why this is, but I honestly can’t say I blame them.

If you will recall when I reviewed National Lampoon’s Vacation, I mention that it was a good old-fashioned R-Rated comedy. Subsequently, National Lampoon’s European Vacation and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation both were toned down to Pg-13. While the “lesser” rating didn’t make either of those less funny, you could tell they were restrained a bit.

Well, Vegas Vacation seems like it was put in a straight jacket. I will never understand the desire for studios to take a film that works with one rating and drop it into a more “family friendly” one in an attempt to make more money. I”m of the opinion that if a film is going to make money, it will happen with or without parents paying for their annoying rugrat to sit in a theater and torture everyone around them because they don’t really want to be there. I’m just saying.

This film is quite funny, despite all that, but there is something that feels a bit rushed about it. Sort of like this was some studio execs sad attempt to make a name for himself and keep his job by fast tracking it into production, sacrificing thing like good story, script, etc.

The plot is the Griswold go to Vegas. While there, Clark gambles away all their money, Rusty becomes part of the mafia (for lack of a better term), Audrey becomes an exotic dancer (blame that on her cousin…get to that in a bit), and Ellen nearly hooks up with Wayne Newton. Oh, and then cousin Eddie and family, who just happen to live just outside of Vegas, show up.

First of all, let me say that I think these movies, with the exception of …Christmas Vacation, would be so much better without cousin Eddie, yet for some reason they keep forcing him down our throats. Look how great …European Vacation was, and he wasn’t in there at all. I know everyone has that one relative who just seems to be a nuisance, but this is a bit much.

Keeping in the theme of the family, and I belive I’ve touched on this before, the constant changing of the kids is…odd. I understand things happen and casts change, but at least keep somewhat of a timeline. I mean their ages have been up and down. If this was animated, it wouldn’t be that big of a deal, but it is obvious that both Clark and Ellen have aged, so why have their kids seemed to be drinking from the fountain of youth (though they are older than they were in the last one).

Chevy Chase is hilarious as ever and his chemistry with Beverly D’Angelo just seems to get better with each picture.

Although I didn’t care for the changing ages of the children, both actors, Marisol Nichols and Ethen Embry, are both pretty good in their roles.

Randy Quaid is as annoying as he always has ben as cousin Eddie.

Vegas Vacation isn’t as good as its predecessors, but it is still worth watching. Did it need to be made? I guess if Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo needed the money that bad, but otherwise, I’d have to say no. Should you watch it? I won’t say that you should, but there are oodles of much worse films out there that would do nothing than waste your time (looks at the review prior to this one, for example). Why not check it out and have a good laugh?

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

PLOT:

The family goes on a quest for “The Griswold Family Christmas Tree.” With his usual over-enthusiasm, Clark has planned a “good, old-fashioned family Christmas.” His family is wary of his plans but Clark is oblivious. He has nostalgic moments of Christmas past when he is accidentally locked in the attic. Clark outdoes himself with 25,000 lights on the roof, but he can’t get the power on. Eventually the lights turn on and they are spectacular. In addition to the usual family get together, the Griswolds have some unexpected visitors. Eddie and Catherine show up. In spite of all the good intentions and careful planning, Christmas plans go awry. Clark’s frustration at not receiving his expected Christmas bonus eventually erupts and cousin Eddie kidnaps his boss. The family gathers again on the front lawn to enjoy the “Christmas Star,” which turns out to be an explosion. Clark watches this strange but touching sight and finally realizes that his dream of the perfect, family Christmas has finally come true.

REVIEW:

 Yeah, I’m a little late with this one. I actually expected to get it in last week, but Netflix suddenly put it on long wait. Oh well, technically, it is still the holidays.

Some have made the case that this is the best of the Vacation franchise. I can see how they would think that, but I still give the edge to the original film.

Let me get one thing out of the way first. In each film, the kids are played by different actors. This is fine, but you’d think they could at least keep them around the same age. In National Lampoon’s European Vacation, they seemed as if they would be starting college soon, yet in this film, they seem to have gotten 5-10 yrs younger. WTF?!?

You’ve seen holiday movies before. They all have some sort of hokie plot that is all family friends and meant to stir up some kind of emotions inside you. Well, this one initially has the same idea, but it soon goes into its own way of doing things, which makes it great.

There is plenty of physical comedy to go around here. Some have said that it was a bit too much. Those people obviously, have not been paying attention to these films, though, because said comedy is what you come to expect.

The cast is relatively unchanged from the previous films, as you don’t mess with perfection, ovviously…except for the aforementioned children.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is a must see for anyone around the holidays. I can tell you it will be joining the holiday tradition around here along with the classics such as How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Mickey’s Christmas Carol, Bad(der)Santa, and A Christmas Carol. Yes, it has its flaws, but one of the thing that makes movies from the 80s and early 90s so great is that they weren’t perfect, and they knew it. Back then, movies were made for fun and not a cheap buck. I highly recommend this to any and everyone!

4 1/2 out of 5 stars

National Lampoon’s European Vacation

PLOT:

The film’s plot is another family misadventure, full of over-the-top slapstick. Chase and D’Angelo again portray the married couple Clark and Ellen Griswold, living in suburban Chicago with two children, Rusty and Audrey. The family competes in a game show called “Pig in a Poke” (based on Family Feud, but with the families wearing pig costumes) and wins an all-expenses-paid trip to Europe, flying Pan Am Airways. In a whirlwind tour of western Europe, chaos of all sorts ensues. Their fleabag London hotel desk clerk (Mel Smith) is a sloppy, tattooed Cockney wearing a tank top. Now with their English hire car, a bright yellow Austin Maxi, Clark drives his family endlessly around the busy Lambeth Bridge roundabout for hours, unable to maneuver his way out of traffic, mentioning the Big Ben clock and Parliament with each pass. His wrong-way driving habits cause him to repeatedly crash into cars and knock over and injure a frightened bicyclist (Eric Idle) who reappears in different scenes as if by coincidence, each time wearing more bandages than in the scene before. At Stonehenge, Clark backs their Maxi into a priceless, ancient stone monolith, knocking all the stones down like dominoes, which they do not even notice happened as they happily leave the scene (while the family are at Stonehenge, Clark shouts for Rusty, who is standing right behind him. Rusty then replies, ‘Yeah Dad?’. This conversation is a callback to a similar one which took place in National Lampoon’s Vacation after Clark crashed the car in the middle of the desert).

In Paris, Clark throws Rusty’s beret cap off the Eiffel Tower observation deck, causing a lady’s dachshund to jump off after it; later, young Rusty meets a hooker at a bawdy Paris can-can dance show. While in Paris, the family’s video camera is stolen by a passerby (Victor Lanoux) whom Clark had asked to take a picture of the family. Also, Clark, with his terrible French, manages to insult every native Frenchman.

The Griswolds burst in on a bewildered, elderly German village couple (Willy Millowitsch, Erika Wackernagel), who they mistakenly think are relatives but who serve them dinner anyhow, not knowing each other’s languages. Clark manages to turn a lively thigh-slapping Bavarian folk dance stage performance, choreographed as are all the musical sequences by Gillian Lynne, into an all-out street brawl, after which he, fleeing hastily, gets their Citroën DS stuck in a too-narrow medieval archway after knocking down several street vendors’ stands. The family members get on each others’ nerves while riding together in a train compartment.

In Rome, the Griswolds rent a car at a travel office. However, they don’t know that the real manager is restrained by two thieves. The leader thief gives them a car with the real manager in the trunk. He claims that he lost the keys to the trunk. Later the Griswolds go shopping. The next day Ellen angrily discovers that private sexy videos of her from the family’s previously stolen video camera have been used in a billboard advertising a pornographic movie, leaving her completely humiliated. After screaming her anger at Clark (who thought he erased the video as he had promised her), Ellen storms off to the hotel they are staying at and encounters the thief who sold them the car. She confesses her recent troubles. She is still unaware that he is a thief. The man then tries to get the car keys, which are in her purse. However he fails and then the police arrive at the hotel and Ellen tries to escape. She is kidnapped by him, prompting Clark to rescue her. At the end while flying back to the U.S.A., Clark causes the plane to “knock” the Statue of Liberty’s torch upside down.

Cameo appearances are made by John Astin (playing game show host “Kent Winkdale”), Moon Unit Zappa, Robbie Coltrane, Maureen Lipman, Leslie Phillips, Ballard Berkeley, Eric Idle and a musical appearance by The Power Station (“Some Like It Hot”).

REVIEW:

 National Lampoon’s European Vacation is another great entry into the National Lampoon lexicon. This sequel to National Lampoon’s Vacation has been viewed by some as superior and by others as inferior. For me, it is somewhere in between.

Again we find the Griswolds going on vacation, this time as a result of winning a game show and earning a trip to Europe.

As with the previous film, there are numerous hijinks, hysterics, and utter ludicrousness to be found. This is what makes this franchise so great.

The thing that really gets me about this picture is how the plot is similar to the predecessor, and yet doesn’t feel recycled at all. Too often, I have seen sequels that are direct rip-offs of the previous film, just moved to a different location. Initially, that is what I thought this was going to be, but I was wrong.

Of course, as hilarious as this picture was, there are moments that just don’t work for me. For instance, there is the whole porn video thing with Mrs. Griswold, especially since this was only a PG-13 film (the previous film was rated R).

On top of that, the kids were replaced. Normally this wouldn’t be that big of a deal, except for the simple fact that they didn’t seem to work. Making matters work, there seem to be a constant focus on Audrey’s weight.

Those points aside, having Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo reprising their roles really kept some sense of continuity with this film and the previous one. Not to mention that they are just as funny as ever and the chemistry between them has never been better.

National Lampoon’s European Vacation is one of those great films that often times gets overlooked in favor of another in the franchise. I’m not sure if this is my favorite, but it is for sure just as funny as National Lampoon’s Vacation. Do I think you should watch it? Why, of course. It is hilariously funny and a feel good romp that will be enjoyed by one and all.

4 out of 5 stars

Three Amigos

PLOT:

The film opens as a bandit named El Guapo (Alfonso Arau) and his gang of thugs have been collecting protection money from the small Mexican village of Santo Poco. Carmen (Patrice Martinez), daughter of the village leader, searches for someone who can come to the rescue of her townspeople. While visiting a small village church, she remains to watch a silent film featuring “The Three Amigos” and, believing them to be real heroes, sends a telegram to Hollywood asking them to come and stop El Guapo. However, the telegraph operator edits her message down since she has very little money to pay for it.

Meanwhile, Lucky Day (Steve Martin), Dusty Bottoms (Chevy Chase), and Ned Nederlander (Martin Short) are Hollywood silent film actors who portray the heroic Three Amigos on screen in 1916. When they demand a salary increase, studio boss Harry Flugleman (Joe Mantegna) fires them and evicts them from their studio-owned housing. Shortly afterward, they receive Carmen’s telegram, but misinterpret it as an invitation to make a film with El Guapo. After breaking into the studio to retrieve their costumes, the Amigos head for Mexico. Stopping at a cantina near Santo Poco, they are mistaken for associates of a fast-shooting German pilot (Kai Wulff), who is also looking for El Guapo and who arrived just before they did. A relieved Carmen picks up the Amigos and takes them to the village, where they are put up in the best house in town and treated very well. The next morning, when three of El Guapo’s men come to raid the village, the Amigos do a Hollywood-style stunt show that leaves them very confused. The bandits ride off, making everyone think that the Amigos have defeated the enemy; in reality, the men inform El Guapo of what has happened, and he decides to return in force the next day and kill the Amigos.

As the German’s real associates arrive at the cantina, proving themselves just as adept with pistols as he is, the village throws a boisterous celebration for the Amigos and their (supposed) victory. The next morning, El Guapo and his gang come to Santo Poco and call out the Amigos, who confess that they have only been acting and are too scared to confront him after Lucky gets shot in the arm. El Guapo allows his men to loot the village and kidnaps Carmen, and the Amigos leave Santo Poco in disgrace. With nothing waiting for them back home, Ned persuades Lucky and Dusty to become real-life heroes and go after El Guapo. Their first attempt to find his hideout fails, but they spot a cargo plane and follow it to him; the plane is flown by the German, who has brought a shipment of rifles for the gang with his associates’ help. Preparations are underway for El Guapo’s 40th birthday party, and he plans to make Carmen his bride. The Amigos try to sneak into the hideout, with mixed results: Lucky is captured and chained up in a dungeon, Dusty crashes through a window and into Carmen’s room, and Ned ends up hanging among the decorations.

As Lucky frees himself and Dusty sneaks out only to be caught, Ned falls loose and is also captured. The German, having idolized Ned’s quick-draw pistol skills since childhood, challenges him to a showdown. Ned wins, killing the German, and Lucky holds El Guapo at gunpoint long enough for Carmen and the Amigos to escape – first on horseback, then in the German’s plane. Returning to Santo Poco with El Guapo’s entire army in pursuit, they rally the villagers to stand up for themselves and plan a defense. The bandits arrive in the seemingly empty village, only to find themselves suddenly being shot at by Amigos from all sides and falling into hidden water-filled trenches dug by the villagers. Eventually all of El Guapo’s men either desert him or die in the gunfire, and he takes a fatal wound as well. As he lies dying, the villagers – all armed and wearing replicas of the Amigos’ costumes – step out to confront him. El Guapo congratulates them on this plan, then shoots Lucky in the foot and dies.

The villagers offer to give the Amigos all the money they have, but the Amigos refuse it, saying (as in their movies) that seeing justice done is enough of a reward for them. They then ride off into the sunset, ready to continue being real heroes.

REVIEW:

 I have a soft spot in my heart for this film, as it was one of the first films I ever rented. This was back when my dad first bought a VCR. Gosh, that seems like forever and a day ago when VCRs were the thing to have, huh?

So, what do I have to say about Three Amigos? Well, the first thing is that it is hilarious. Of course, with Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, and Martin Short as the stars and in their prime, how could this not?

With all the sight gags and ridiculousness, one really has an appreciation for what these guys did in their time (and what Saturday Night Live used to be).

The plot, though, seems to be a strange take on The Magnificent Seven, and the title, I think, is loosely taken from Disney’s  The Three Caballeros.

That isn’t to say the story is good or bad, it just is so-so for me. I was left with the feeling os deja vu, and wished they would have done something not so predictable. I mean, these three washed up movie stars go to Mexico under the pretense they are doing a show, only to find out that they are indeed there to save the town. After some soul searching, they come realize what they have to do, and somehow they happen to have the know how to pull this off. Who couldn’t figure out what was going to happen?

Having said that, I didn’t hate the story. I rather enjoyed it, regardless.

Casting 3 great comedians such as Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Chevy Chase was a stroke of genius, though I think it was a bit unbalanced. What I mean by that is Steve Martin was a bit of a camera hog and we barely got anything from Martin Short and especially Chevy Chase. I think part of that is related to his character, though.

Alfonso Arau made a good villain. He also didn’t take this role too seriously, as many actors who play sadistic villains in comedies tend to do. I applaud him for this.

Patrice Martinez was a nice bit of eye candy, but she also gave a good performance. For those of you that are looking for a bit of drama in this flick, keep a look out for her.

Three Amigos is listed as one of the funniest films of all time, and with good reason. Just watch the plethora dialogue between El Guapo and his right hand man. I highly recommend this to anyone that needs a some levity. We could all use a laugh, right? Couple that with a great film, and you get true entertainment!

4 1/2 out of 5 stars

National Lampoon’s Vacation

PLOT:

Clark Griswold (Chase), wanting to spend more time with wife Ellen (D’Angelo) and children Rusty and Audrey (Hall and Barron), decides to lead the family on a cross-country expedition from Chicago to the Los Angeles amusement park, “Walley World”, billed as “America’s Favorite Family Fun Park”. Although Ellen wants to fly, he insists on driving, so he can bond with his family. In preparation, Clark has ordered a new sports wagon for the trip, but when he finds it is not ready in time for the trip, is forced to take a failing behemoth Wagon Queen Family Truckster.

As the family travels, they have several mishaps, such as being tagged by vandals while in St. Louis, while Clark is tempted several times by a voluptuous young woman (Brinkley) driving a flashy red Ferrari 308 GTS. They stop in Coolidge, Kansas to visit Ellen’s cousin Catherine (Miriam Flynn) and her husband Eddie (Quaid), but this creates more tension among the Griswalds. Catherine and Eddie foist crotchety old Aunt Edna (Coca) and her dog Dinky on the Griswolds, asking them to drop her off at her son Normy’s home in Phoenix. After a failed attempt to enjoy a picnic, Clark forgets to untie Dinky from the car before leaving, killing the dog.

While Ellen and Clark argue, they become stranded in the desert, and Clark eventually finds a mechanic that scams him out of the rest of his cash to fix the car. Frustrated, they stop at the Grand Canyon; when Clark cannot convince a hotel clerk to take a check, he takes cash from the hotel’s cash register but leaves behind the check. Leaving the Canyon, they find that Aunt Edna passed away in her sleep. When they reach Normy’s home, they discover he is out of town, and leave Edna’s rigor mortised body in the backyard.

Despite all the events and the begging of Ellen and the kids, Clark is more determined to get to Walley World. They finally arrive the next day to find the park closed for repairs. Clark, slipping into madness, buys a realistic-looking BB gun and demands a park security guard Russ Lasky (John Candy) to take them through the park; Ellen and kids follow him, attempting to placate their father. Eventually the SWAT team arrives along with park owner Roy Walley (Eddie Bracken). Roy understands Clark’s impassioned epitome of the American Vacation, bringing back memories of his own childhood years ago. Roy does not file charges against the Griswolds, and lets the family enjoy the park as his guests. The credits show various photographs of the Griswolds enjoying the rest of the vacation, including returning to Chicago via plane.

REVIEW:

 It has been a fortnight since I last saw National Lampoon’s Vacation. When they say “absence makes the heart grow fonder”, though, they aren’t kidding. I remember loving this picture last time I saw it, and now I love it even more!

I’m sure many of us have had the experience of a family vacation, which is the basis of the film’s plot. However, I’m sure none of us have endured the horrors and hilarity that the Griswold’s go through on this trip.

In the late 70s and early 80s, Chevy Chase was one of the funniest people alive, and this served as a vehicle for his comedic talents. On top of the physical comedy that is showcased here, there is some excellent comedic writing. The kind that we just don’t get these days.

Chevy Chase is never going to be known for his acting, but it is his comedic talent that allows this film to really work. Who else  could play such a bumbling idiot and get away with it?

Beverly D’Angelo is another in a long list of gorgeous women attached to buffoons that makes the audience scratch their heads wondering how they are married. Her scenes are brief, and she does seem to be a bit of a nag sometimes, but the topless scenes make up for that.

Christie Brinkley was the quintessential dreamgirl of the early 80s, and she really played up that fantasy aspect to perfection as the girl in the red car. Such a shame she disappeared after the pool fiasco, though.

Remember in the 80s when they made R-rated comedies that were funny and not sex farces? Well, that’s what National Lampoon’s Vacation is. A great comedy, ne, film, that is a true classic without having to resort to sexual innuendo to make it work. If you’re one of the few hapless souls out there who haven’t seen this film, then I highly recommend it to you, especially. For everyone else, you can never have too much of a good thing, right?

5 out of 5 stars

Hot Tub Time Machine

PLOT:

In 2010 Los Angeles, three friends are dissatisfied with their lives. Adam (John Cusack) has been dumped by yet another girlfriend, and his video-game-obsessed nephew Jacob (Clark Duke) lives in his basement. Lou (Rob Corddry) is a party guy way past his prime who is ridden with debt, divorce and a family that wants nothing to do with him. Nick (Craig Robinson) has a dead-end job at a dog spa and a controlling wife named Courtney (Kellee Stewart) who had an affair.

Lou almost dies from carbon monoxide poisoning in what his friends think is a suicide attempt. Adam and Nick impulsively take him and Jacob to the site of some of their most memorable weekends, the Kodiak Valley Ski Resort, which has fallen on hard times. During a crazy night of drinking in a hot tub, they spill a can of an illegal Russian energy drink called “Chernobly” on the hot tub’s controls. The next day, they wake up in 1986. They see each other as their normal age, but in their reflections and to other people, they appear as they did in 1986. Jacob, who has not even been born yet, is still in his normal 2010 state. They arrive during “Winterfest ’86,” the weekend when Poison played to a huge crowd at the then-thriving Kodiak Resort. At first, the guys do not think that they have traveled back in time but are convinced when they find out that Michael Jackson’s skin has not become lighter yet.

It is a time that was hard on the group. Adam broke up with his first girlfriend and got stabbed in the eye with a fork. Adam’s sister, Kelly, conceived Jacob with an unknown father. Lou was beaten up by Blaine, the ski patrol bully. Nick’s show ended in disaster with his band at an open mic contest. The four are at first concerned that if they change even the slightest thing in this time, it could have drastic consequences in the future, so they set out to do exactly what they did 24 years ago. Later, they decide that this may be a chance to change their destinies. When Jacob begins to flicker in and out of existence, he warns the guys that if they continue what they’re doing, then he may be wiped out of existence. A mysterious hot tub repairman (Chevy Chase) informs Jacob that the key to their time travel was the Chernobly, which contains chemicals that are vital to the time travel process.

Nick calls Courtney (his then 9-year-old wife) and yells at her. Her dad interrupts the conversation and Adam and Jacob stop Nick from telling him that Courtney is his wife. Adam’s girlfriend, Jennie (Lyndsy Fonseca), dumps him before he can dump her (and he still gets stabbed in the eye with a fork), but he ends up spending the night with a music journalist, April (Lizzy Caplan). With Lou’s encouragement, Nick rocks the crowd with his band with performances of “Jessie’s Girl” and “Let’s Get It Started.” Lou is beaten up by Blaine (Sebastian Stan), but finds the courage to punch him back. He also seduces Kelly (Collette Wolfe) and conceives Jacob.

The guys are set to go back to 2010, but, just as the hot tub starts to activate, Lou decides to remain in 1986, admitting to Adam that he was trying to kill himself, and that if he goes back it will happen all over again. He says he wants to use his knowledge of future history to make investments, and do right by Kelly and Jacob. Adam says that if Lou is staying, so is he but Lou pushes Adam into the hot tub, just as it blasts the guys back into 2010.

Adam, Nick, and Jacob discover that Lou, Kelly, and Jacob are now a happy family enjoying a lavish lifestyle. Lou has become a successful rock star with his favorite band, “Mötley Lüe” and is the founder of an Internet search engine called “Lougle”. Adam discovers that he eventually married April, and Nick is a successful music producer married to a loyal and supportive Courtney. She tells him about a wrong number phone call she got when she was 9, that was enough to keep her from trying to cheat on anybody. Adam, Nick, Lou, and Jacob reunite at Lou’s mansion with their families, satisfied with their new lives.

REVIEW:

With a title like Hot Tub Time Machine, do you really expect this to be anything more than a hilarious comedy? If you do, then you will be sadly mistaken.

Remember how movies from the 80s began, with some kind of rock riff going on through some random images while the credits rolled? Well, you get those in this flick, which I thought was a nice homage to the 80s, especially since they bitch about going back there.

While this is a comedy, it wasn’t a total laugh riot. Like many comedies of today, it starts out full speed, then somewhere in the middle it becomes a drama and by the time it recovers, the movie is over. Is it so wrong to have a film that doesn’t get serious. A comedy should be a comedy, but that’s just my opinion.

So, the plot revolves around these 3 guys who were best friends in high school. Somewhere along the line they drifted apart, but still live in the same town together and have kept in touch enough to know that each other are still alive. When one of them attempts suicide, it brings them back together and they (with John Cusack’s character’s nephew) take a trip to a ski resort where they had the best time of their lives. This is where they get drunk, jump in a hot tub and it takes them back in time to 1986. How it knew to go back there is a mystery to everyone but the writers, but sometimes you just have to go with it and stop trying to analyze everything, right?

They also never explain why they went back as their younger selves, and what happened to said younger selves. Nor did they truly explain how the nephew didn’t become like an egg or something when they went back. That’s more stuff that would be nice to be explained, but just needs to be overlooked, even if it is  sort of a major plothole.

If you’ve seen Pleasantville, then you may remember Don Knotts’ cryptic handyman character. Well, Hot Tub Time Machine has one of its own, in the form of a hot tub repairman, played by Chevy Chase. Just like with Knotts, he helps move the story along and explains what happened…or does he?

Even with all the stuff that isn’t explained, you can’t help but stare in awe at how they captured 1986 perfectly. The only thing missing were someone wearing a “Frankie Says Relax” t-shirt and/or something dealing with Max Headroom.

Casting on its own sucks, but these guys together make a really good ensemble. I mean, who thinks of John Cusack as a comedic actor, but this character works for him, and he is the serious, straight man of the group.

Comedians Rob Corddry and Craig Robinson do what they do best and really make this film.

Clark Duke, who played the nephew, annoyed the living daylights out of me. First off, he bitched and moaned the whole time about not having his computer or other gadgets and wanting to get home…pretty much same kind of things that if you were to take anyone who grew up in the 90s and later would say. On top of that, this guy was just such a downer, and I’m still not exactly sure why they took him along. The guy is 20 years old, are you gonna tell me he couldn’t stay at home for a few days by himself? WTF?!?

A diamond in the rough, though, was Crispin Glover. When we first see him, he’s a grumpy one-armed bell boy, but when they go back in time, we find out that he was quite the nice, personable guy. Like Rob Corddry’s character, though, I was waiting for the moment where we got to see his arm cut off, but the anticipation and situations is what made him such an interesting character to watch.

For some unknown reason, people keep comparing this to The Hangover. I’m not sure what the reason for this is, but they are both hilarious. I give a slight edge to Hot Tub Time Machine. This is just one of those great films that is plain funny. That’s all it is. It’s not trying to be some kind of social commentary or anything like that, it is just plain enjoyable. For that reason alone, it is worth watching, so give it a shot.

5 out of 5 stars