Comedies from the 1980s

Easy Money
      1983 | USA | Laughs: 1.5 (Just Awful) | imdb: 6.3
      wikipedia | who was involved?

An outgoing man who loves drink, games and smoke must give up his "sins" for one year in order for his wife to inherit ten million dollars. Rodney Dangerfield tries hard, but the laughs don't come—I feel sorry for him and the crew, as it's a cute story. Honorable appearance by Joe Pesci as the best friend who helps you get in (or stay out of) trouble. (Last viewed: August 2010)

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Vampires in Havana (¡Vampiros en La Habana!)
      1985 | Cuba | Laughs: 1.0 (Smirk) | imdb: 7.1
      wikipedia | who was involved?

I watched this crudely animated feature from Cuba in a few sittings. I'm sure the plot about vampires from different lands vying for world domination is a metaphor for something, don't ask me what. The accents were terrific, and there was lots to grin about. I had to take it in small sips — about ten minutes at a time — as the story didn't grab me enough to overcome the rough graphics. Overall, certainly not a laugh-out-loud piece, but — if you have the patience — a charming cultural experience.

(Last viewed: November 2019)

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The Icicle Thief (Ladri di Saponette)
      1989 | Italy | Laughs: 1.0 (Don't Bother) | imdb: 7.0
      wikipedia | who was involved?

A film within a film, collisions between levels of reality, references to other movies… in short, this movie is very clever in many ways I deeply dislike (unless it's done from a consistent viewpoint, as in The Matrix). I had a half-chuckle when a character slipped on a soapy floor—that's about it for the comedic value. If you find these kinds of mind-twists entertaining then by all means watch it, otherwise it's a solid "skip". (Last viewed: July 2014)

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Withnail and I
      1987 | U.K. | Laughs: 1.0 (Don't Bother) | imdb: 7.6
      wikipedia | who was involved?

Two unemployed actors living in squalid conditions escape to a rural retreat, soon to realize they are unsuited to country life and ill-equipped to relate to the local characters. Parts of the movie were loud and loudly acted (I'm not one for theatrical performances), but I enjoyed the character of the quirky uncle. This is probably a memorable movie, but not one I'd recommend if you're looking for a laugh. (Last viewed: May 2017)

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Who Framed Roger Rabbit
      1988 | USA | Laughs: 0.8 (Just Awful) | imdb: 7.7
      wikipedia | who was involved?

I avoided this movie for years as the sound of cartoon characters mixing with live people sounded like an awful premise, then a podcast of learned cinephiles convinced me to give it a go.

The first ten minutes were unbearable. After the rabbit left the scene I gave it a go for another fifteen, but the rabbit's return brought the movie to new heights of "can't watch" this, so I gave up.

This might be interesting if you're in film school… Otherwise, forget it. (Last viewed: May 2019)

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Ruthless People
      1986 | USA | Laughs: 0.8 (Don't Bother) | imdb: 6.9
      wikipedia | who was involved?

This hour-and-a-half movie is about ninety minutes too long. It may have been okay in its day, but its public was a breed which has since vanished from this Earth.

Delighted that kidnappers are threatening to kill his wife, a business man does his best to disobey their instructions. Meanwhile, the kidnappers (a sweet couple) struggle to get along with their hard-headed victim.

There's nothing particularly annoying about the movie in itself — it has likeable actors doing their best. It's just unbelievably dull.
(Last viewed: May 2019)

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Leningrad Cowboys Go America
      1989 | Finland | Laughs: 0.5 (Light-Hearted) | imdb: 7.1
      wikipedia | who was involved?

A band from the Russian tundra goes on a road trip through the United States. This is an entertaining light-hearted movie with a chuckle or two.

—You know rock 'n roll?
—No.
—Study this book.

The cinematography is superb—the director seem to have been heavily inspired by Down By Law and Paris, Texas, both of which were shot by Robby Müller. (Last viewed: July 2014)

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Smorgasbord (a.k.a Cracking Up)
      1983 | USA | Laughs: 0.5 (Just Awful) | imdb: 5.9
      wikipedia | who was involved?

For the longest time, I thought that the frequent American sneering at the French for finding Jerry Lewis funny was a symptom of ignorance on the part of the accusers (did the French really find Jerry Lewis funny?) and of their lack of sense of humor, in keeping with the general lack of appreciation for British humor on the western side of the Atlantic. You see, I hadn't yet watched a Jerry Lewis movie, and I assumed that he had to be terribly funny in a way that most Americans just didn't get.

Some say that this film is Jerry's funniest, but it was one of the least funny comedies I'd ever watched, confirming part of the popular wisdom that I'd so long rejected. I still don't know whether the French find Jerry funny; true or not, the idea that they do is certainly amusing.

I'm sure the man was a genius of a kind and I'm glad he found his public. (Last viewed: December 2018)

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Parenthood
      1989 | USA | Laughs: 0.3 (Don't Bother) | imdb: 7.0
      wikipedia | who was involved?

Several parents deal with the joys and pains of having children. I can't tell you more about the plot as I had to quit in boredom after thirty minutes. It was that or jumping off the balcony.

Once again I got sucked in by someone's vehement recommendation to watch a Steve Martin movie. Once again this perennial North American favorite fails to make me even smirk. The cast is not stellar but everyone else is more or less fine, I can buy into the roles they portray. But the moment I look at this man, a warning signal in my brain screams "clown" and jolts me out of the movie. I just can't take this guy seriously as an actor.

Don't let this discourage you. I'm sure someone somewhere will find something to like in this film. Blissful is that person, there's so much Steve Martin to be consumed for someone who likes what he does.

(Last viewed: September 2022)

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Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios)
      1988 | Spain | Laughs: 0.1 (Light-Hearted) | imdb: 7.6
      wikipedia | who was involved?

Various characters converge on the apartment of a lady who is trying to get in touch with the man who just dumped her.

As in other movies I've seen by Pedro Almodóvar, the comedy tag should not be taken as a promise of big laughs (I don't think we laughed even once), but of smirks—a trait shared by other Spanish comedies until recent times. (Last viewed: May 1989 March 2013)

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Marrakech Express
      1989 | Italy | Laughs: 0.1 (Don't Bother) | imdb: 7.3
      wikipedia | who was involved?

Four friends who have lost touch embark on a road trip to bail an old friend out of a Moroccan jail. Nostalgic, well-intentioned, not funny.

(Last viewed: September 2022)

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Bliss
      1985 | Australia | Laughs: 0.1 (Broken Comedies) | imdb: 6.8
      wikipedia | dmoz | who was involved?

In the 1980s, a few of the Australians I met seemed a little bit odd. If people are a product of their culture, films such as Bliss help explain that. It feels like an extended film school project with a bit of a budget. Though it's classified as a comedy, it's certainly not funny. Bliss is about a man waking up to the "system" and eventually leaving for a simpler life. The ending in a rainforest community resembling those of the Nimbin region is excellent—the movie should have started there. (Last viewed: September 2012)

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The Funeral (お葬式 / Osōshiki)
      1984 | Japan | Laughs: 0.1 (Light-Hearted) | imdb: 7.2
      wikipedia | who was involved?

This movie follows a funeral from start to end, a perfect excuse to take a relaxed look at the many rituals that punctuate Japanese life, and to hear some of the thoughts that cross people's minds in such situations. The head of the family is played by Tsutomu Yamazaki, a beautiful Japanese actor who has featured in classics ranging from the noodle comedy Tampopo by the same director (Juzo Itami) to Akira Kurosawa's hospital drama Red Beard. Perhaps by coincidence, he was a brilliant funeral director in Departures 24 years later. It's a good movie, and you may smile, but you won't laugh. (Last viewed: October 2012)

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Pacific Banana
      1981 | Australia | Laughs: 0.0 (Just Awful) | imdb: 4.6
      wikipedia | who was involved?

This movie belongs to a genre that for whatever reason seems to have flourished in Australia in the last century—we'll call it Aussie adult comedy. The plot (if there is one) involves a charter airline that flies between Australia and Tahiti, and hordes of women who throw themselves at the two pilots. The comedic power being close to zero, the only point seems to be to show a bit of flesh. It's a big bore: steer clear, unless of course you're one of those people who love bad movies. (Last viewed: July 2014)

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Shut Up When You're Talking! (Tais-Toi Quand tu Parles!)
      1981 | France | Laughs: 0.0 (Just Awful) | imdb: 4.5
      who was involved?

This movie has a terrific title—and that's the only good thing I can say about it. A man with a James Bond complex is mistaken for a genuine spy. Sounds good? Go watch something like The Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe. I had seen Aldo Maccione in a couple of half-decent roles and hoped this movie, in which he stars, would showcase his talents. Sadly, I could not get past the 25th minute. It's unwatchable. (Last viewed: July 2014)

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