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This simply irresistible first feature from the Muppets has Kermit thefrog going from the swamps to Hollywood to be a star. As he travels and picks up his usual friends (Miss Piggy, Fozzie the Bear), Doc Hopper (Charles Durning) is in pursuit, looking for Kermit to be the spokesman for his frog-leg cuisine. A loose rendition of The Wizard of Oz, the film incorporates the same cagey humor as their breakout syndicated TV series The Muppet Show. This is one of the few times that a human cast (notably Steve Martin, Orson Welles, and Carol Kane) are integrated seamlessly with nonhumans. Worth noting is Paul Williams's score, which includes the Oscar-nominated "The Rainbow Connection." Williams's music, much like Howard Ashman's work on The Little Mermaid and other Disney films, provides more than atmosphere; there's a degree of magic here. Williams did not work on the future Muppet films until A Muppet Christmas Carol. His contributions made these films the best of the Muppet series. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (92)

"A bear in his natural habitat....a Studebaker!"
This is one of the first films that I ever remember seeing, and it is still one of my favorites today. This story about the Muppets' cross-country excursion to Hollywood is beautifully told through the wonderful vision of Jim Henson. It answers the question about how the Muppets first came together, and offers the audience a glimpse into the lives of the various eccentrics that made up 'The Muppet Show' before they became famous. My favorite is, of course, The Great Gonzo, the "prince of plungers." His out-of-this-world weirdness always adds more fun to the chaos of the situation, as Kermit and Co. try to outrun the evil Doc Hopper and make it to Hollywood on time to audition. I also love the big Studebaker that Kermit and Fozzie drive around in as they sing "Moving Right Along." All of the songs are memorable, from "Rainbow Connection" to Gonzo's "I'm Going to Go Back There Someday." I have seen this movie a million times and I will watch it a million more. It's just one of those films that you can never get tired of viewing.

A classic for kids and adults
The Muppet Movie is a classic movie that shows how Jim Henson's Muppets made it big. The story begins with Kermit the Frog sitting on a log in a swamp when a Hollywood agent finds him and tells him to go to Hollywood for a casting call for frogs. Kermit hits the road and along the way picks up plenty of new friends while also running into some trouble. The evil Doc Hopper wants Kermit to be his spokesperson for his new frog legs restaurant, but Kermit refuses. Along the way to Hollywood, Kermit meets Fozzie the Bear, Miss Piggie, Gonzo the Great and many others. This is a great movie that has humor for both kids and adults. There are very funny parts that intermingle the talents of many real movie stars in small cameos.

All the Muppets are here from Kermit to Miss Piggie, Fozzie, Gonzo, Rolf the dog, Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, Dr. Munson Honeydew and Beaker, and many others. There are plenty of cameos including Edgar Bergen, Milton Berle, Mel Brooks, James Coburn, Dom Deluise, Elliot Gould, Bob Hope, Madeline Kahn, Carol Kane, Cloris Leachman, Steve Martin, Richard Pryor, Telly Savalas, Orson Welles, and Paul Williams. Steve Martin and Mel Brooks are the funniest as a sarcastic waiter and a mad scientist. Charles Durning is also very good as Doc Hopper with his bumbling assistant, Max played by Austin Pendleton. Fans of the Muppets of all ages with love this classic about how the Muppets came to be!

Never give up your dreams.
A simple story with simple themes: Don't give up on your dreams; sharing your dreams brings you more friends to help you find your dreams. As early as 5th grade I would rewatch this movie, and each time reminds me to keep going an not give up. Yes, its got great songs, great lines, great cameos; but to me its message to not give up is what makes it such a great movie.

Creme de la Kermie.
Mini review of one of my alltime 10 favorite films.

Many people question why this is on my top 10. I think the question is why is it not on theirs? This is pure entertainment for the whole family. It is a movie that works on all levels. The story is enchanting. The music is charming and whimsical. The muppetry is fantastic. It is hard to imagine a better opening to a movie than the rainbow connection sequence.

The movie is a cornucopia of awesome quotes. I think my favorite still remains: If frog's couldn't hop, I'd be gone with the Schwinn.

The cameo roles are excellent as well. Steve Martin excels as a put upon waiter. Dom Delouise is impressive as a hollywood agent adrift in a swamp and Mel Brooks steals the show as a german mad scientist.

Better than a Bucket of Doc Hooper Frog Legs!
I had the pleasure of introducing my two and half year old son to the magic of the muppets through DVDs of the original "The Muppet Show", the syndicated TV program, that I had watched and enjoyed, while growing up in the 1970s. He loved Kermit & company's surealistic, yet hilarious comedy and music, so the next logical step was to move on to the Muppet's various adventures on film. Luckily, the first DVD I bought was the original 1979 film, "The Muppet Movie". The plot is quite simple.In his hometown swamp, Kermit meets up with a lost and nervous agent (played by the ever hammy, Dom DeLuise) who informs him that a major Hollywood studio is looking for frogs with talent.Armed with a dream of making people happy through his dancing and singing, Kermit goes on a road trip to the West Coast to break into the movie biz. Along the way he picks up new found friends Fozzie Bear, Gonzo the Great, Miss Piggy (starting their long running, tumultuous romance), and the rock group, Dr.Teeth & the Electric Mayhem, who all share in dreams of Hollywood fame .Unfortunately, Kermit also gets the attention and ire of Doc Hopper (Charles Durning), a Col. Sanders knock-off, who wants to force our hero to be the spokesfrog for his fast food, frog legs chain, "alive or stuffed". What an adventure! This is a wonderfully entertaining film, which will appeal to both kids and adults alike. Its obvious, that Muppet creator, Jim Henson and his fellow performer, Frank Oz were at their creative peaks.The writing is sharp and never 'dumbed down' ("I think I've lost my way"..."Have you ever tried Hare Krishna?") and the musical numbers are well staged (including Kermit's now classic, "Rainbow Connection"). What's more the film is filled with entertaining cameos from 1970's Hollywood including Madeline Kahn, Richard Pryor, James Coburn, Mel Brooks, Elliot Gould, Steve Matin ETC. My son and I have now collected all the DVDs in the Muppet's cannon of films and we pretty much agree, that this movie is by far, the best of the lot! For great family entertainment get "The Muppet Movie"! ... Read more

Description

Disney animators and filmmakers have again burst the boundaries of imagination with FANTASIA 2000. Fulfilling Walt Disney's original vision of uniquely fusing sight and sound in a full-length motion picture, this film begins where its predecessor, FANTASIA, left off, with seven completely new segments and the return of the popular "The Sorcerer's Apprentice." In this fun-filled movie, breathtaking images are coupled with classical music favorites. From Beethoven to Gershwin -- from flamingos bobbing yo-yos to a city in bluesy motion -- vivid animation brings the music of the masters to colorful life. Sixty years after the original masterpiece, Roy E. Disney has orchestrated a brilliant collaboration of more than 1,200 artists and technicians, including the animators of THE LION KING, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, and ALADDIN -- to present FANTASIA 2000, a film filled with "dazzling moments" (The New York Times) and "arguably the greatest Disney film ever" (KNX/CBS Radio), that is sure to captivate viewers of all ages! ... Read more

Reviews (139)

Not the original but well worth your time
Fantasia 1940 isn't simply the greatest piece of animation anyone ever made, it is one of world's greatest works of art. It's illustration of various pieces of classical music was as daring and innovative a move as any artist in any medium has ever made. It's animation was awe-inspiring and it even had a kind of coherence. Fantasia 1940 was almost the world's first animated opera. Fantasia 2000 merely follows in 1940's footsteps, with the aid of computers. It's a sequel and it looks it.

That said, I had a wonderful time watching this. As in the original, some of the segments don't work as well as others. The Beethoven's Fifth segment is a bit of a bore, I thought the Respighi whales piece was excessive, and, given the choice, I wouldn't have included the Sorceror's Apprentice again. But some segments work extremely well. I've never cared much for Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, but its segment here gave me a whole new appreciation of that work. The Carnival of the Animals is hysterically funny, with almost a Chuck Jones feel to it. And Donald Duck is both very funny and very touching in the Pomp and Circumstance.

Following a legend is an impossible task. But Fantasia 2000 is a worthy sequel to its illustrious predecessor.

The Best Movie In The Whole Wide World!
From the animators of The Lion King, Beauty And The Beast and Aladdin comes the critically acclaimed Fantasia 2000. Honoring Walt Disney's hope that Fantasia would become a work-in-progress, Roy E. Disney oversaw this brilliant new film, in which more than 1,200 artists, animators and technicians set striking new images to breathtaking musical scores.

Pines Of Rome A Marvel of 3-D animation in which whales swim among the clouds.

Firebird Suite Exquisite visuals tell a surprisingly uplifting tale of transformation and renewal.

Pomp And Circumstance Donald Duck takes on the challenge of Noah's flood, helping all the animals and his lady love.

Rhapsody In Blue A rich, rhythmic portrayal of New York City citizens throughout their day and in their daydreams.

Piano Concerto #2, Allegro, Opus 102 A brave tin soldier overcomes huge odds to rescue a tiny ballerina from a wicked jack-in-the-box.

Beethoven's Symphony No.5 Abstract images tell the tale of good vs. evil.

Carnival Of The Animals What happens when you give a yo-yo to a pink flamingo?

The Sorcerer's Apprentice Returning favorite from the original in which Mickey gets into magical mischief.

Wow!! So Many Words To Express What I Think!!
At first I kind of thought it was annoying. 'Why do they always have to copy somthing that is such a beautiful thing?' But then I realized, that they did'nt push a side the old Fantasia, but they put it right infront of them and said: We have to be led by this. The goal was be as good as the first one was. And I must say: They actualy got there. They had a wonderful combination of diffarent styles of music, with diffarent types of graphics. Which what made it a wonderful thing to watch. Its just amazing. The people who worked on this movie are really really talented. It is very recommended, and worth watching.

A great followup to a Disney classic.
Alive with music and brilliant animation the new Fantasia2000 film is not an instant Disney classic but it is a definate must see. It is not as good as the original but it is just as vibrant and colorful. This film has something that the original did not have, celebrities. Steve Martin, Better Midler, and Angela Lansbury introduce some of the musical pieces. The animation is really beautiful to watch. I highly reccomend this film.

Great
This is a great movie. There's great music, cool animation, a feast for all of your senses. It's really a wonderful and unique experience, different even from the first Fantasia. It may not be for everybody, though. On discerning reviewer (bra1n1ac) didn't care for it because there were famous actors doing the intros to the pieces. Of course, these ae talented professionals, but if you don't care for good performances then this moght not be for you. Bra1n1ac also claims that this film can never be a masterpiece, so I looked at his other reviews. He gave five stars to Scooby Doo: Zombie Island and Scooby Doo: The Witch's Ghost.

I highly reccommend this movie to everyone, except maybe people who consider Scooby-Doo to be the ultimate animatoin masterpiece. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Ron Howard's 1989 hit, written by fellow family men Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel (Splash, A League of Their Own), is an original comedy about contemporary life and the eternal responsibilities of raising children. Steve Martin has never been better than as a dedicated husband and father trying (and inevitably failing, as do most of us) to balance the demands of his kids and his job. The actor, like his character, throws himself into the part quite touchingly, never more so than in a scene where a hired clown fails to show up at a children's party and Martin's character unabashedly provides the entertainment. Good as Martin is, this is actually an ensemble piece with numerous actors playing members of the same family, with cross-generational joys and disappointments in the air--and parents in conflict, children in love, and so on. Jason Robards is very good as a patriarch who finally accepts the reality that the son he adores (Tom Hulce) is a major screwup. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (50)

A Wonderful Family Masterpiece
I can't express how much Parenthood is a great film. It's a beautifully crafted story with comedy and drama all woven together in a perfect movie gem. The film centers around a large family who are just going through the trials and tribulations of life. Kids, sex, jobs, relationships, divorce. You name it. Steve Martin headlines this film that has an undoubtedly brilliant unsemble cast. Dianne Wiest stands out in a hilarious and yet, very real performance. She has trouble adjusting to son in law Keanu Reeves. She has a few classic scenes that are undeniably funny and brilliant. The legendary Jason Robards is on hand as the family patriarch. He is solid and wonderful. The remaining cast is outstanding: Mary Steenburgen, Rick Moranis, Martha Plimpton, Joaquin Phoenix, Tom Hulce. You can't go wrong with any of them. Director Ron Howard is a master at putting this film, with different story arcs, together. This is his best work. Steve Martin also shows at how good he can do dramatic parts. If he is deserving of an Oscar, then he should've been recognized for this. Parenthood is a stylish, clever, funny, and teriffic film on family life. See this movie and you'll feel good in the end.

Will have you alternately laughing and crying!
Steve Martin is top billed in this film and he is excellent but the rest of the cast is just as good. This movie is actually divided into four separate parts-four different branch off's of the same family (the father, his kids and their families)-that allows this fine ensemble to portray all the ups and downs of family life. It is a film that teaches without preaching and it's lesson is clearly understood: in life, you can't have the peaks without the valleys. And because of it every character comes to stark realizations about themselves and their relationships with other people. All the characters, that is, except the one played by Tom Hulce. But even that character is correctly written; it just simply isn't the right time for him to realize.The interactions between the father (Jason Robards) and his two sons (Hulce and Martin) tell us much about all three characters' past, present and future. Unfortunately there isn't any interaction between the father and the two daughters, played by Martha Plimpton and Dianne Wiest, but with so many characters to deal with and so many ties to bind, there simply wasn't time. But the time the writers have is well spent indeed. Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel have taken a very basic idea and expanded on it in a realistic and original way. It's no wonder that all the characters are tied together so perfectly in the end.Ron Howard has taken that script and directed these tremendous performers to superlative work. Very seldom have any of them been better. Martin shines in an everyman IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE portrayal of the father of three and the second oldest child of the four earlier mentioned. Not since ROXANNE had he given a performance of such range and depth. Dianne Wiest as his older sister won another Oscar nomination and is just as good as she was in HANNAH AND HER SISTERS. Martha Plimpton as the next oldest child is fine as a mother torn between her high-tech-education-supporter-husband (Moranis, his best work since LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS) and her young childhood deprived daughter. Tom Hulce is the youngest of Jason Robards' four kids and has the toughest role to play. He wasn't given the one-liners the others have. His character isn't likeable. His father obviously favors him at first, which is hard for the rest of the family as well as the audience to understand. But he portrays the character as it should be played-a wanderer with unstoppable dreams who is also to be pitied. Robards' portrayal of the father is one of his best and should have garnered him another Oscar nomination. Through Robards' father character we see how his kids turned out the way they did. And we see him growing and learning as he finds you CAN teach an old dog new tricks. Joaquin Phoenix, here billed as Leaf (River's kid brother as Wiest's youngest) and Helen Shaw as Grandma, the matriarch of the family are also excellent. Keanu Reeves (Wiest's son-in-law) and Mary Steenburgen (Martin's wife) round out the cast beautifully. Randy Newman's score is perfect and the song "I Love to See You Smile" is very infectious.Pulling everything together for a production is not an easy thing. When you couple that with the fact that in this movie, comedy and drama are blended together seemlessly, Howard and his cast and crew have created a true treasure. Being a perfect parent is not easy. Being a perfect person is impossible. If you are anything less, see this movie.

Very Good now
When I first saw this movie about 7 years ago I did not like it. I did not get why it was so funny back then and thought it all rather sad.
But I tried and it was worth it! It is sometimes very gripping in what happens in the lives of people, though it is sometimes a little exaggerated, like in an Irving book.

It is also funny. The things that happen in itself are hilarious, and sometimes also there are some funny things interspersed ("Take Grandma away from the Nintendo").

The part of Keanu Reeves is also interesting. He plays a dumb guy like in Bill and Ted's excellent adventure. There is a touching scene where he talks to his wife's mother about her son's masturbation ("That's why little dude's do"). Even though he is the stupidest, he has the best advice.

Tom Hulce is brilliant as the youngest gambler son. The dad, useless in the beginning, now finally realized what he has to do.

It is a funny movie and sometimes touching. One of the better Steve Martin movies.

Overpriced, no-frills DVD of a wonderful movie
This is a wonderful, heartwarming film that always manages to make me laugh AND cry....that's why I wanted to own a copy. Unfortunately, the DVD lacks any special features to enhance it (especially frustrating since it's a comparatively expensive one!). How tough would it have been for Ron Howard, Steve Martin or any of the supporting cast to offer a commentary track?

That's why I'd recommend it as a rental only. Dianne Wiest and Helen Shaw deliver exceptional performances...Steve Martin's at his most charming...the child actors are superior and it's one of Mary Steenburgen's best performances.

"No widescreen", "NO SALE"!!!!!
This is such a good film that ranks in the top five of Steve Martin films, with such a great supporting cast and a truly original and funny screenplay for them to work with, it just seems a shame that we the consumer had to wait more than a decade for a "Pan-Scan" DVD release of this great family film, I'm sure alot of people would agree with me that it's like watching 1/2 of the original movie. I hope the distributer of this DVD gets copies of all these reviews and then thinks twice about the next movie he "butchers" by releasing it in a "Pan-Scan" format on a DVD because he just lost a lot of sales due to the lack of a widescreen version of this DVD and "I am sad to say I'm one of those lost sales". ... Read more

Reviews (92)

"A bear in his natural habitat....a Studebaker!"
This is one of the first films that I ever remember seeing, and it is still one of my favorites today. This story about the Muppets' cross-country excursion to Hollywood is beautifully told through the wonderful vision of Jim Henson. It answers the question about how the Muppets first came together, and offers the audience a glimpse into the lives of the various eccentrics that made up 'The Muppet Show' before they became famous. My favorite is, of course, The Great Gonzo, the "prince of plungers." His out-of-this-world weirdness always adds more fun to the chaos of the situation, as Kermit and Co. try to outrun the evil Doc Hopper and make it to Hollywood on time to audition. I also love the big Studebaker that Kermit and Fozzie drive around in as they sing "Moving Right Along." All of the songs are memorable, from "Rainbow Connection" to Gonzo's "I'm Going to Go Back There Someday." I have seen this movie a million times and I will watch it a million more. It's just one of those films that you can never get tired of viewing.

A classic for kids and adults
The Muppet Movie is a classic movie that shows how Jim Henson's Muppets made it big. The story begins with Kermit the Frog sitting on a log in a swamp when a Hollywood agent finds him and tells him to go to Hollywood for a casting call for frogs. Kermit hits the road and along the way picks up plenty of new friends while also running into some trouble. The evil Doc Hopper wants Kermit to be his spokesperson for his new frog legs restaurant, but Kermit refuses. Along the way to Hollywood, Kermit meets Fozzie the Bear, Miss Piggie, Gonzo the Great and many others. This is a great movie that has humor for both kids and adults. There are very funny parts that intermingle the talents of many real movie stars in small cameos.

All the Muppets are here from Kermit to Miss Piggie, Fozzie, Gonzo, Rolf the dog, Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, Dr. Munson Honeydew and Beaker, and many others. There are plenty of cameos including Edgar Bergen, Milton Berle, Mel Brooks, James Coburn, Dom Deluise, Elliot Gould, Bob Hope, Madeline Kahn, Carol Kane, Cloris Leachman, Steve Martin, Richard Pryor, Telly Savalas, Orson Welles, and Paul Williams. Steve Martin and Mel Brooks are the funniest as a sarcastic waiter and a mad scientist. Charles Durning is also very good as Doc Hopper with his bumbling assistant, Max played by Austin Pendleton. Fans of the Muppets of all ages with love this classic about how the Muppets came to be!

Never give up your dreams.
A simple story with simple themes: Don't give up on your dreams; sharing your dreams brings you more friends to help you find your dreams. As early as 5th grade I would rewatch this movie, and each time reminds me to keep going an not give up. Yes, its got great songs, great lines, great cameos; but to me its message to not give up is what makes it such a great movie.

Creme de la Kermie.
Mini review of one of my alltime 10 favorite films.

Many people question why this is on my top 10. I think the question is why is it not on theirs? This is pure entertainment for the whole family. It is a movie that works on all levels. The story is enchanting. The music is charming and whimsical. The muppetry is fantastic. It is hard to imagine a better opening to a movie than the rainbow connection sequence.

The movie is a cornucopia of awesome quotes. I think my favorite still remains: If frog's couldn't hop, I'd be gone with the Schwinn.

The cameo roles are excellent as well. Steve Martin excels as a put upon waiter. Dom Delouise is impressive as a hollywood agent adrift in a swamp and Mel Brooks steals the show as a german mad scientist.

Better than a Bucket of Doc Hooper Frog Legs!
I had the pleasure of introducing my two and half year old son to the magic of the muppets through DVDs of the original "The Muppet Show", the syndicated TV program, that I had watched and enjoyed, while growing up in the 1970s. He loved Kermit & company's surealistic, yet hilarious comedy and music, so the next logical step was to move on to the Muppet's various adventures on film. Luckily, the first DVD I bought was the original 1979 film, "The Muppet Movie". The plot is quite simple.In his hometown swamp, Kermit meets up with a lost and nervous agent (played by the ever hammy, Dom DeLuise) who informs him that a major Hollywood studio is looking for frogs with talent.Armed with a dream of making people happy through his dancing and singing, Kermit goes on a road trip to the West Coast to break into the movie biz. Along the way he picks up new found friends Fozzie Bear, Gonzo the Great, Miss Piggy (starting their long running, tumultuous romance), and the rock group, Dr.Teeth & the Electric Mayhem, who all share in dreams of Hollywood fame .Unfortunately, Kermit also gets the attention and ire of Doc Hopper (Charles Durning), a Col. Sanders knock-off, who wants to force our hero to be the spokesfrog for his fast food, frog legs chain, "alive or stuffed". What an adventure! This is a wonderfully entertaining film, which will appeal to both kids and adults alike. Its obvious, that Muppet creator, Jim Henson and his fellow performer, Frank Oz were at their creative peaks.The writing is sharp and never 'dumbed down' ("I think I've lost my way"..."Have you ever tried Hare Krishna?") and the musical numbers are well staged (including Kermit's now classic, "Rainbow Connection"). What's more the film is filled with entertaining cameos from 1970's Hollywood including Madeline Kahn, Richard Pryor, James Coburn, Mel Brooks, Elliot Gould, Steve Matin ETC. My son and I have now collected all the DVDs in the Muppet's cannon of films and we pretty much agree, that this movie is by far, the best of the lot! For great family entertainment get "The Muppet Movie"! ... Read more

Amazon.com

This '90s update of the Spencer Tracy-Elizabeth Taylor hit is a mix of the pleasant and the silly, a nice enough movie but a little too controlled to become particularly interesting. Steve Martin plays the aging patriarch who is threatened by his daughter's engagement and not-quite-willing to let her go. The writing-directing team of Charles Shyer and Nancy Meyers provides Martin's character with a perhaps too-broad range of comic responsiveness to the situation, some of it gentle (a ritual game of basketball between dad and his little girl) and some of it slapstick (Martin sneaking around his prospective in-laws' house and encountering a guard dog). Martin Short turns up as a wedding coordinator--which has deliriously delicious possibilities--but his inventiveness doesn't quite strike the chord this time. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (56)

Laugh Out Loud Funny!!!
I absolutely loved this movie, not only because of the great writing, but because of the cast that brought the characters to life. The one who stands out, as many people know, is the wonderful Steve Martin who gives a terrific, hilarious performance as George Banks, a father who just wants to see his daughter Annie (Kimberly Williams) after she has returned from Rome. His reaction to her announcement is stupendous. I love the way the producers decided to suddenly make Annie a little girl of probably five years old.

Diane Keaton is wonderful as George's wife, Nina. She is the one who is in control the whole time, and who keeps her husband from doing really stupid things. I especially loved the scene where she goes to bail him out of jail and makes him promise a few things before letting him out. It was great! Kimberly Williams is wonderful as Annie Banks. You can really see how much she loves her dad, even when he does not-so-smart things, like taking the McKenzie's bank book and then accidentally throwing it into the pool, which results in *him* falling into the pool!

And how can anyone forget Martin Short. He was so, so funny as Franck (not Frank!), the Wedding Coordinator. His accent is so funny and very original. It makes me wonder if he thought it up himself. If you want to see a funny and quite original, I might add, comedy, see this one. You won't be disappointed!

A Father's Love.
FATHER OF THE BRIDE is a romantic comedy in a different vein. Most movies of that type are about a boy meeting a girl and the two falling in love. That happens in FATHER OF THE BRIDE. However, the movie isn't about the romantic love between a couple; it's about a father's love for his daughter.

It is true that the cast didn't have very difficult roles. Nevertheless, Steve Martin, Dianne Keaton, Kimberly Williams and the rest of the cast do a remarkable job, making the Banks family seem like real people you know instead of just some characters on a screen. Also, Martin Short, as the wedding coordinator, Franc, steals every scene he is in.

I enjoyed watching this film alot. I laughed quite often and, even though I'm a bachelor, found myself crying during some scenes. The film is a family picture and for any man who has a daughter, ranks up with FIELD OF DREAMS for bringing a tear to your eye. It's a nice movie to bring the past into prespective, remind one of what really is important in life, and thank God for the blessings you have.

So-so
Spoiled daughter and enabling mother guilt-trip dad into paying for ridiculously expensive and overdone wedding. Forgive me if I'm not entirely sympathetic. Plus, the movie gets overwhelmed in sap, sap, sap towards the end and loses its humor. It has its moments, though, so it's worth a viewing or two, even if it's not a must-own. My favorite bits: Steve Martin as father George Banks in the supermarket removing hot dog buns from the package so as to rectify the 8 hotdogs per package vs 12 buns per package situation and the scenes with Martin Short as wedding coordinator Franck ("George, why are you wearing blue tuxahdo?" "Franck, Armani doesn't make a blue tuxedo." "Armani also don't make polyester"). The actors are a talented bunch and the presence of Martin and Keaton do a lot to hold together a movie that otherwise wouldn't have much going for it.

The comedy about letting go
In 1950,Spencer Tracy was in the original film,the FATHER OF THE BRIDE and a young Liz Taylor was the bride. Forty-one years later,Steve Martin portrayed the father(his character is George Stanley Banks) and Kimberly Williams was Annie,the bride. Martin narrated the film,himself on camera in the first scene,dressed in the tuxedo he wore at Williams' wedding. Annie's romance with Bryan MacKenzie began six months before their wedding. Annie was studying architecture in Rome,where she met Bryan(George Newbern). According to the scene where Bryan went to the Banks' home to meet Annie's parents,Bryan went to Annie to ask for directions and one thing led to another. George left his workplace,Sidekicks,an athletic shoe factory which he runs,immediately after he was told that Annie had arrived home. For a homecoming gift,George buys her a ten-speed bike,all polished and ready to ride. Then,Annie announces her and Bryan's engagement at the dinner table to her father,her mother Nina(Diane Keaton) and her brother Matt(Kieran Culkin,MacCaulay's brother). George is very shocked,believing she's too young to get married(Annie is 22 and Bryan is 26). Bryan is an independent communications consultant,which he assembles and connects communication systems. Then,George and Nina go to the home of David and Joanna MacKenzie,Bryan's dad and mom. They toast the wedding of their respective children and other joyful events that will possibly follow(i.e. Annie's and Bryan's children). At one point in the film,a heated argument between Annie and Bryan causes them to split up and cancel the wedding. The Bankses meet with a wedding coordinator named Franc Eggelhoffer(Martin Short with a European accent). The glorious wedding day comes in early January,following a snowfall(a rarity in Los Angeles). Heaters were brought in and immediately taken out of the Banks' home,where the reception took place, since they were melting the ice sculptures. In the final scene,after the wedding,Annie phones her exhausted parents saying goodbye,"I love you" and "thank you for everything". Annie and Bryan were at the airport where they were about to fly to their honeymoon in Hawaii. Those who have seen this film may have also seen "Betsy's Wedding" and "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". It was released in theatres just before Christmas 1991. It was directed by Charles Shyer,who would direct the sequel,FATHER OF THE BRIDE PART II,four years later.

Here Comes the Bride: Give Out a Laugh
This movie is a classic, a 1990's update of the original Father of the Bride, starring Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor. A befuddled father is trying to deal with his daughter's engagement and marriage. What a storm in the midst of the Bank's home! George Banks, the father, is shocked with Annie's anouncement over dinner, she is going the marry a complete stranger that she met in Rome. The poor father is really loving and caring of his only daughter, and he wants only what is best for her. His sensiable wife, Nina, tries to make him understand just what a big deal the wedding really is. George gradually gives in, ready to help prepare for his daughter's dream wedding and rception. However, the off-the-wall caterer and his crazy ideas, the expense, and the rush and hurry of life in general is enough the drive him up a wall. This movie indeed has a happy, fairy-tale ending. Funny situations are pulled off in this movie, including huge dogs, a bank book, a large swimming pool, and the new in-laws. Great music "My Girl", "Chapel of Love", and other songs are included. This movies promises to deliever magic and true love to those who have it and watch it. It will capture your heart. ... Read more

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Everybody important from the first film, including the writing-directing team of Charles Shyer and Nancy Meyers, regroups for this sequel involving a pair of pregnancies. Steve Martin's patriarch has a crisis when his married daughter (Kimberly Williams) is with child, and an even bigger one when his middle-aged wife (Diane Keaton) announces that another bambino is on the way. Martin Short is more effectively used this time around (he played the wedding coordinator in the first film), and while this movie's inevitable climax has both women giving birth on the same chaotic night, the overall effect of the film is less contrived than its predecessor. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (33)

An enjoyable (but repetitve sequel)
George Banks (Steve Martin) has finally recovered from his daughter's wedding - he's just finished paying for it, and not only did he learn how to deal with the fact his Annie is married (well, mostly by thinking she and her husband Bryan are playing house) but is starting to like Bryan a little... Until Annie announces she's going to have a baby. George Banks? A grandfather? He always knew that Bryan was up to no good - he, for one thing, is too young to be a grandfather! As if he needed more proof for that, his wife Nina (Diane Keaton) is preagnant again - just as George was starting to look forward to having the place for himself and Nina in a few very short years when their young sone Matthew leaves the house... Throw in Frunk the weird wedding coordinator and his assistant Howard, Bryan's parents and their "lovable" dogs, and you get a movie as hilarious as the first one: there's just the right amount of references to the first movie to be funny but not to bore the viewer as a typically boring sequel... Unfortunately, the structure of the movie is very similar to the first one's (including Annie & Bryan fighting at around the same time in the story line), which made it feel a little repetitive.

Don't waste you're time and money on this one
Why make a movie about a perfect conservative family, living in a perfect conservative neighbourhood, living a perfect conservative life?
Typical Hollywood-production: technically well done and no originality at all. Predictable on every detail. Hollow personalities and loads of stupid cliches and politically correct jokes.

bride's father becomes a grandfather and father of three
The sequel to the original 1950 film was entitled FATHER'S LITTLE DIVIDEND. This sequel,to the remake of the original is just entitled FATHER OF THE BRIDE PART II. It's very much like Alan Alda's A NEW LIFE because George Banks(Steve Martin) like Alda in his film,becomes a grandfather and a father again. George drives home from his company Sidekicks on a beautiful fall day(cool air and gradually falling multi-colored leaves). At the Banks' home,where Bryan MacKenzie's(George Newbern) parents David and Joanna were also,George,Nina(Diane Keaton),David and Joanna learn,when their respective children show up,that Annie(Kimberly williams) and Bryan will become parents. Annie's brother Matt(Kieran Culkin) learns also. George gets a makeover in one scene(he dyes his hair). He surprises his wife Nina,saying "I look like the guy you married!". Also he presents some sexy lingerie to Nina,which she refuses since she is a grandmother-to-be("Hey,you're not my grandmother!",George quipps.). The lingerie led to an unexpected preganancy for Nina,which is her third. The Bankses experience some faults with their house. George and Nina agreed to sell it if something else went wrong. So termites attacked,and on the real estate market the Bankses' house at 24 Maple Drive in San Marino,California,went. The new owner had not yet closed and sent a bulldozer with a wrecking ball to demolish the house. George decides to take the house back("Don't destroy my memories!"). He tells the wrecking crew how he painted the shutters of the Banks' home and accidentally broke a window with a flying frisbee. So the "new owner" sends the wrecking crew away,bringing relief to George. Around the same time,George's and Nina's third child and Annie's and Bryan's child are born in the very same hospital. At a clinic,George and Nina run into Franc Eggelhoffer,the same European guy who coordinated Annie's wedding. Franc(Martin Short) learns of Nina's and Annie's respective pregnancies("modder and dodder prognont togodder?",as pronounced by Franc). So Nina and Annie have a baby shower together. In the final scene,George is pushing his newborn son in a carriage. This film was directed by Charles Shyer,who directed the first remake in 1991.

Movie Showcases the Importance of Family
Steve Martin represents a typical husband, in an average suburban, middle-class American family. He's married, has one daughter who is married (the story of which was brought forward in the original Father of the Bride), and has a son. Now that his daughter is married, Martin thinks that he can finally start from scratch with his wife and move to a condo. It turns out that just isn't going to happen.

Why?

Well, during a celebration of his renewed independence--it turns out that he inpregnates his wife, and thus he is going to be a father. It's a bit shocking to him, but it happens. So lo and behold, his daughter and wife are both pregnant. The story from there showcases what love and respect he has for both of them. Although it was intended as comedy, it is not a ha-ha laughter type of film. I just couldn't laugh at most moments. Yet, the film is an important indication of why every culture really values the family: there is some joy about being so close-knit together, even in times of crisis.

Michael Gordon

Father of the Bride Part II
This movie is a fantastic celebration of life, love, and family. It reminds the viewer of the importance of the "simple things" that mean the most to us. Steve Martin sums up the essence of the movie when he is speaking to a doctor on behalf of his daughter and his wife. He simply states, "Doctor, these women are my life." She understands. The viewer understands. I've probably watched the film a dozen times and it never gets old. I plan to watch it at least 2 dozen more times...especially when life gets tough and I need a reminder about the "good stuff" it has to offer! Thank you! ... Read more

Reviews (187)

"I haven't been home in years"
In my opinion this is John Candy's best movie. They should dedicate it to him. Steve Martin does a great job playing the cynic. It will have you crying from hysterical laughter or from tugging at your heartstrings. It starts out with "Neal" played by Steve Martin getting out of a marketing meeting late in New York during rush hour he runs to catch a cab for the airport so he can spend Thanksgiving with his family. With two days to get there you figure he should be plenty early. You aren't counting obstacles like "Del" played by John Candy. While Neal is giving money to a lawyer to buy him out of taking a cab in front of him, Del loads his trunk in it and takes off. The meetings and journey these two have after that is one for the record books. Del does everything he can to get Neal home to his family. They must take a Plane, Pickup Truck, Train, Bus, Rental Car, Semi, and the El to make it to Neal's Chicago Home with a detour to Kansas City. Neal may miss his daughters Thanksgiving Play but he will get a life lesson from Del that is priceless. This is a great one to own on DVD.

Any transportation will do!
Steve Martin and the late John Candy team up for this hilarious comedy PLANES,TRAINS and AUTOMOBILES. There's a cameo by Kevin Bacon who grabs a cab in the heavy New York City traffic. Bacon starred in SHE'S HAVING A BABY filmed around the same time as this film. Neal Page(Martin) is a marketing executive who plans to return home to Chicago for Thanksgiving. Neal grabs a cab,throwing out Del Griffith(Candy) who was about to enter the cab. Salesman Griffith and Page meet in an airport about to fly to Chicago. Massive storms forced the Chicago flight to be canceled so the two end up in Wichita,Kansas. Page and Griffith check in at the Braidwood Inn. They both take out their credit cards to pay,thus their respective cards accidentally end up in the other's wallet! Page and Griffith share a room since it was the only available room left. They sleep together,thus Page becomes annoyed by Griffith's loud snoring. Page became so angry that he impulsively got up and prepared to get dressed and leave. The pair end up in a heated argument over Griffith's behavior and imcompetence. Page's anger subsides so he undresses again and goes back to bed. Come daylight,Griffith is dreaming that he's embracing his late wife. He gently kisses Page's ear and Page is holding Griffith's hand. So Neal and Del make their plans on how to get home safely and quickly. One point in the film shows an angry Neal upset with an agent at a rent-a-car company("YOU CAN GET ME A F---ING DATSUN,A F---ING TOYOTA,A F---ING BUICK,A F---ING MUSTANG! FOUR F---ING WHEELS AND A SEAT!") What happens next? Del shows up in a car he's renting. Incompetent Del finishes smoking a cigarette that when he was about to toss the still-burning butt out the window,it accidentally ended up in the back seat of the car. The car becomes ablaze and even worse,Neal's wallet was in the glove compartment with his credit card back in it. All the glove compartment contents burned in the fire. Now Neal is really furious with Del. Neither had $42.50 to check in for the night at a nearby motel so Neal comes up with $17 cash and a wrist watch. The on-duty manager accepts Neal's alternate payment. When Del comes up with $2 cash and a nicer-looking watch,the manager refuses and "says goodnight". Del is freezing to death outside in his charred rent-a-car until Neal invites him to share his room. Come Thanksgiving Day,despite all the aggravation and struggling,Neal arrives home in Chicago safe and sound. Del is with him. Del confessed that he is homeless and lost his wife. That was why Del said in one scene,"I haven't been home in years." His business of selling shower curtain rings is what is keeping him financially stable and clean. The end theme is "Everytime You Go Away" written by Daryl Hall of the rock/pop duo Hall and Oates and was a minor hit for them and later a bigger hit for Paul Young. This film was directed by John Hughes who also directed SHE'S HAVING A BABY and would later direct CURLY SUE. Listen for an audio excerpt from SHE'S HAVING A BABY. It's an argument between Bacon and Elizabeth McGovern. I dedicate this film to the memory of John Candy who died in 1994 at age 43 of a heart attack.

TOPS!!
Call me silly, but I am 44 and have been watching movies most of my life. This is my #1 favorite movie of all time. It cant compare with the great movies throughout history, but they are not my #1 favorite....this one is. How is that for a review?

That's it?
Just the film? No give-me's? No side dishes? Movie a la carte? No interviews, outtakes... nothing?

Fortunately the movie itself is a decent comedy. PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES is a fine film in a long tradition of road films, where the final destination is seemingly impossible to reach (like CLOCKWISE, AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, e.g.) Steve Martin and John Candy make a surprisingly good team, and John Hughes lets them cut loose, fortunately. Unfortunately, the ending lurches into the treacly, sentimentality that Hughes just can't seem to avoid. Scratch that last comment, the ending I suppose is okay for this comedy. Give this film a view.

Great John Candy & Steve Martin Movie, but no extras
Let me start by saying that this is one of my favorite comedies of all time. I've loved this movie for years and I can watch it over and over again. I personally don't see how anyone could not like this movie, but you can't please everybody.
During the movie, Steve Martin is trying to get home to Chicago for Thanksgiving, but his plane lands in Kansas where he's stuck with Del Griffith (John Candy). They do everything they can to get home, but something always goes wrong. And you will laugh through almost the entire movie.
You've probably noticed that I gave this DVD 4 stars, and not 5. My reason for this: There are no special features. It seems like Paramound is just lazy when they put out DVD's. Almost every DVD I have that has no special features are by Paramount. There had to be interviews with Steve Martin and John Candy when the movie was made, or do some new interviews with Steve Martin and John Hughes. I would like to correct one reviewer about them cutting scenes from the DVD. I assume you are talking about the funny scene on the plane when they are being served their food. This is a scene that was not included in the movie at all, it's just added sometimes to the TV version. But I still think that scene should have been included on the DVD. Not as a deleted scene that you could view by itself, but actually included in the movie. ... Read more

Reviews (272)

Another Flop From Notorious Dreamworks Pictures!
Honestly, the way I see it is that "The Haunting" was the only commendable production from Dreamworks Pictures. This feature animation, on the other hand, puts Steven Spielberg to a great deal of shame, I'm afraid; and it all the more proves how Jeffery Katzenberg can hardly survive without the expertise of the Walt Disney Company.

First of all, it is terribly non-accurate in terms of restoring a "tale" of how Moses delivered his people. And secondly, eew...imagine how the people looked! Many praised this movie for its stunning background design; I personally feel horrible-looking CGI-animated people pale in accompaniment to how "stunning" the audience opines the animation to be - either in a positive or negative way. Why, I think even Don Bluth's "Anastasia" could do many times better!

The soundtrack itself isn't all the more that fantastic, despite the several rather meaningful songs like "River Lullaby", "Through Heaven's Eyes" and "When You Believe", due to that familiar sensation from listening to scores of similar tones. I suppose this is the only portion of "The Prince of Egypt" which persuades me to only hang on to it with an unimpressive 3-star rating. Better luck next time, Dreamworks - looking forward to your much anticipated "The Iron Robot"!

AN ARTISTIC MILESTONE IN THE HISTORY OF ANIMATION!!
The Biblical story of Moses has become a spiritual cornerstone of faith for millions of people worldwide. To adapt it to an animated motion picture presented an epic challenge to Dreamworks founders Steven Spielberg and Jeffery Katzenberg, which they have triumphed over very successfully. Disney's somewhat disappointing Hercules made movie fans look for a different angle of story-telling as it was becoming clear that they were tiring of the tried and true Disney hit formula. .

After the Oscar-winning Pocahontas, the studios had not been to deliver its best (though I completely agree that The Hunchback Of Notre dame is one of the most underrated animated classics). Fox's Anastasia conquered a large number of hearts with its amazing character-depth and haunting tunes, but a box-office success of a larger proportion was required to dethrone Disney's monopoly. The Prince Of Egypt is easily the best non-Disney feature ever made (followed closely by Anastasia) and in every way, it as unique a classic as Beauty And The Beast or The Lion King. It is emotional, musical, captivating, and inspirational and has a profound moral meaning and beauty.

The story remains mostly true to its Exodus origin. It varies from The Ten Commandments in exploring the relationships between the two brothers who are destined to be enemies. The strength of the movie lies in the strong emotional bonds it depicts between its characters, something which The Ten commandments failed to portray. The animation is lush and vibrant, blending both classic hand-drawn cels and Computer Generated Imagery. The backgrounds and visuals and breath-taking and even the CGI sequences such as "The Parting of The Red Sea" are to be marveled at. Dreamworks artists have adapted a new angular style of character sketching which looks refreshingly beautiful on the silver screen.

Stephen Swartz's music is melodious and meaningful; from the spine-chilling "Deliver Us" to the soul-searching "When You Believe" which won the Oscar for the Best Song in 1998. (though I must say that I love Pfeiffer and Dworsky's version much more than Mariah Carrey and Whitney Houston's pop reprise). An astoundingly deep, sensitive and piercing score almost overrides the film's music; strongly highlighting the sentimental points with its rich orchestral appeal and Ofra Haza's tantalizing choral accompaniments. Nominated for an Academy Award, it deserved the Oscar for the Best Musical Score category (though I would personally have loved to see Goldsmith win his second Oscar for his incredible score of Mulan). Warbeck's score for Shakespeare In Love which eventually won, though appealing, pales before Zimmer's work or Goldsmith's masterpiece. Then again, I have noticed that Oscars go more by popularity than by talent. David Newman's nominated score from Anastasia was most definitely the Best among the Musical scores of 1997, although the Oscar favored The Full Monty, which could not possibly win in any other field where it had been nominated (owing to Titanic) and so walked away with a very undeserving award.

The Prince Of Egypt utilizes a host of acclaimed on-screen actors and actresses; comprising the voice talents of Val Kilmer, Ralph Fiennes, Danny Glover, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jeff Goldblum, Sandra Bullock, Patrick Stewart, Martin Short, Helen Mirren and Steve Martin. It is undoubtedly the most ambitious vocal cast ever assembled for an animated movie. All the actors bring the characters to life with striking warmth and depth. Both Kilmer's as well as Fiennes' work are very praiseworthy.

The DVD offers a excellent anamorphic 1.85:1 video transfer which looks very crisp and colorful. The Dolby digital 5.1 sound makes good use of surround, nicely highlighting the score and special effects. Dreamworks has also recently released a DTS version of the DVD in April, 2003 which is an improvised version of the earlier Dolby release. The special features provide an in-depth look at the making of the movie. Also included are two trailers, "When You Believe" multi-language reel, still galleries, interviews with the cast and a "Basics of the Chariot Race" CGI explanation segment.

The Prince Of Egypt is nothing short of a masterpiece in animation history. The movie is geared more towards the mature audiences and those expecting fast pace fun-oriented stuff will not find it towards their taste. Young children may find some scenes a little disturbing, hence Dreamworks rated the movie a PG. So go enjoy Dreamworks' first animated motion picture, which is a classic to be cherished now and for generations

Excellent Animation and Story
The Prince of Egypt is an excellently animated movie from Dreamworks, with
great storytelling and characters and usually very good music. One doesn't
have to be religious to appreciate this movie (I'm not at all) -- the
emotions expressed by the characters are touching and the conflicts still
relevant.

As far as the animation in the movie goes, it is never less than excellent.
Besides the special effects sections (the parting of the Red Sea being the
most ambitious and breathtaking of all), the character animation is superb.
Each character is different and distinct, with this quality most noticable
when Moses is leading his people. Every person walking behind him, most of
whom have only seconds of screen time, is unique. As an animation
enthusiast, I appreciate this unwillingness to cut corners. Also standout
in this production is the appropriate and effective combination of computer
graphics and traditional hand-drawn animation. The dream/history sequence

that plays out in heiroglyphics on the palace wall is an effective use of
computer graphics in a 3-D setting that wouldn't work as well with
traditional animation, but the movie isn't overburdened by CG shortcuts
that just look fake.

The storytelling is also very well done. I have read reviews that say it
changed the Bible story too much, but the movie flows well and has a good
sense of pacing. Although I've never read the Bible story, the key points
I've heard of are included, and it seems the spirit of the story is intact.

The music, for the most part, is very good as well. "River Lullabye" and
"Through Heaven's Eyes" are beautiful in that they have a more
middle-eastern feel to them, with a broader range of instruments than the
hit "When you believe", which in the ending credits is sung by divas Mariah
Carey and Whitney Houston.

One complaint: The Steve Martin/Martin Short scene is bad, bad, bad. The
characters seem borrowed from too many Disney movies: as snide, snooty
henchmen with no character development, they are also way too modernized to
fit the theme of the story. And their "Playing With the Big Boys" song is
terrible -- I just want to fast-forward through it. That scene
notwithstanding, I think the movie is worth watching, for both children and
adults.

not very good
I know many rated it very high, but this movie was very disapointing. The graphics are not great, the songs are below average at best, the story "more or less" follows the biblical accounts, but worse, the characters are not attractive. I found Moses a reluctant participant, The Pharaoh a good guy and God a little sadistic (perhaps the authors should have emphasised what really went on with slavery, but then this is a film for kids). I shook my head a few times, wondering how such a wonderful and powerful historical account like Exodus could be rendered as lifeless and sadly my kids were just turned off by the story (as was I). My son's comment was "it is so much better when you read it from the Bible" and I have to agree.

I am still waiting for a good account of the Exodus to show up on film. Perhaps (instead of using their imagination to fill in the gaps) the writers should just follow the biblical text when making their movie... It has lasted and will last longer than their films will anyway.

Was the movie a good biblical account? Not bad, but not good either. The author took alot of his own inspiration when making the film. Is the movie good for kids? Perhaps some will like it... But most of the ones I know left the room before the end of the movie.

A Wonderful Movie!!
When I first saw it when I was like 8 or so, I liked it... and now, many years later, I still do! The songs are breathtaking and original, and match the scences. The characters, storyline, colour... oh, the list goes on! It's a fabulous movie! ... Read more

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If it weren't for a couple of inspired performances, as well as the time-capsule weirdness of it all, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band would be definitively unwatchable. This misguided effort to dramatize the classic Beatles album (the Fab Four had nothing to do with it, thank goodness) also includes tunes from other Beatles LPs, strung together in lumbering '70s rock-opera style. Peter Frampton, then at the crest of his brief run at the top, stars as Billy Shears, with the Bee Gees wearing the glossy day-glo band jackets from the Pepper album cover. Earth, Wind & Fire turn in a spirited revamp of "Got to Get You into My Life," and Aerosmith thrash their way through "Come Together"; but most of the performances are pretty awful. Out-and-out novelties include Steve Martin doing "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" and George Burns (but of course) warbling "Fixing a Hole." This high-profile 1978 flop helped kill the hot streak (Saturday Night Fever, Grease) of record and movie producer Robert Stigwood and sink his RSO movie-music empire. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (92)

Once in a lifetime film & great fun too!
This is one of the most fun films ever made and as a wine improves with age, so does this film. When this film was first released, it was scoffed at and rebuked by "true" Beatles fans throughout. What? the Bee Gee's doing the Beatles - Heaven forfend! - this is an outrage! Hogwash! It died a sudden death in the theatres because it was released into a critical sarcastic period of time where we, during the party crazed 70's weren't ready for it. The film is a perfect reminder to us now in the 90's to have fun and not be so critical. Enjoy life - enjoy this movie. Listen to the music, don't make comparisons, enjoy it for what it is - a fun journey, making fun of itself and us too with wonderful music delivered in a unique format. The critics are always critical - that's their job. Trying to analyze this film critically is a mistake as it doesn't fit within the standard confines of a typical film. Don't be surprised if this film takes on a cult personna, ala Rocky Horror - it's unique, it's great fun, and you've missed the point if you take it too seriously - have fun, sit back, and go on a journey unlike any other...

Nice Keith!
Not for the weak of stomach! And NOT for all Beatles fans. There are those who, finding themselves confronted with the sight of Alice Cooper singing Because, or worse yet, George Burns singing Fixing A Hole, may want to cut and run while they still think themselves sane. I however, love the movie wholeheartedly, rejoicing in the Bee Gees in all their seventies glory. Peter frampton gives me a queasy feeling in my stomach, and I think Sandy Farina has no self respect, but that doesn't keep me from thoroughly enjoying the performances of Paul Nicholas, Dianne Steinberg, Donald Pleasance, Frankie Howerd, Steve Martin, Stargard, Aerosmith and so on. The storyline is basic (good slugs it out over evil to the sound of Beatles tunes remade in the image of the artists who cover them), the costumes are WILD, and the hair is LONG. It does give one pause to consider how much more beautiful the movie would have been with Andy Gibb as Billy Shears, in place of the toothy and pop eyed Frampton. But that's just a thought from this very devoted Gibb fan.

25 Years Later, 'Sgt. Pepper' Is Still Painful To Watch
The ficticious place called "Heartland" finds all kinds of musicians coming together in orange, pink, red and purple satin. "Sgt. Pepper" unites all kinds of Beatle tunes into one large ball of cheese. How many careers were ruined by this film? Is it easy to spot that only a handful of people here actually had (any) acting experience out of the hundreds of people in this film? Outside of some brief narration by George Burns, it's ALL song and dance. There's a few good performances here (Aerosmith's "Come Together", Robin Gibb's "Oh Darling", Earth Wind & Fire's "Got To Get You Into My Life", and the Bee Gees' "Golden Slumber")... and one hilarious - Steve Martin singing "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" in the green tiled room... but most of this is tedious to get through. THE HEROES: Peter Frampton plays the starring role of Billy Shears (dig those white overalls with "Billy" printed on them). Barry, Robin and Maurice (RIP) Gibb play the roles of the Henderson brothers who help Shears find the stolen instruments. George Burns plays the role of narrator and Mister Kite. Donaled Pleasance (from "Halloween" fame) as BD Hoffler. THE VILLAINS: Alice Cooper as the mean Marvin Sunk (why was his version of "Sun King" omitted on the "Sgt. Pepper" movie soundtrack?). Aerosmith as the infamous (FVB) Future Villain Band. And a wonderful performance by Steve Martin as the evil Dr. Maxwell Edison. In the stands for the Grand Finale, you'll spot numerous "guests" from 1970's world of music... including Tina Turner, Robert Palmer, Hank Williams Jr, Seals & Croft, Sha Na Na, Nils Lofgren, Heart, Leif Garret, Jose Feliciano, Johnny Winter, Wolfman Jack, etc. Outside of the trailer and a language selection, this DVD has no extras. For those of us that grew up in the 1970's, it would have been nice to see some interviews or commentaries with some of the musicians. Thank goodness Billy Preston saved the day at the end of the movie (singing "Get Back")... bringing back to life the already deceased Strawberry Fields with a zap of his finger, and then saving Billy Shears from certain suicide and a very sad ending... Ugh.

a notoriously rotten movie!
The Beatles had nothing to do with this farce,and it shows.The performances are awful and the movie is just plain silly.

If you're not a Bee Gees fan, it's not worth your trouble
The Beatles never existed--as far as this film is concerned, anyway. Before watching this movie, you should empty everything you know about the Beatles from your mind. While you're at it, you might as well empty everything else from your mind, because your intelligence may be insulted.

I watched this movie knowing it would be bad, but I was hoping it would be classic bad, cult following bad, Rocky Horror Picture Show bad. I wanted to hear George Burns sing "Fixin' a Hole" and Steve Martin deliver a slightly pervy redition of "Maxwell's Silver Hammer." I wanted to hear robots perform "Mean Mr. Mustard". And I really wanted to see Peter Frampton and the Bee Gees become the Lonely Hearts Club Band.

The movie delivers all of these and more, horrifyingly more. I can't even explain how bad this movie is. Let's just say that it makes Rocky Horror look like Les Miserables. This movie is also pretty racist; I'm white and I was offended by the portrayal of black people in it (Earth, Wind, and Fire, of course, were the exception; the guy who played the weathervane, on the other hand, made me feel like I was at a minstrel show). Sargeant Pepper's not bad in a fun way; it's just bad in a bad way.

I should say that the best performance of the movie is Aerosmith's snaky redition of "Come Together." This is coming from someone who is not even an Aerosmith fan. There are a lot of unbelievable moments in the film, but that one was surprising in a good way. ... Read more

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The teaming of Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn would seem to have been sure-fire casting, but Housesitter's writing is never strong enough to sustain it and the film's hit-and-miss quality has more misses than hits. Martin plays an architect who builds his dream house for his high school sweetheart (Dana Delany), then surprises her with a marriage proposal--both of which she rejects. Distraught, he goes back to New York and pours out his heart to a woman he meets in a bar and beds (Hawn), not realizing she is a flaky con artist. She knows a good thing when she hears it and heads for his hometown, moves into the empty dream house, and begins passing herself off as Martin's new wife. Though the writers build in a variety of complications (involving Delany, as well as Martin's parents and boss), the film finds its jokes only infits and starts, though Martin has a particularly hilarious moment when he must sing to his father in front of a crowd of strangers. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (19)

GUARANTEED FUN
Forget what the uptight film critics had to say. If you enjoy Steve Martin at his best, and if you're a fan of Goldie Hawn, this movie's a keeper. Is it silly, goofy and a bit predictable? Yes. But who cares? It's a comedy, and that's what's comedies should be. Martin, Hawn, along with a wonderful supporting cast make for a memorable movie!...

One of My All Time Favorites
I remember being 14 and going to see this movie on opening weekend with my sister, I was a big Goldie Hawn fan at that point and I fell for her big time after seeing her in "Overboard", another underrated comedy from Goldie's cinema showcase. Even though this movie mostly got mixed reviews, I loved it instantly and ordered it constantly on PPV until I managed to get my hands on a tape of it. It is truly hilarious and the comedy team of Goldie Hawn & Steve Martin is absolutely magical perfection. This movie has so many laughs in it that one would be hard pressed to pick 1 certain defining moment but it is well worth the price and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to laugh. Also recommended is Goldie's other hit from the summer of '92, "Death Becomes Her".

Best Movie Ever!
You may think the only reason I like this movie is because I am a big fan of the writer. Although that is not true this is a great movie for the family. It's a must see.

Excellent screwball comedy vehicle for Steve & Goldie
I wish more projects were assembled for this tag-team of born screwball comedy geniuses, because "Housesitter" offers a great display of how well Martin and Hawn work together onscreen. Their senses of timing are tremendous and both have a gift for physical comedy and wringing the best out of every line of dialogue. I disagree with the Amazon staff reviewer, I think this movie is very well constructed, with a tight plotline and just the right balance of jokes and exposition. Not a word or scene is wasted. The humor is absurdist but good-natured, as in older-style films, and the supporting cast does standout service. This is a very underrated comedy, in my view, and I give it a high recommendation for fans of either of these fine actors or zany comedy in general. A very refreshing change from in-you-face gross-out jokes and sophomoric scatalogical/sexual put-down gags that pass as "comedy" in so many films today.

An almost Perfect comedy !!
This movie is one of my favorites. I originally seen this movie in 1992. Eleven years later I still think of this movie as being one of my favorites for comedy. Goldie Hawn and Steve Martin are fun to watch together and I think they compliment each other in this movie, unlike the other movie they recently did together. (I think the Out of Towners?) I would highly recommend this movie to anyone who wants to watch a "great(semi-romantic)comedy". ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Carl Reiner (Where's Poppa?) brought comic Steve Martin to the screen in this mostly funny 1979 movie about a relentlessly stupid but innocent man, whom we get to know from childhood (where it never occurred to him that he was white as he was raised by a family of black sharecroppers) to romance (where he doesn't quite know what to do with Bernadette Peters). Martin is game as the moron, and this is the kind of film with funny moments people still talk about. The DVD release has production notes, bios, highlights, theatrical trailer, closed captioning, full-screen presentation, and optional Spanish subtitles. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (90)

"The New Phone Book Is Here!!, The New Phone Books Is Here!"
This 1979 debut for Steve Martin is one of comedy's greatest classics. This film definitley opened the door for people like Jim Carrey and all those types of comedies. This one will forever be the granddaddy of them all. Steve plays Navin Johnson, a white man who was brought up by a backwoods family who are black. Navin realizes he's not and sets out on his own to find his own life. It's one misadventure after the next. It's also one hilarious joke after another. Along the way he meets and falls in love with Bernadette Peters. There are also appearences by Carl Reiner, Jackie Mason, and M. Emmett Walsh. The movie is so slapsticky silly that it's hilarious fun to watch from beginning to end. I won't say what happens to our good old friend Navin. You'll have to see for yourself. If only the brilliant Steve Martin would return to this type of comedy. This film is pure comedy gold sent from comedy heaven. A definite must!!.

Too Funny
The Jerk is one of the most hilarious movies I've seen. The movie is about Navin Johnson (Steve Martin) who is a white boy adopted into a poor black family. He's a little "slow" and doesn't even realize he's white. The movie opens at his birthday where he's having his favorite "tuna on a white bread sandwich and a twinkie for dessert" dinner.
His problem is that he doesn't have rythmn, and late that night, he's listening to the radio when he hears "white" music, and finds that yes! he has rythmn!
So, Navin sets off to see the world, and a hilarous journey ensues - everything from a dog named sh*thead, assasination attempts to love to riches to insanity happens to poor Navin, but it's a great journey!
***** 5 stars for this classic Steve Martin comedy

If You Ever Need Cheering Up
Then this is the movie for you. That is, if you have any sense of humor whatsoever. There are so many funny, memorable scenes in this movie - like when he's standing right outside his parents' fence hitchhiking or when the guy is shooting at him - "These cans! He hates these cans!" "The new phone book is here!" "I'm somebody now!" The Jerk is one of the best comedies ever made. If you want to laugh, if you can laugh, buy or rent this movie!

Where's the widescreen version?
A classic but demand a widescreen version.

weirdly funny
Steve Martin shows a lot of comedic flair in this, one of his first films (he later tones it down and hones it in later works, which is all I had seen up to this point, so this was very strange in how over-the-top he is.)

Steve plaves Navin, a white boy adopted by a large loving African-American family, who honestly believed he would turn black on his 18th birthday (which is when his family reveals to him that he is adopted, although they had hoped he would figure it out beforehand.)

Determined to make his way out in the world, Navin takes on a series of unrelated jobs that turn out poorly --- gas station attendant (in which he demolishes a church), carnival employee (where he has his first carnal knowledge and his first romantic love -- with two very different women), and later becomes a billionaire through some very odd means.

But at heart, he's just a simple country boy who wants to fit in back where he came from. He's not a bum, he's a jerk! All he has are his friends and a thermos. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

fast-paced and wildly funny
this home video came out in 1993. it was sold over television and print ads and it quickly reached Double-Platinum status. to be accurate, double-platinum for a home video requires sales of 200,000 copies or more (300,000 copies for Triple-Platinum, etc.) however, CDs and cassettes need a whopping 2,000,000 in sales to reach double-platinum, etc. with that in mind, Ray sold a ton of home videos in between 1992 and 1995. the RIAA reported that Ray's video sales were somewhere around 3,000,000...which is A LOT when you're dealing with the concept of home videos and, not to mention the unique approach of selling them over television and newspapers ads!Ray Stevens Live! captures moments recorded at his famed Branson, Missouri theatre in late 1992 and early 1993. for the record, Ray had his theatre up and running during the spring, summer, and fall months of 1991, 1992, and 1993 before growing "bored and crazy" with the exhaustive two shows a day/six days a week grind. on this first live video, (a second was only available to fan club members) we see Ray get introduced by his brother, John. Ray drives out on stage in his Hawaiian "flowerty shirt" on a harley davidson motorcycle, before launching into "Shriner's Convention". he then makes a few jokes about his love life before singing "Can He Love You Half as Much As I?" (a 1986 song). he exits the stage and his famed video screen dangles down to show a newsman, a reporter, and a bumpkin talking about a U.F.O. spotting. this leads into the song "I Saw Elvis in a U.F.O.". Ray is decked out like Elvis and pink aliens are running all around the stage and they jump into the audience and start to run up and down the aisles. a spaceship hovers over-head and a puff of smoke bursts all over the stage and Ray/Elvis is beamed aboard the U.F.O.! after that bit of hilarity, Ray strolls out in a camel singing the first lines of "Ahab the Arab"...but this leads into more joke-telling and a parody of James Bond and Johnny Rivers. "Secret Agent Man" is retitled "Information Man" as the song topic is geared toward pesky phone operators. further on we see Ray, Jane, and the monkey perform "Gitarzan". "Sex Symbols", a duet with his dummy named Julio, is next. after that, he launches into the subject of hats and he does a great impersonation of Gabby Hayes and Walter Brennen. the action cuts away before he can perform "It's Me Again, Margaret" (that performance is edited into the live volume two sequel from late 1993) but it instead shows his performance of "You Gotta Have a Hat", his 1991 song satirizing young country singers. things get serious with an abbreviated performance of "Amazing Grace" and this leads into "Misty". "The Streak" is the next song and he closes with "Everything is Beautiful". even though i gave away most of the concert, you have to see it visually to really appreciate it. Ray is one of the finest comedian/singer-songwriters that Nashville can call their own. Ray Stevens Live! gives you a peek at all the hilarity and mayhem that made his theatre consistently sold-out during his three season stay (1991, 1992, and 1993).

Operator! Room 321!
Ray Stevens: Live is a hilarious video of the Ray Stevens Show in Branson, Missouri. It includes performances of the songs "Shriner's Convention," "Gitarzan," "Everything is Beutiful," and "Ahab the Arab." 1,000,000 laughs! ... Read more