Shampoo

Shampoo

Columbia

March 13, 1975

Dramedy

DVD
C-

I've watched this once before, but it just felt really downbeat today, not funny and not sexy.  Still, yeah, there are recognizable faces to spot, although I only did a quarter-hour's worth.  Beatty stars and co-wrote, while Hal Ashby directed.

Private Benjamin

Private Benjamin

Warner Bros.

October 10, 1980

Comedy

DVD
C

I'd never actually seen this before, although of course I was aware of it at the time and even semi-regularly watched the TV series.  Unlike 9 to 5, it doesn't hold up particularly well, and I was of course most interested in Judy's bad but very brief second marriage, with Albert Brooks playing a character we don't mourn.  The setup of her recruitment is very flimsy, and I don't generally go for Army comedies anyway.  Still, I gave this a half hour and I've certainly seen worse.  Plus Goldie was as lovely as in Foul Play, and Eileen Brennan does what she can with her role, as she would on TV.  Howard Zieff directed.

Overboard (1987)

Overboard (1987)

MGM etc.

December 16, 1987

Comedy

DVD
C-

I avoided this movie for almost 35 years because of what I knew of the premise.  And I have to say, the first quarter hour, before the deception happens, is not bad.  Not good of course, but not as creepy as I expected.  Garry Marshall directed, which is generally not a good sign.

The Out-of-Towners (1999)

The Out-of-Towners (1999)

Paramount

April 2, 1999

Comedy
DVD
D+

I don't know if it's because this is a remake of a 1970 Neil Simon movie that this feels so cliched and predictable, but the best I can say is it's mostly innocuous.  Sam Weisman directed, five years after D2: The Mighty Ducks, which was a bit better.