Cafe Express (1980)
“Coffee is the best friend a man ever had.”
|
Synopsis: |
|
Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:
Review: Redeeming Qualities and Moments:
Must See? Links: |
Popeye (1980)
“I yam what I yam and I yam what I yam that I yam.”
|
Synopsis: |
|
Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:
Review:
Meanwhile, Williams himself is fine and believable (if oddly restrained) in the title role:
and other supporting actors — including Altman’s own grandson as Swee’ Pea, and Paul Dooley as Wimpy — are nicely cast as well.
Wolf Krueger’s production design is the second primary reason to check this film out. Built on the island of Malta (and apparently still in existence as a significant tourist attraction), the set is a sight to behold, effectively portraying Sweet Haven as a quirky, ramshackle alter-universe.
Where the film stumbles, ironically, is in its faithfulness to its comic origins. While there’s something undeniably tickling about seeing these 2-D characters made manifest (at least for fans of the original Fleischer shorts, like myself), the storyline — including a kidnapping of Swee’ Pea by Bluto (Paul L. Smith), and Popeye’s weird reconciliation with his absentee father:
— eventually devolves into too much slapstick for its own good. Meanwhile, the songs (all written by Harry Nilsson) are decidedly hit-or-miss, with a number of them instantly forgettable. However, when Olive sings one of the more memorable tunes — “He’s Large” — in defense of her choice in beaus, and repeatedly states, “He may not be the best/But he’s large/And he’s mine”, one simply can’t help giggling.
Redeeming Qualities and Moments:
Must See? Links: |
Incredible Shrinking Man, The (1957)
“I felt puny and absurd, a ludicrous midget.”
|
Synopsis: |
|
Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:
Response to Peary’s Review: As we watch Williams — a “sympathetic hero” — spiraling closer and closer to death, with “his home no longer a sanctuary but a booby-trapped battlefield where every household item is potentially a weapon that could destroy him”, we hold our breath in both anticipation and terror. Williams’ valiant struggle to avoid drowning in droplets of water, getting sucked into the vortex of a floor drain, being stepped on by his own brother’s shoe, or being eaten by a spider, are all terrifying in the distorted universe they present: Williams is truly caught in a living nightmare, with no way out. Meanwhile, we can’t help feeling enormous empathy for his growing “sense of inferiority” in the face of his loyal but “normal size” wife (Stuart), who eventually must simply assume that her pin-sized husband has died — though in reality, he’s escaped down into the basement, where the final third of the film takes place, nearly dialogue free yet relentlessly exciting. Redeeming Qualities and Moments:
Must See? Categories
(Listed in 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die) Links: |
Them! (1954)
“Here’s one for Sherlock Holmes: there was enough formic acid in him to kill twenty men.”
|
Synopsis: |
|
Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:
Response to Peary’s Review:
While fans of ’50s “creature feature” films are a ready-made audience for movies like this, all-purpose film fanatics will likely find much here to enjoy as well. As Peary notes, Them! (great title) possesses “believable characters and a particularly fine performance by Whitmore”:
… who struggles throughout the film with guilt from “allowing” his partner to be killed in one of the opening sequences. The special effects are noticeably impressive, with the mutant ants — “products of nuclear bomb-testing” who “are ravaging the area” and may bring about the end of mankind on Earth if they’re not stopped in time — coming across as menacing rather than corny.
However, if you’re in the mood for laughs, there’s plenty of campy and/or corny dialogue to enjoy — though it’s just as easy to watch and listen with a straight face. Redeeming Qualities and Moments:
Must See? Categories
Links: |
Road to Hong Kong (1962)
“I bet you never thought you’d have a fortune riding in the old melon.”
|
Synopsis: |
|
Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:
Review:
… and gamely allow themselves to get into all sorts of foolish situations; meanwhile, the space travel plot is so ridiculous — in true Road to… fashion — that you can’t help watching in anticipation of what bizarre twist will come next (just wait for the banana-feeding machine).
Meanwhile, Collins is actually a fine replacement for Lamour, exhibiting natural chemistry with both aging leads, and taking the silly plot just seriously enough.
Speaking of Lamour, however, her brief cameo appearance late in the film is unfortunately a bit pathetic. While she had every right — as an essential member of the earlier Road to… trio — to insist on appearing in this film, her over-the-top nightclub performance here (playing herself) simply doesn’t provide her with a dignified exit from the series.
Note: Watch for Peter Sellers in an early, uncredited scene as an Indian neurologist attempting to diagnose Hope’s memory loss — he (temporarily) steals the film.
Redeeming Qualities and Moments:
Must See? Links: |
Road to Rio (1947)
“I can’t figure that Lucy out: one minute she’s sweet as pie, and the next, a heel!”
|
Synopsis: |
|
Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:
Review: Redeeming Qualities and Moments:
Must See? Links: |
Road to Utopia (1946)
“Are you sure they’re the right men? They don’t look like killers to me.”
|
Synopsis: |
|
Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:
Review: In an interesting twist, the film (structured as an extended flashback sequence) opens up by showing Lamour and Hope as an aging married couple, thus piquing audience interest immediately, given that Crosby was notoriously the “winner” time and again in their never-ending rivalry for Lamour’s affections. The suspense of how this unexpected pairing came about pays off in a remarkably risque denouement, which must be seen to be believed (seriously). I’m not voting this film “must see”, because I’ve already applied that designation to two other entries in the series, and film fanatics shouldn’t have to sit through more than that unless they choose to — but this one is certainly recommended if you’re at all a fan of Hope-and-Crosby’s silly, self-referential humor. Redeeming Qualities and Moments:
Must See? Links: |
Road to Morocco (1942)
“This is the screwiest picture I was ever in.”
|
Synopsis: |
|
Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:
Review: Note: Road to Morocco is notable as the first film in the series with an entirely “original” screenplay, not based on another story. Redeeming Qualities and Moments:
Must See? Categories
Links: |
Road to Zanzibar (1941)
“If he’s a god, I’M Mickey Mouse!”
|
Synopsis: |
|
Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:
Review: Redeeming Qualities and Moments:
Must See? Categories
Links: |
Dark Journey (1937)
“So our pretty little dressmaker is a spy!”
|
Synopsis: |
|
Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:
Response to Peary’s Review:
Most likely Peary includes this title in his book simply because it’s one of Leigh’s all-too-rare screen roles (and her first leading role) — but it’s not must-see for all film fanatics. Redeeming Qualities and Moments:
Must See? Links: |
