Category: Comedy

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Released in 1984, Ghostbusters was an instant hit, making almost $300 million worldwide on a $30 million budget. With its success, the studio immediately wanted a sequel, but there was some hesitation from the cast and crew. Following the film’s success, the studio teamed up with animation studio DIC Enterprises to produce The Real Ghostbusters in 1986. Despite some confusion with a preexisting cartoon, the series was also a hit, prompting the team to reconsider a sequel. Reitman returned to direct, while Aykroyd and Ramis returned to write and star alongside Murray, Weaver, Hudson, Moranis, and Potts. Since the cartoon was popular with kids, they decided to make the sequel more child-friendly as opposed to the original. Columbia was pushing for the sequel since their last few releases flopped, giving this a $37 million budget. Finally, five years after the original, Ghostbusters II was released in the summer of 1989.

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Synopsis

Following the events of the first film, the Ghostbusters have disbanded after being sued for property damage by the city. However, when her baby’s carriage rolls by itself onto an intersection, Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver) turns to them for help. Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd), and Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis) investigate, discovering an underground river of slime. Unfortunately, they’re arrested and tried for illegal supernatural investigation, but they’re released after capturing some death row ghosts. Meanwhile, Janosz Poha (Peter MacNicol), Dana’s boss at the museum, is enslaved by the spirit of Vigo the Carpathian. Turns out Vigo is getting power from the slime, which is feeding off all the negative emotions in New York. His ultimate plan is to be reborn, so he orders Janosz to kidnap Dana’s baby so he can possess him. With the city in danger, it’s up to the Ghostbusters once again.

Review

Following up a landmark film like Ghostbusters was no small task, so Ghostbusters II had plenty to live up to. While it isn’t quite on par with the original, the sequel still manages to retain its charm and humor. Everyone in the main cast, from the Ghostbusters to Dana, Louis, and Janine, all do a fantastic job. Newcomer MacNicol as fun as the eccentric Janosz and Kurt Fuller does well filling in for William Atherton. Murray, Aykroyd, and Ramis still have their signature comedic timing, and Hudson gets more to do and say here. The mood slime is a great concept and helps share a message to be nicer and friendlier to one another. There are some fun highlights to be had, including the courtroom scene and the Statue of Liberty scene. Plus, Vigo makes for a good villain, especially with Max Von Sydow providing the voice.

I think the film’s biggest problems are two-fold: they waited too long and they tried making it too kid-friendly. Though it was popular thanks to the merchandising and cartoon, audiences seemed to lose interest and wanted something different. It doesn’t help that this sequel repeats some of the same plot points from the original almost verbatim. Also, in trying to capitalize on the same audience as the cartoon, they lose much of the first one’s edge. Aside from Vigo and the Scoleri Brothers, all the other ghosts are too goofy and silly to be taken seriously. That said, much like the first film, the effects here are fantastic, especially with ILM handling a majority of them. On the whole, the movie certainly has its flaws, but it’s nowhere near as bad as some critics have said. Overall, Ghostbusters II is an underrated sequel that deserves more credit than it gets.

Buy Ghostbusters II from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3fEhAEP.

Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at no additional cost, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and make a purchase.

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Where to watch Ghostbusters II (1989)

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In the early 1980s, Dan Aykroyd worked on a script based on his fascination with the paranormal and quantum physics. He originally wrote it intending to star alongside Eddie Murphy and John Belushi, but sadly Belushi died in 1982. Aykroyd then turned to his friend and fellow SNL cast member Bill Murray, who agreed to star and replace Belushi. Thanks to his previous success with Animal House, Meatballs, and Stripes, Ivan Reitman was chosen to direct personally by Aykroyd. Aykroyd’s script was considered too large to film, so Harold Ramis (Animal House, Caddyshack, Stripes) was added for further rewrites. Sigourney Weaver, Ernie Hudson, Rick Moranis, Annie Potts, and William Atherton joined the cast for a 6-week New York shoot. Richard Edlund supervised the visual effects, Elmer Bernstein composed the music, and Ray Parker Jr made a tie-in song. Finally, on June 8, 1984, Ghostbusters was released to the general public.

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Synopsis

Paranormal scientists Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd), and Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis) are fired from Columbia University. In response, they decide to open their own business, Ghostbusters, where they hunt and capture ghosts for clients. Meanwhile, Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver) visits them after something strange happens at her apartment, namely a strange creature growling “Zuul”. Business starts blowing up after they successfully capture a ghost, and hire Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson) as the fourth Ghostbuster. Trouble starts brewing when EPA inspector Walter Peck (William Atherton) visits to see the containment unit, threatening a court order. Soon enough, Dana and neighbor Louis Tully (Rick Moranis) get possessed by spirits awaiting the arrival of Gozer the Gozerian. To make matters worse, Peck shuts off the containment unit, releasing all previously captured ghosts and signaling Gozer’s return. With the world’s fate at stake, will the Ghostbusters save the day?

Review

Ghostbusters is often considered to be one of the best comedies of the 1980s and for good reason. First off, the cast is near perfect, with Murray, Aykroyd, Ramis, and Hudson playing off each other well. As per usual, Murray’s dry wit and smart-alec attitude steal the show, delivering some of the film’s best lines. Aykroyd is fun as the optimist of the group, while Ramis has some great moments with his deadpan delivery. Unfortunately, Hudson doesn’t have much in terms of characterization, but he does work as a straight man to the others. Much like he would later do in Die Hard, Atherton is great as the bad guy you love to hate. Weaver has some solid chemistry with Murray, and Moranis is fun as the affable but goofy neighbor. Also, Annie Potts’ Jeanine has some great banter with the main Ghostbusters, especially with Murray and Ramis.

The special effects are spectacularly vivid and hold up surprisingly well for a film that’s over 30 years old. There are some cool optical effects, as well as some impressive puppets and animatronics that help make these creatures believable. Reitman directs the film in a way to where it feels more like a horror film than a comedy. Combined with Elmer Bernstein’s score, it helps make the film stand out from other comedies of the time. Oscar-winner John DeCuir’s production design is phenomenal, adding to the film’s scope and giving a sense of scale. With all of the on-site shooting, New York City becomes a character itself, given all the recognizable landmarks and locations. From the NY Public Library to the 8 Hook and Ladder building, these are just as iconic as everything else. Overall, Ghostbusters succeeds thanks to its great cast, fantastic effects, solid direction, and quotable dialogue.

Buy Ghostbusters from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3cS0gdQ.

Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at no additional cost, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and make a purchase.

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Where to watch Ghostbusters (1984)

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In September of 2018, the world lost a true acting legend, the mustached symbol of masculinity known as Burt Reynolds. Born in 1936, Burt Reynolds was probably one of the most iconic actors of the past 40 years. Like most actors, he first got his start on television, with shows like Gunsmoke, Hawk, and Dan August. His first major break came in 1972 when he starred in the survival thriller Deliverance, sans his iconic mustache. His career continued with hits like White Lightning and Gator, as well as bombs like At Long Last Love. At the same time, former stuntman Hal Needham was making the transition to directing. He had previously worked with Reynolds as a stunt coordinator on Gunsmoke, White Lightning, and Gator. In 1977, the two teamed up to work on a small film that ended up becoming a major phenomenon. That film was Smokey and the Bandit.

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At a truck driving competition, father and son Big Enos (Pat McCormick) and Little Enos (Paul Williams) have a job. They need a truck driver to deliver 400 cases of Coors from Texas to Atlanta within 28 hours. Enter the Bandit (Burt Reynolds), who decides to take the job, which he’s promised $80,000 for. Bandit recruits his friend Cledus (Jerry Reed), aka Snowman, to driver the truck while Bandit drives the “blocker”. Essentially, while Snowman drives the truck, Bandit drives somewhat recklessly in order to divert attention away from the truck. Along the way, Bandit ends up inadvertently picking up Carrie (Sally Field), a runaway bride trying to lose her fiancé. Unfortunately for Bandit, this makes him the target of her fiancé’s dad, Sheriff Buford T. Justice (Jackie Gleason). What follows is essentially one big chase with Bandit trying to outrun the sheriff and trying to make the delivery.

This movie is definitely a classic in every sense of the word that shaped a generation. While he was a star at the time, this is the film that would make Burt Reynolds into a superstar. As the Bandit, Reynolds is just dripping in charisma and charm, the very essence of an excellent leading man. As the sheriff, Jackie Gleason (who improvised all his lines) is incredibly funny and has excellent comedic timing. Whether it’s mocking his dimwitted son Junior (Mike Henry) or threatening to catch the Bandit, Gleason is delightful. Sally Field is also fun as the feisty runaway bride who has great chemistry with Reynolds. Jerry Reed, on top of performing the classic theme song, does a great job as the straight man alongside Reynolds. Given this was directed by a former stuntman, the car chases and stunts are tons of fun to watch.

Admittedly, this movie is absolutely a product of its time, and acts as a time capsule of the late 70s. In that sense, the movie is dated, but that doesn’t take away from how enjoyable it is. It takes you back to a time when movies could be just simple fun without talking down to its audience. Plus, we see real cars getting into real chases and real crashes, something we sadly don’t see much of today. On top of making Burt Reynolds a superstar, but the film was even the second highest grossing film of 1977. The film even made Coors seem appealing, which is certainly not an easy feat given how gross the taste is. Of course, as tends to happen with a successful film, there were plenty of rip-offs and cash-ins made. Despite this, Smokey and the Bandit remains a quintessential 70s film and a true classic.

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After the end of World War II in 1945, tensions between the US and the Soviet Union began to arise. While both were allies fighting against the Nazis, the two were still wary of one another. The US feared the threat of communism, while Russia viewed Americans as cowards. The USSR began spreading their communist influence throughout Eastern Europe as the US and England provided aid to Western Europe. This led to a decades-long conflict known as the Cold War, a term coined by George Orwell in 1945. For the next 40+ years, the two were engaged in a stand-still, threatening one another with total nuclear annihilation. As paranoia continued to mount, Stanley Kubrick, following his 1962 film Lolita, decided to show how absurd this conflict was. In 1964, he created the black comedy, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.

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At Burpelson Air Force Base, General Jack D. Ripper (Sterling Hayden) has gone insane. He is convinced that the Russians have poisoned our drinking water through fluoridation, threatening our “precious bodily fluids”. As such, he orders Group Captain Lionel Mandrake (Peter Sellers) to put the base on high alert. Ripper also issues “Wing Attack Plan R”, wherein several B-52 Bombers attack various Russian targets. Meanwhile, at a secret underground base called the War Room, several officials have been assembled. As General Turgidson (George C. Scott) explains the situation, President Muffley (Sellers) tries warning the Russian premier. We also follow a crew of one of the B-52s, led by Major TJ Kong (Slim Pickens), as they prepare their run. With the threat of nuclear annihilation looming, the president’s nuclear advisor Dr. Strangelove (Sellers) tries working out how to survive. It’s a race to try and avert the situation before getting worse.

Despite how dire the situation is, the movie presents this as an absurd black comedy. The characters are intentionally over-the-top and exaggerated caricatures and things spiral out of control to a ridiculous level. Peter Sellers plays three roles in this film: Captain Mandrake, President Muffley, and Dr. Strangelove. He does such a great job that you can buy these characters as three different people. George C. Scott is also memorable as General Buck Turgidson, who acts almost like a spoiled child. He pouts whenever he’s scolded at has an adolescent view of women and sex. Slim Pickens is fun as the stereotypically Texan Major Kong, and watch for an early role for James Earl Jones. Sterling Hayden plays General Ripper seriously enough to where he’s believable in spite of his ridiculous lines. The cast assembled does a great job between playing it straight and being as crazy as possible.

This being one of his first major studio productions, Kubrick does an outstanding job staging these scenes. In spite of how absurd things get, this movie does have a message that’s still relevant today. Today, we live in a world where our leaders can wipe out entire countries with the press of a button. At anytime, the US, Russia, North Korea, or any other country can use nuclear weapons to take out their enemies. This movie was very ahead of its time, given that the Red Scare was still prevalent. Admittedly, some of today’s audience might find this movie to be dated and not as funny as one would believe. There is a lot of dialogue and it can be hard to follow at times. However, if you have an open mind, you’ll find that Dr. Strangelove is a great slice of absurd counter-culture satire.

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[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]Harold Ramis was probably one of the greatest comedic talents who ever lived. It’s because of him that we have comedy classics like Ghostbusters, Stripes, and Meatballs. Prior to this, he worked for Playboy as the magazine’s joke editor and reviewer. Eventually, he worked with the famous Second City Improv Troupe and The National Lampoon Show. He worked alongside other people from Second City like John Belushi, Gilda Radner, and Bill Murray. His first major break was penning the script for 1978’s Animal House. On a budget of $3 million, the movie went on to make over $140 million. Following that film’s success, Ramis not only wrote but also worked as a first-time director on the cult comedy classic Caddyshack. The film not only helped cement Ramis as a comedy genius, but also helped Rodney Dangerfield become a comedy superstar.
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Synopsis

It’s somewhat difficult to discuss the plot of the film since it doesn’t really have a straightforward narrative. The film plays more of a series of sketches that’re somewhat interconnected with one another. Essentially, the main plot has to do a young caddy named Danny Noonan, played by Michael O’Keefe. He’s down-on-his luck and has aspirations to go to college, but he can’t afford it. His best bet is to get in good with Judge Smails, played by Ted Knight, for a chance at a caddy scholarship. At the same time, Smails is dealing with newcomer Al Czervik, played by Rodney Dangerfield, an eccentric real estate developer who likes to party and have fun. Also, the local groundskeeper Carl Spackler, played by Bill Murray, is hired to kill a troublesome gopher. And there’s Chevy Chase as Ty Webb, more or less the straight man in all of this.

Review

As mentioned before, this movie doesn’t so much have a plot so much as it’s stuff happening that’s somewhat connected. Plus, while you could argue that there is a central plot, there are several different subplots that come and go. There’s Danny trying to get the scholarship, Carl trying to get the gopher, and Smails trying to get rid of Czervik. Because of that, it can sometimes be hard to follow how one scene relates to another. However, what makes it work as well is the writing and especially the cast. The way it’s written, it feels less like you’re watching a movie and more like you’re watching the daily goings-on at a country club. While dominated by Dangerfield, Knight, Murray, and Chase, the rest still do a great job. O’Keefe is very likable, his relationship with Sarah Holcombe is sweet, and Cindy Morgan is a knock-out.

Most of you reading this have already seen this movie several times over and can quote the most memorable lines. For those who haven’t, I won’t spoil any of the gags or lines here. Suffice to say, this is probably one of the best comedies ever made. Also, shoutout to Kenny Loggins, who’s title song I’m Alright is instantly catchy. It’s no wonder why the song is so popular even to this day. Regardless of whether or not you’ve already seen it, Caddyshack is the sort of movie you can watch over and over and still find hilarious. And, the less said about the sequel, the better…

Buy Caddyshack on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3YM2fvw.

Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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Where to watch Caddyshack (1980)

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