The comedy based on an ageing silver screen star and Mel Brooks’ own experiences of the golden age of television offers plenty of great characters, fun and substance.
Category: Comedy
#454 Tank (1984)
This being one of the lesser known 80s movies so I expected a light-hearted military farce with some sort of special tank as the centerpiece. Quite the opposite, this movie is more of a adventure and coming-of-age drama for both the father (James Garner) and the son (C. Thomas Howell).
The movie starts off a bit slow and keeps you guessing of the genre and things to come. When things start happening, they sort of make sense but are merrily over exaggerated and ridiculous, with bad cops, a hidden labor camp and reaching the point of no return by going berserk in town with the military tank.
As much as I loved the nonsense of escaping the police with a Sherman tank and them not able to keep up, the movie couldn’t get me interested in events and lagged more and more towards the end.
Tank was written by Dan Gordon who would go on to write Gotcha (1995) and Surf Ninjas (1993), a movie that still has eighties written all over it, despite the later release date.
Summary : Has tank, bad cops, explosions and mayhem, but fails to create any substantial interest to the plot or the characters throughout its running time
#448 The Man with One Red Shoe (1985)
Loaded with first row Hollywood talent, the lousy script of goofy spies trying to out-goof each other is without aim or true menace, and gives none involved any chance to look good.
#445 Midnight Run (1988)
The totally surprising chemistry between leads along with the witty manuscript and its great array of characters make Midnight Run a great comedy, and almost a perfect road movie.
#444 National Lampoon’s European Vacation (1985)
The sequel to the Vacation (1983) feels forced and outdated, and never quite seems to find its own voice. While not a classic, the individual gags are still funny, though.
#443 Heartbreak Hotel (1988)
A teenager uses an idiotic plot to kidnap an Elvis who doesn’t look like Elvis, who then goes around singing and fixing problems in this frustratingly stupid concept of a movie.
#442 I, Madman (1989)
Building upon a mediocre concept and a wonderful, film noir atmosphere, ’I, Madman’ is without surprises in its last 60 minutes and this would’ve worked better as a short film.
#440 Hollywood Shuffle (1987)
A proof that a low budget paired with talent can go far, Hollywood Shuffle is a original and refreshing stab against the powers of Hollywood, but some of its parts feel like time fillers.
#439 About Last Night… (1986)
About Last Night starts off as a mediocre comedy, turns into an awkward urban sex drama in the middle, but finally triumphs as a genuinely beautiful movie about being in love.
#438 Valley Girl (1983)
Riding in the tailwind of Frank Zappa’s popular song, Valley Girl does not dig anywhere deep enough into its personas and its shallowness is best summarised by its banal ending.
#437 My Science Project (1985)
On a paper and based on the stills I saw before watching the movie My Science Project seemed like a perfect 80s scifi adventure. Unfortunately the movie is handicapped by its uninspired plot that can’t be saved by the mediocre ideas loaned from other movies.
#436 Harry and the Hendersons (1987)
While the cinematography and the big foot make-up are top notch, Harry and the Hendersons lacks that special something charm that made the likes of E.T. and Alf iconic.
#435 Great Balls of Fire! (1989)
Dennis Quaid performs terrificly as the outrageous Jerry Lee Lewis in Great Balls of Fire, a movie that’s a weird mix of taking a piss at its subject – but with a certain affection.
#433 Raising Arizona (1987)
Raising Arizona totally took me surprise by not once going by the obvious route of the lowest common poop-barf denominations all baby involved comedies usually take.
#429 Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989)
Woody Allen’s Crimes and Misdemeanors tackles a huge amount of themes, including adultery, murder, divorce and guilt with amazing ease, without feeling exhausting at all.
#428 Broadway Danny Rose (1984)
Much of the Allen’s ’Broadway Danny Rose’s charm lie in the characters and the witty dialogue that flows effortlessly, but ultimately the story leaves no lasting impression.
#425 The Mighty Quinn (1989)
A jamaican cop investigating a murder has to tightrope between his personal life, the powers that be and being loyal to his people and in this lovable caribbean action thriller.
#421 Motel Hell (1980)
What seems like another poorly aged horror movie at first, Motel Hell is just so utterly ruthlessly gross and bizarre that by the end the positives outweight its shortcomings.
#419 Private School (1983)
Located in the parallel universe where girls love to be sexually harassed, Private School is a collection of excuses to show some naked skin, and as such its T&A is above average.
#418 Deal of the Century (1983)
Black comedy about the morality – or the lack thereof – of weapons manufacturers manages to take a few good jabs, but plays a bit too tame and safe towards the end.