Silent Movie

Silent Movie

Twentieth Century Fox

June 16, 1976

Comedy

DVD
C+

I saw this at the time and Marcel Marceau's "Non!" produced one of the biggest laughs I've ever had in a movie theater.  This time, I instead laughed at the "walking against the wind" joke, which I wouldn't have gotten at eight. Anyway, the movie is uneven, sometimes tedious, sometimes hilarious.  I think it's worth sticking with, especially if you want to count '70s "movie stars."  (I tagged as many as I was allowed, but I do have to mention I spotted a pre-CHiPs Erik Estrada.)  Brooks directed, co-wrote, and stars.

Misery

Misery

Castle Rock etc.

November 30, 1990

Dramedy

DVD
C-

I had to read the Stephen King novel many years ago for a class and only got through it as a hate-read.  The first quarter hour of the movie though is a quirky little comedy-drama, contrasting the country and the city.  William Goldman wrote the screenplay and Rob Reiner directed.

Honeymoon in Vegas

Honeymoon in Vegas

New Line Cinema

August 28, 1992

Comedy

DVD
D+

Unlikable except for Parker a bit.  Andrew Bergman wrote and directed.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Columbia
September 18, 2009
Children's, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Romance
DVD
B

I saw this at the time and am very pleased to say it holds up, in visuals (despite advances in the last decade or so), music, humor, intelligence, etc.  And, yes, it counts as a romance, since the nerd-love between Flint (Bill Hader) and Sam (Anna Faris in what I've always thought of as the Drew Barrymore role) is sweet and better done than in a lot of romcoms.  The voice casting is overall solid, and I like how Mr. T is cast so much to type it's basically self-parody.  There are a lot of great throwaway jokes, visual and sound, and the music is just a lot of fun.  (The pacing could be a shade better and I wouldn't say I was riveted, so B is as high as I'll go.)

This is based on the (much shorter) picture book by Judi and Ron Barrett.  Phil Lord and Christopher Miller did the adaptation and co-directed.