Harry and the Hendersons

Harry and the Hendersons

Universal

June 5, 1987

Comedy, Fantasy, Children's

DVD
D+

I heard of this movie at the time but had no interest in seeing it.  After a quarter hour, I still don't.  William Dear directed and co-wrote.

Footloose (1984)

Footloose

Paramount

February 17, 1984

Drama, Musical

DVD
C-

I saw this at the time and maybe once or twice since then.  As the title song played over the cute "foot" credits today, I sort of remembered the lyrics.  But once it got into the story of the two "rebels," I remembered not particularly caring about Ren, and actively disliking Ariel.  (The supporting cast is better of course.)  Anyway, there's not enough nostalgia to carry me through more than a quarter hour.  Herbert Ross directed.

Dreamgirls

Dreamgirls
DreamWorks and Paramount
December 25, 2006
Musical, Historical Drama
DVD
C+

Bill Condon wrote and directed this award-winning adaptation of the Broadway hit.  I feel like, despite the acclaim, there's a dazzling movie trapped in a not bad one.  I'm not really sure what the issue(s) I have are about it, but I think it's that the operatic and soap-operatic elements don't really jell with the more realistic, human moments.  Like the clash within the movie between "soul" and "glitz."  Note that while I could see dashes of James Brown and Little Richard in then-45-year-old Murphy's performance, it also reminded me some of the cocky twentysomething Eddie of the 1980s.