Description

In World War II era Los Angeles, the manager of the Culver Hotel leaves his nephew in charge for a weekend. The nephew changes the name to the Hotel Rainbow and overbooks with royalty, assassins, secret agents, Japanese tourists, and munchkins (from the cast of The Wizard of Oz). Secret Service agent Bruce Thorpe and casting director Annie Clark find romance amidst the intrigue and confusion. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Unfunny yet wellmade
When it was released in 1981 based on the standards of the day,this film was judged quite awful.Today when the pinnacle of comedey is an Adam Sandler movie this flick looks like Citizen Kane. A production assistant played by Carrie Fisher must hold reign on a huge cast of midget extras during the filming of the Wizard Of Oz.Chevy Chase plays a G-man assigned to protect a foreign leader from an assasin and Billy Barty plays an evil Gestapo midget searching for a secret map of the U.S.coastel defences who all end up spending a weekend in a run down hotel on the eve of the second world war. Sound interesting? Its not.Lots of lame sight gags and poorly written comedey bits leave the actors (and this film has a very talented cast) looking embarassed to even be on screen. And speaking of embarassing,this film has a scene in which the post Star Wars Carrie Fisher is stripped at sword point by the Nazi dwarf (no,Im not making this stuff up) and spends most of the movie wearing nothing but her bra and underwear.(this being without doubt the highlight of the film) So if you have about 90 minutes to kill,and you want to see a cast of otherwise first rate actors make fools of themselves,or your a Star Wars fan who'll get a thrill out of seeing princess Leia in her undies,give it a try ,its no worse than The Waterboy.

The premise alone is worth it...
A vertically challenged German spy is sent to California to meet up with a Japanese spy at the onset of WWII and that's just the set up...

A Japanese tour bus breaks down in front of the very hotel where the Munchkin cast for the Wizard of Oz is staying. Aboslutely brilliant. There's a subplot involving the assasination of a European king who's is protected by a US G-Man, Chevy Chase, who is flirting with the still cute and sexy Carrie Fisher. Plenty to enjoy in this absolutely awful but hysterical film..."The Pearl in is in the River"!

An Academy Award Winner....It isn't.....But........
Life is too short. I laughed when I read the review by the person giving this a one star rating. This one has problems (nay, should I say "issues" {new speak}).
Under the Rainbow is the kind of film I love. I don't want to be moved, I don't want to think, and I don't want to solve the world's problems. I only want to know that the "pearl is in the river". It was produced when a movie showing midgets and taller people as a farce was not considered anti-social. It is a scream! And for those of you worrying about what your children will see and hear (comparing it to today's films), it is clean!
The gags are obvious, Chevy Chase is obvious, and once it starts, it is a roller coaster you can yell and scream on and still feel comfortable.
I hear it asked, "why can't THEY make more movies like this?" Just open your eyes folks; Hollywood has been making great funny movies for years (Noises Off, Mouse Hunt, The Seven Chairs ...... etc.). They all don't have to be Disney pablum.
I love this film, and am happy to make it a part of my comedy collection.

Under The Rainbow-Chevy Chase, Carrie Fisher
Take Chevy Chase as a bumbling G-man, Carrie Fisher as a lovely studio executive, add in a hundred small people starring in a film called "The Wizard Of Oz", a disguise bearing Duke & his half blind Duchess, an assassin, a busload of Japanese photographers, a mini Nazi (played by Billy Barty) & a Japanese spy searching for a map of American defenses and you've got yourself a yellow brick road of fun & mini-mayhem on a grand scale. I mean sure it's not Caddyshack, or Fletch, but Chevy does some great material, and it's great to see Carrie Fisher play absolutely straight to Chase's one liner character. Not many in the cast may be familiar, save for Billy Barty (from FOUL PLAY, also with Chase) and Mako (the japanese spy, who's appeared in a countless amount of movies, even though no one ever remembers his name) and the guy running the hotel during this fiacso looks familiar too. Take 90 minute's out of your life, sit back and enjoy the fun.
Also recommended:
Chevy Chase: Caddyshack

Chevy Chase: National Lampoons Christmas Vacation
Chevy Chase: Nothing But Trouble
Carrie Fisher: Return Of The Jedi
Carrie Fisher: Blues Brothers
Carrie Fisher: The Man With One Red Shoe

Knowing the Producer
I first saw this movie in the early 1980's. I found it very funny being just 10 years old att he time. I knew the producer personally, Freddy Bauer and he is a great guy living in the suburbs of Pennsylvania. Too bad they cant get this movie on DVD. ... Read more

Description

Nowhere-man Ronny Miller is secretly in love with Cindy Mancini, the prettiest, most popular girl on campus. When Cindy finds herself in a desperate predicament, Ronny steps in to save the day ... for a price! Cindy must pose as Ronny's girl so that her popularity might rub off on him. But the road to popularity takes an unexpected twist when Ronny becomes so "cool" that his former friends feel the chill, Cindy is left toally out in the cold, and Ronny himself discovers that money might buy you popularity, but it can't buy you love! ... Read more

Reviews (69)

You Can't Buy Love, But You Can Buy This Movie
Amusing story of a nerdy high school student Ronald Miller (Patrick Dempsey) who discovers that becoming popular isn't the greatest thing in the world. After she accidentally ruins her mother's suede dress with some wine, Cyndi, the most popular girl at school (played wonderfully by Amanda Petersen) will do anything to replace it before her mother gets back from her trip.

Enter Ronald. After seeing her desperate attempt to replace the dress at the mall, Ronald makes a deal with Amanda. He'll use the money that he has earned all summer by mowing lawns to buy a new dress, in return for Amanda's help in turning him to Mr. popularity.

Along the way, Ronnie learns lessons about the true value of having real friends, and towards the end of the movie Ronald discovers that he is still himself.

This film, which is no longer produced by Touchstone Video (a division of the Disney Corporation) features many couple of stars before they hit it big. Gerardo, the Latin-singing star who scored a one-hit wonder with "Rico Suave," plays one of the football jocks in the film. However, the real scene-stealer in this film is Seth Green ("Austin Powers"; "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" "Can't Hardly Wait") who plays Ronald's annoying, yet hysterical little brother, Chuckie. By taking a look at Seth in this past role you can understand why he is such a big star today. He is always a trip when it comes to comedic performances.

I loved this film for many reasons, but I think the most memorable scene in this film probably has to be Ronald learning an African dance he saw on television (he thought he was watching "American Bandstand"). After learning it, Ronald performs it at the big dance, not knowing that it would become a huge hit.

This film ranks among the 10 best teenage comedies produced in the 1980's. Let's only hope that it will be re-released on video and DVD in the near future.

Great 80's teen comedy
Viewed as a genre of its own, the 80's Teen Comedy produced some fun, enjoyable movies. One that holds up quite well is Can't Buy Me Love. Starring Patrick Dempsey in what was probably his best role of the era, it's the story of a geeky kid who pays the captain of the cheerleading team to pretend to be his girlfriend for a month. While not entirely realistic, it has a good ending. The humor holds up well after 16 years, as does the movie overall.

The DVD was hugely disappointing, and my 4 stars are based on the movie itself. Unless you consider chapter stops a special feature, the disc is devoid of any extras. The greatest offense is that it's presented only in fullscreen. I'd normally pass on a non-widescreen release, but my wife insisted on having it. If you have to have this movie, this is probably the best release it will see for quite some time.

ONE OF MY ALL-TIME FAVS***
If you love the corny but terrific 1980's, you'll love this movie. In my opinion, the TEEN MOVIE OF ALL TEEN MOVIES... tHE CLOTHES ARE A RIOT, but ther than that this movie has a terrific point, Cools, Nerds...who cares! Ronald Miller rides into the most popular girl in school's heart on a lawnmower. From there its all sorts of fun for the move watcher! I love this move and was soooo pleased it was released on DVD. No special features, bummer. Terrific film though. Be sure to get it!

1980s classic!!!
Patrick Dempsey plays nerdy Ronnie Miller, who is so on the outside of society at his high school that he is known simply as "Lawn Boy" because he mows everyone's lawn for his part-time job. He wants to be popular for his upcoming senior year, and he sees his chance when cheerleader Cindy Mancini is in a jam, having ruined her mother's suede outfit at a party and needing $1000 to replace it.

Ronnie happens to be at the mall at the same time, purchasing a new telescope with his lawn-mowing money when he sees Cindy's dilemma. He offers to pay for the new outfit if she will pretend to be his girlfriend for a month and introduce him to the popular circle.

Although this seems completely crazy to Cindy, she does it (after a great little makeover -- quite the staple of 1980s teen movies!) She even starts to like Ronnie as a person, until popularity goes to his head.

People are lemmings and will believe whatever they are told, particularly in the classic scene where Ronnie starts doing the "African Anteater Dance" which he saw on a show he mistook for 'American Bandstand'. Everyone at the school dance follows him instantly.

Don't miss a very young Seth Green as Ronnie's annoying brother! He is great as a smarmy kid!

NERDS, COOLS, MY SIDE, YOUR SIDE, ITS BS !!
THIS MOVIE IS ONE OF THE GREATEST TEEN MOVIE'S EVER MADE. I just saw a preview the other day for a movie thats about to be released.. i think its called "Love Dont Cost A Thing" - and its a total rip off !!!! of Can't Buy me Love, just shows how their is no originality these days, they sample the hell out of music, now movies !! ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Better than expected
I wasn't expecting much from this movie since it was a new release 6 months ago and you can already find it in the dicounted section of certain stores. It's well worth the money. It's a good romantic comedy. I never thought Charlie Sheen was much of an actor but his performance here is better than usual. Denise Richards isn't too outstanding. She really can't act and that shows here and in everything else she's ever been in. It's Angie Harmon who steals the show. She's a very beautiful, very talented actress who pretty much dominates this movie. She hasn'e been in too many movies before, but hopefully we'll see more of her. Another highlight is Sheen's friend, played by Jon Lovitz, a P-whipped plastic surgeon married to a controlling wife played by Rosanna Arquette. They add a lot of comic relief to the movie. Don't let the fact that this movie is already in the dicounted section at stores fool you into thinking this movie [is bad]... It's worth the money depending on where you buy it.

Good Romantic Movie
I saw this movie on cable and watched it. It's a pretty good romance between a down-and-out Wall Street whiz and an editor of a newspaper. Charlie Sheen plays a financial whiz who loses his job due to a scandal and takes the place of his shallow and insensitive girlfriend who runs off to Brazil with another man. While writing the advice column, he falls for the studious editor played by Angie Harmon.
My sister thought the movie was shallow but to me I thought it was romantic as a man was dealing with hisself and the people who read his article.

Sassy, Silly, and Funny. Quality Entertainment
I bought this movie on the advice of my sage friend Pnut and because this movie featured Charlie Sheen, who is a top-flight actor who usually picks decent scripts. I was not disappointed. This is a fun and sassy show with a good story and slightly implausible but satisfying finish. Well acted and scripted and loaded with laughs. Warm and lighthearted comedy at its finest. Definitely recommended.

Better than expected, a good DVD for the Price!
I just saw this movie last night. I was flipping through the channels and decided to give this one a try. I thought it was going to be lame, but it wasn't! The comedic performances of Angie Harmon's secretary, full of inuendo and some pretty hysterical remarks really made it all worthwhile. John Lovitz and his gold-digger wife also contribute much with their love-hate dialouge. Denise Richards doesn't have a huge part, but does a good job in this comedy. Charlie Sheen, although not usually a favorite of mine, was pretty good in this one, thanks to Angie and her Sec. Enjoy!

Good, but...
This was an interesting, sometimes narrow film. There were too many striking similarities to the movie "Wall Street" (Charlie Sheen was also in that) to be called anything different than a copy of it. While it was good, I kept wanting to picture Gordon Gekko as the head of the newspaper rather than the other guy. Overall good, but too much a copy of "Wall Street" to be recognized as different. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Whoopi Goldberg plays a loudmouthed, obsessive fan of the New York Knicks who wins a contest to coach the team. She soon finds that handling players is tough, fans are tough, owners are tough, and so on, but she's big enough to conquer them all with determination, smarts, and personality. The first half of the film is pretty cute as Goldberg's character makes the jump from opinionated spectator to the gal in the hot seat. But everything derails in the second half, which is mostly an op-ed piece about keeping pro-ball teams from moving out of their cities. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (5)

WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR...
This is a very enjoyable comedy, starring the irrepressible Whoopi Goldberg in the role of Edwina "Eddie" Franklin, the widow of a New York City police officer. Following in her late husband's footsteps, she coaches basketball for inner city kids. She is also the number one fan for the New York Knicks, a team that, despite the talent on it, can't seem to win a game. Eddie loves the team, no matter what, and can be seen high up in the rafters of every Knicks game, rabidly and raucously cheering them on.

When "Eddie" wins the honorary coach for the day contest at one of the Knicks' games, she manages to get thrown off the court by the head coach (Dennis Farina), when she protests a ref's call. This causes the fans to go wild, chanting her name as she leaves the court. When the head coach for the Knicks gets fired by the team's owner, Wild Bill Burgess (Frank Langella in a ten gallon hat), he hires "Eddie" as an interim head coach, as it seems that fans of the Knicks love "Eddie" and respond to her very positively. After all, she was one of them. Burgess, however, has no expectations of "Eddie's" ability to coach the team. "Eddie", however, aims to do everything she can to bring the Knicks out of their slump. For her, this is a dream come true.

This is a feel good sort of movie. Whoopi is very funny , as she goes about setting right what has gone wrong with the team. Frank Langella is terrific as the deal making team owner whose folksy manner belies the fact that he has his eye on the bottom line. Dennis Farina is credible as the head coach with a mouth as big as his monumental ego. While the film is fairly predictable, it is quite enjoyable. The viewer is also treated to a few fun cameos by Donald Trump, sports announcer Marv Alpert, and former NBA star, Walt Frazier. If you are not a big fan of basketball, however, deduct one star from my rating.

Good, But Could Have Been Better
The Story: Whoopi Goldberg plays a fan of the NY Knicks who wins a chance to coach for a day. It works so well that she gets hired.

The story is interesting and the movie starts out with lots of heart and humor. Then, two things happen to spoil it.

First, a scene is inserted (and it really feels like it was inserted, almost as an afterthought) wherein Whoopi Goldberg has a heated argument with the team owner, with profanity inserted in what seems a forced and contrived way. I've seen this in other movies (e.g., "Magic" starring Anthony Hopkins), and it looks like the profanity is inserted just to change the rating to grab the attention of teens, who go to the movies a lot.

Second, the film loses it's way and gets boring throughout much of the second half.

Ms. Goldberg, I hope you redo this movie and carry the heart and humor of the first half through the entire movie. It could be a 4-star or even a 5-star family movie.

Stop Before It Hurts!
[Add a star if you love Whoopi Goldberg.]

OK, class. Once again. It's important to realize what our perceptions are going in to a movie like this before one starts judging it. My perception going in was that we have yet another sports fantasy from the Disney sports fantasy factory. These are the same people who didn't know to stop with The Bad News Bears. So, they gave us The Mighty Ducks, Little GIANTS, and Angels In The Outfield.

This time out of the box it's "the Bad News Bears play NBA Basketball". Subbing for the Bears are the New York Knicks. Believe me, it's definitely bad news to see Mark Jackson back in a Knick uniform. Anyway, these Knicks are hopelessly bad. They're in last place and they have no signs of getting better. However, every sports team, no matter how bad, has its loyal fans.

Meet Eddie Franklin (Whoopi Goldberg). Eddie is fanatical about the Knicks. She loves them. She loves them so much that she, a limo dispatcher, does play-by-play and commentary over the limo service's airwaves. Where Eddie's friend goes to Knick games to meet men, Eddie goes to see the game.

Well, the Knicks are so bad that they've been sold to a new owner, one Wild Bill Burgess (Frank Langella). Will Bill is one of those stereotypical Texan billionaires who does everything large. Langella plays him well, but I could have seen Dennis Weaver in this role. Anyway, Burgess takes a ride in from the airport in Eddie's limo, who is inexplicably driving that day. Eddie's been listening to the FAN (WFAN Sports Radio 66, NYC) and ESPN Sports Radio. Eddie hates the Knicks' coach, played by Dennis Farina; so much so that she calls up Burgess, who doing a radio call-in, without realizing that he's in the back seat behind the glass. Burgess spies Eddie at the game later and decides to fix the halftime "Honorary Coach" contest so that he can throw Eddie and Bailey (Farina) together.

Eddie sinks the requisite free-throw and we're off. Franklin and Bailey don't like each other. (Bailey doesn't like anybody.) When Eddie steps on the court to protest a call, the referee assesses the Knicks a technical foul and Bailey has Eddie thrown out of the Garden to howls of protest from the fans. Seeing this, owner Burgess conspires to get rid of Bailey and hire a new coach. Meanwhile, he can hire Eddie as a one-shot interim coach until the dirty deed is done.

Of course, the plot is convoluted and full of holes, but the movie could still be entertaining if there were any energy on the screen. For the most part, there is none. The only chemistry I enjoyed was that between Franklin and veteran player Nate Wilson (John Salley).

As a native New Yorker, I especially thought it irritating that the movie's producers split up the announcing team of Marv Albert and Walt Frazier. Although both men play themselves, Frazier plays a sports-talk host rather than his usual (and colorful) role as Knick radio analyst. Anyone who has heard Albert and Frazier work together knows what I mean.

As in all these Disney sports fantasies, the Knicks start playing better under Franklin's coaching, but there's further trouble ahead. Actually, there's so much plot in this movie, they could have loaned some to Twister.

In conclusion, I'd wait for this movie to come to cable unless you just like Whoopi Goldberg films.

[Originally written 3 June 1996]

Good Family Fun
This film shows Whoopi Goldberg at her big mouth wise cracking best. The film is about a rich chairman who buys the New York Nicks and try's to turn a losing team into a freak show to make money. So he hires a big mouth fan as the head coach who he beleives can't coach. The first half of the film is funniest as Whoopi Goldberg tells the Nicks coaches what she really thinks of them. Some of the misfit players are quite good to. There is a Russian who can't speak any English, a great player except he won't pass the ball and a player who is more interested in his failing marriage. All in all, kids will love this one and adults should enjoy some of the humour.

Eddie was good.
Whoopi is one of my favorite actresses, so that might be why my review of this film is biased. Although rabid movie critics may disagree with me, I found the film to be rather enjoyable. It was fun watching Whoopi arise to the level of coach and turn around the fledgling Knicks. It's a light-hearted comedy with laughs and fun. Recommended. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Even with Pauly Shore as the "star," this 1993 comedy is a bit better than you might think. Shore plays an insouciant college student asked by a friend (Carla Gugino) to pretend to be her fiancé over Thanksgiving break, thus discouraging a jerk back in her hometown from proposing. Shore's character agrees but is given a hard time by the girl's salt-of-the-earth family of farmers. The hero and Gugino's character actually have a crush on each other, and now that they have an opportunity to explore romance, their relationship is threatened by poor Pauly's tests of rural manhood. Shore aside, the strong cast--including Gugino and Lane Smith--lend this thing some credibility; and the script doesn't take any shortcuts in moving the characters beyond their assumptions about one another. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (35)

"Munch On Some Grindage," And Watch This Movie
My review really would classify this at a rating of 3.5 stars. I'm really not a Pauly Shore fan, but this is probably his best movie.

My kids wanted to watch this on Thanksgiving, and now that we've finished, I realized that it really is a fairly decent film. Besides its somewhat predictable plot, the story is quite funny. Pauly Shore plays a California college student, nicknamed Crawl, who goes home over Thanksgiving with his friend, played by Carla Gugino, to her parents' farm in "middle America," as he puts it. Crawl pretends to be his friend's fiance so she doesn't have to face her high school sweetheart, and proceeds to help out at the farm. Throw the California city boy into farm life, and you can only imagine what type of trouble he gets into.

Shore seems to be at his best in the role, and Gugino adds a lot of flavor to the film as well. The acting on the whole was pretty good, and overall, it was a pretty enjoyable film to watch with my family. It's funny and leaves you with a warm feeling in the end. This is a nice family film.

Great film
I'm not that much of a Pauly Shore fan, but when I first saw this I loved it. Now, years later, I saw it on TV and still loved it. It's a funny film. I'd say it's Pauly Shore's best film. Everyone in the family will enjoy it.

Excellent comedy that will be a modern cult classic.
Pauly Shore's best role since " In The Army Now" has him as a city boy from L.A. in love with a Farmer's daughter and joins her for Thanksgiven and wants to be part of the family but he sometimes screws things up.

Very entertaining, funny and sometimes heartwarmining with fine performances, a must see movie.

The DVD looks good with picture and sounds great with it's sound.

Son in Law
All I can say about this movie is if you have a daughter going off to school then this is a must see movie ! And God help us all if "Crawl" is the one in charge. Full of laughs and suprizes. A must see movie if you are in the mood for laughs

One of the best comedies I've ever seen
I'm not saying that Pauly Shore is a great actor, but Son in Law is one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. Shore plays a Shore-like resident assistant named Crawl at the California university chosen for matriculation by Rebecca of some farm (probably not Sunnybrook) in South Dakota. Her jock boyfriend Travis, who apparently spends all of his free time trying to look more and more like Tom Cruise, doesn't want her to go, afraid she will change out there on her own. Becca, as Crawl calls her, has a hard time adjusting to college life and is ready to quit and come home when Crawl convinces her to stay and try a little harder to fit in with the crowd. Soon, shy little Rebecca has been shorn of her long hair, clothed in "weasel ware," and tattooed, allowing her to mingle easily on the beach and at mud wrestling bars. When she learns that Crawl is going to be alone during Thanksgiving, she invites him home with her. Her parents and Travis are shocked when they see Becca's new undeniably hot look, but they are even more shocked when a lunatic in the form of Crawl shows up with her. He takes to country life in his uniquely Shore-ian way, horrifying just about everyone in the state of South Dakota. This is before Crawl announces that he and Becca are getting married, a lie engineered on the spot to forestall Travis' own marriage proposal to the new and improved Becca. Dad decides to show Crawl what farming is like, trying to drive him away with the nastiest farm chores known to man, at which point much hilarity ensues. In time, Crawl begins to win over Becca's family and even becomes a star attraction on the local square dance circuit, inspired by such songs as the theme to Green Acres and John Denver's Thank God I'm a Country Boy. Travis has his own plans for getting Becca back, though; feathers fly, and not just those from the turkey that gets loose in the house.

Pauly Shore is in full Pauly Shore mode in this movie, but it works tremendously well here. The acting is great all the way around, Carla Gugino is adorable, Shore is hilarious, and there's not a dull moment to be found from beginning to end. I've watched this movie several times, with no noticeable decrease in the enjoyment factor from one viewing to the next. My parents, who haven't been to a movie since I was a kid dragging them along with me, actually borrowed this movie from me; some of their friends had been trying to find this hilarious movie they had seen but could not remember the name of for some time, and I recognized the plot as soon as they got around to asking me about it. It's a pretty unforgettable movie that appeals to a wide audience. If you have avoided Son in Law like the plague just because Pauly Shore stars in it, I urge you to reconsider and give this movie a chance. This is a very funny film the whole family can enjoy. ... Read more

Reviews (69)

You Can't Buy Love, But You Can Buy This Movie
Amusing story of a nerdy high school student Ronald Miller (Patrick Dempsey) who discovers that becoming popular isn't the greatest thing in the world. After she accidentally ruins her mother's suede dress with some wine, Cyndi, the most popular girl at school (played wonderfully by Amanda Petersen) will do anything to replace it before her mother gets back from her trip.

Enter Ronald. After seeing her desperate attempt to replace the dress at the mall, Ronald makes a deal with Amanda. He'll use the money that he has earned all summer by mowing lawns to buy a new dress, in return for Amanda's help in turning him to Mr. popularity.

Along the way, Ronnie learns lessons about the true value of having real friends, and towards the end of the movie Ronald discovers that he is still himself.

This film, which is no longer produced by Touchstone Video (a division of the Disney Corporation) features many couple of stars before they hit it big. Gerardo, the Latin-singing star who scored a one-hit wonder with "Rico Suave," plays one of the football jocks in the film. However, the real scene-stealer in this film is Seth Green ("Austin Powers"; "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" "Can't Hardly Wait") who plays Ronald's annoying, yet hysterical little brother, Chuckie. By taking a look at Seth in this past role you can understand why he is such a big star today. He is always a trip when it comes to comedic performances.

I loved this film for many reasons, but I think the most memorable scene in this film probably has to be Ronald learning an African dance he saw on television (he thought he was watching "American Bandstand"). After learning it, Ronald performs it at the big dance, not knowing that it would become a huge hit.

This film ranks among the 10 best teenage comedies produced in the 1980's. Let's only hope that it will be re-released on video and DVD in the near future.

Great 80's teen comedy
Viewed as a genre of its own, the 80's Teen Comedy produced some fun, enjoyable movies. One that holds up quite well is Can't Buy Me Love. Starring Patrick Dempsey in what was probably his best role of the era, it's the story of a geeky kid who pays the captain of the cheerleading team to pretend to be his girlfriend for a month. While not entirely realistic, it has a good ending. The humor holds up well after 16 years, as does the movie overall.

The DVD was hugely disappointing, and my 4 stars are based on the movie itself. Unless you consider chapter stops a special feature, the disc is devoid of any extras. The greatest offense is that it's presented only in fullscreen. I'd normally pass on a non-widescreen release, but my wife insisted on having it. If you have to have this movie, this is probably the best release it will see for quite some time.

ONE OF MY ALL-TIME FAVS***
If you love the corny but terrific 1980's, you'll love this movie. In my opinion, the TEEN MOVIE OF ALL TEEN MOVIES... tHE CLOTHES ARE A RIOT, but ther than that this movie has a terrific point, Cools, Nerds...who cares! Ronald Miller rides into the most popular girl in school's heart on a lawnmower. From there its all sorts of fun for the move watcher! I love this move and was soooo pleased it was released on DVD. No special features, bummer. Terrific film though. Be sure to get it!

1980s classic!!!
Patrick Dempsey plays nerdy Ronnie Miller, who is so on the outside of society at his high school that he is known simply as "Lawn Boy" because he mows everyone's lawn for his part-time job. He wants to be popular for his upcoming senior year, and he sees his chance when cheerleader Cindy Mancini is in a jam, having ruined her mother's suede outfit at a party and needing $1000 to replace it.

Ronnie happens to be at the mall at the same time, purchasing a new telescope with his lawn-mowing money when he sees Cindy's dilemma. He offers to pay for the new outfit if she will pretend to be his girlfriend for a month and introduce him to the popular circle.

Although this seems completely crazy to Cindy, she does it (after a great little makeover -- quite the staple of 1980s teen movies!) She even starts to like Ronnie as a person, until popularity goes to his head.

People are lemmings and will believe whatever they are told, particularly in the classic scene where Ronnie starts doing the "African Anteater Dance" which he saw on a show he mistook for 'American Bandstand'. Everyone at the school dance follows him instantly.

Don't miss a very young Seth Green as Ronnie's annoying brother! He is great as a smarmy kid!

NERDS, COOLS, MY SIDE, YOUR SIDE, ITS BS !!
THIS MOVIE IS ONE OF THE GREATEST TEEN MOVIE'S EVER MADE. I just saw a preview the other day for a movie thats about to be released.. i think its called "Love Dont Cost A Thing" - and its a total rip off !!!! of Can't Buy me Love, just shows how their is no originality these days, they sample the hell out of music, now movies !! ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Not too many laughs...
This is a pretty silly movie. The idea of someone holding up a place at gunpoint, taking hostages, and the hostages eventually sympathizing and siding with the robber... well, it's been done before and much better. The talent of Nia Long is wasted in this movie. Most of her screen-time takes place at the very beginning and end of the film.

I gave this an extra star simply because Jamie Foxx has some funny moments in this. He's a major talent and really deserves to do better films than this. He's a great actor, both comic and dramatic.

The DVD features certainly don't make up for the poor quality of the film. Besides the film's trailer (and a few trailers for other Trimark films) the only feature is a four minute interview with Jamie Foxx.

Very Funny
Coming off a tough deadline, all I was looking for was something to make me laugh. That's why I chose a Jamie Foxx film. He usually cracks me up. And Nia Long is a very talented actress. She's always good, no matter what venue I've seen her in.

These two had great chemistry. Nia is the put-upon girlfriend who's highly upset because her boyfriend has spent their nest egg on a vintage Edsel (can you believe he bought an EDSEL? ). Anyway, they're on vacation, in the middle of Nevada, driving this car that doesn't even have a decent sound system, just an 8-track tape player. He only has one 8-track tape, Tony Orlando and Dawn. I can feel the sister's irritation at this dope.

Once she learns he's emptied their joint account to purchase this car, she gets so angry she leaves him in the middle of a desert town. Then his car is stolen and the fun really begins.

While he's inside a convenience store, after calling the local sheriff to report his car being stolen, the store is held-up by three bumbling criminals. Chaos ensues.

For the rest of the movie, Jamie Foxx's character has one goal, to emerge unscathed out of a hostage situation inside the convenience store in order to make it to the airport before the love of his life flies out of it forever.

Like I said in the beginning, all I was looking for was something to make me laugh. HELD UP was surprisingly deep in some instances. Yes, there is a little bathroom humor, but I don't think I heard the F word once. And that was quite refreshing.

I say, WATCH IT!

funny for the first ride
if you wanna watch this over and over again I , dont...its better if you watch it once. this is about Foxx and his girlfriend leaves him and then he ends up being Held Up by some robbers who are so stupid. the cops come, or should I say uneducated cops come to teh scene. my favorite bit is where Foxx thinks he is grazed with a bullet and it turns out its a dorito chip(the part where the microwave explodes). Jake Busey and Michael Shamus Wiles(military man) add some spark as well.

No Good
Sorry Jamie and Nia -- this one did not live up to expectations. This low budget movie is full of stereotypes (about Hispanics) and quite boring.

I've seen Jamie in at least one other comedy which rocked, and am disappointed with HELD UP from start to finish. Nia is an A-plus actress, and I don't know why she agreed to star in this dud.

Better luck next time, Jamie and Nia. Be pickier about which movies you agree to act in. Otherwise you'll end up like Chris Rock - always acting in stupid movies.

This movie is FUNNY!
I dont recall ths movie ever being in theaters, but that doesn't mean it isn't good, in fact, it's one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. Jamie Foxx is hillarious as usual, while Nia Long lends her great acting, great comedy, and her great body to this one. The whole plot is ridiculous, but that makes the movie all the more better. It's about a convienence store in the middle of the Arizona desert that gets robbed by a couple of bumbling crooks that have no idea what they're doing. Foxx's character just so happened to be there when the store was "held up" and he needs to get to the airport to make up with his girlfriend (played by Nia Long) before she leaves, but he can't, because now the cops have surrounded the store and set the stage for some great humor. Held Up sits among Wayne's World and Office Space as one of the best comedies ever, so do yourself a favor and buy it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Rock historians and hard-core Buddy Holly fans can and do take issue with director Steve Rash's 1978 biopic of the Lubbock, Texas, rocker's life: the script liberally juggles details from Holly's brief but blazing career, replacing producer Norman Petty and Holly's original bassist and drummer with fictionalized composite characters. Yet the core of the film, and the reason it's definitely worth a look and listen, is Gary Busey's lusty performance in the title role, triumphing against what might have seemed miscasting.

The burly, lantern-jawed Busey steps into the lankier, narrow-faced Holly's blue suede shoes and dances off with the movie. At a time when live rock albums thought little of overdubbing mistakes in the studio, director Rash honored Busey's nervy gamble in performing these songs live, singing in his own raw voice and rumbling through his own approximations of Holly's guitar work. What's lost in precise verisimilitude is more than compensated by Busey's conviction and a palpable, almost ecstatic terror as he charges through Holly's wonderful songs before indifferent roller-rink audiences.

Other films have nailed the period more accurately through art direction or script, but Busey's authentic energy gives this movie an emotional veracity that's just right for this chapter in rock history. Still, for musical purposes, go straight to the source, Holly's wonderful recordings.--Sam Sutherland ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Welcome to the world of Buddy Holly
The Buddy Holly Story starring Gary Busey should not be taken as a historical document. Nor do I believe it ever set out to be. What has been created is a film which gives the feel and atmosphere of Buddy Holly, his music and the USA of the day. To have been completely factual would have most probably killed the film with legal challenges and suppression. The Crickets leaving Buddy to side with Norman Petty in the split leading to the final tour and the bitter disappointment this must have caused Buddy, the actual split itself with Petty and the resultant financial complications, these happenings are really not the sort of thing to air in a movie to celebrate the life and music of one of the founders of Rock.

Instead Gary Busey has strapped on a Fender and in effect becomes Buddy Holly. The rhythm and beat, the frantic excitement, the sheer enjoyment of the music, it is all there. We actually get to experience a timeslice of a period some of us recall fondly and others would like to share. A wonderful reminder of good music for us oldies or a enjoyable introduction to a legend for others, a Rock'n'Roll legend quoted by The Beatles and a number of other major musical identities as a major influence in their music.

It's not history, but it is the authentic feel of the music
The Buddy Holly Story starring Gary Busey should not be taken as a historical document. Nor do I believe it ever set out to be. What has been created is a film which gives the feel and atmosphere of Buddy Holly, his music and the USA of the day. To have been completely factual would have most probably killed the film with legal challenges and suppression. The Crickets leaving Buddy to side with Norman Petty in the split leading to the final tour and the bitter disappointment this must have caused Buddy, the actual split itself with Petty and the resultant financial complications, these happenings are really not the sort of thing to air in a movie to celebrate the life and music of one of the founders of Rock.

Instead Gary Busey has strapped on a Fender and in effect becomes Buddy Holly. The rhythm and beat, the frantic excitement, the sheer enjoyment of the music, it is all there. We actually get to experience a timeslice of a period some of us recall fondly and others would like to share. A wonderful reminder of good music for us oldies or a enjoyable introduction to a legend for others, a Rock'n'Roll legend quoted by The Beatles and a number of other major musical identities as a major influence in their music.

One of the lesser known items about this film and the making thereof is that Gary Busey actually formed a band and toured up and down the west coast of the USA before the making of it to provide himself with the feel and practice of performing Buddy Holly songs before an audience. He actually played and sang the songs in the film rather than lip-sync Buddy's records to provide some authentic feel to the whole thing - good on yer Gary !

Gary Busey brings Buddy Holly to life!
I'm a huge fan of Gary Busey, who may not be a "star" but is nevertheless a great actor. This is by far his best performance, & I feel he deserved the best actor oscar more than Jon Voight (who won for Coming Home). Few people know that Busey was a musician before he was an actor, so in this awesome musical biography of Buddy Holly we get to see just how talented he is. The film is mostly factual, although some screen characters are actually composites of two or more people. The energy in Busey's performance is what makes this a winner. Not only did he sing, he did it while being filmed live! That's what gives this such a realistic look to it & it's why this stands out among the other musical biographies as one of the best. There was also a lot of unscripted dialogue that makes this even more entertaining. The best thing about the dvd is the hilarious & very informative commentary from the director Steve Rash & Gary Busey, which is almost as good as the film itself! This is an excellent tribute to a lengendary rock & roll icon & it won an oscar for best score adaptation. Do yourself a favor, add this great film to your collection!

Awesome, Must Have Movie!
I think this is a fantastic movie. Gary Busey did an excellent job portraying Buddy Holly. Though I am aware that not every detail of this movie is 100% factual, it still makes the audience love and care about Buddy and his music. This movie is truly a must for any music fan.

Not The Real Buddy Holly Story
This movie does not in any way portray the real Buddy Holly. It contains several inaccuracies, and, to me, Gary Busey is miscast as Buddy Holly. I have read several books on Buddy Holly in addition to having the video "The Real Buddy Holly" hosted by former Beatle Paul McCartney and the Biography video of Buddy Holly, and this movie doesn't do justice to the Buddy Holly we all loved and enjoyed. If you're looking for an entertaining movie and not concerned with accuracy then, I supppose, you will enjoy the movie. However, if you want the real Buddy Holly story you'll have to look elsewhere. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Why hasn't anyone else reviewed this?
I thought this was a more popular show. Of course, it was on Comedy Central BEFORE the South Park days. It is a shame that people don't appreciate such fine humor as this. Or maybe I am wrong, and it is popular, just not on Amazon. Either way, here is my review:

This is a comedy about Richard Hall trying to find a prize he won from The Junior Seeds Sales Club of America(they were good kids, our salesmen!) He has quite an adventure across America along the way. You may recognize a few guest appearances..such as Harry Anderson from Night Court(I think...), and the statue of the Big Boy restraunts..although, he doesn't have any lines. Richard Hall realizes through his journey that...It's not the trophy, it's the quest!

Rich Hall's Vanishing America, a Diamond in the Rough
In this hilarious comedy, Rich Hall discovers that he had never received the basketball and goal he earned selling seeds for the Junior Seed Sales Club of America when he was 8 years old. Now, at age 30, Rich embarks on an amazing journey that takes him across the country, off the beaten path and discovers what time has truly forgotten in America. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Not even Tom...
I originally bout this for Tom Waits, but he's hardly in it.
And John Malckovich as 'the gay friend'.
Don't bother with this one

Underappreciated gem.
If you know a group of 30 (and even 40) somethings who just can't seem to let go of their adolescence, this film will resonate with you. The buddy relationships depicted amongst the pack of guys are right on target, and the awkwardness between the guys' reliance on the pack and their building adult romantic relationship (heterosexual or gay)beyond the pack is well detailed. Linda Fiorentino and Chloe Webb are a credible and recognizeable pair of friends who suport each other, sometimes in anger, somtimes in bemusement, while the somewhat arrested guys in their lives stumble into growing up. Others may disagree, but I am willing to bet that many single urbanites will shout "bingo" when they overhear some of the film's conversations between guy and girl, guy and guy, and girl and girl. Add some quirky, fun NYC caricatures, an evening of last hurrah stunts, and first rate performances from everyone (particularly Mantegna, Jamie Lee Curtis, Fiorentino, and Malkevich)and you have a solid, enjoyable ensemble piece.

Queens Logic: I'm Moving Out
As a lifetime resident of the neighborhood depicted in the movie(which is Astoria, where NOBODY says they're from "Queens"), I excitedly anticipated renting and viewing this movie. Unfortunately, the high points consisted mainly of spotting neighborhood sites and scenes, unless you also include laughing at the incredibly lame situations and dialogue. The high point of lameness (among many) is the speech by Chloe Webb, in which she explains how she's just a girl from Queens and "will always be from Queens". The accent selected for this speech is unidentifiable, and may contain some part Bowery Boys and some part Nanny, but has never been heard inside the city limits of Astoria (or Queens for that matter). Her boyfriend, Ken Olin, is going through the struggle (as all artists must) in which he must decide if this ordinary girl from Queens with the odd accent can be his "muse", or will he need to find a muse in Manhattan. Luckily, the N train is near, so the decision can be made conveniently. Elsewhere in the convoluted plot, Joe Mantegna inexpicably climbs the Hellgate Bridge with a toothpick in his mouth,and prefers to hang out in bars rather than with his extreme babe wife, Linda Fiorentino. The main saving graces for the movie are John Malkovich playing a lovable, friendly but somehow menacingly Malkovich gay guy, Fiorentino just for showing up, and the general attitude that Astorians are cool while Manhattanites are idiotic. (This is clearly true, but why base a movie on it?) Note that Malkovich and Kevin Bacon (also appearing) never ever discuss being in this movie. PS: Watch out for the howling scene-I give you four slices of Astoria pizza for free if you can watch it without cringing and running out of your living room. Oh yes, Jamie Lee Curtis plays a ditzy crazy lady- never seen that before!

Where was I when........?
Queens Logic is another of those movies where you ask yourself.... How did I miss this movie before? Queens Logic? Never heard of it!

The movie is special for its little moments and its great characters. The bartender we all wish we knew (Molinaro), the sleazeball with a heart of gold (Tom Waits), Joey Clams, Joe Mantegna paying his employees "in cash or check?", shotgun handy.

The performances are great, particularly Mantegna, and the film succeeds in transporting you to a section of New York only otherwise known as the home of the Mets.

The film succeeds in showing how these friends truly care for one another and has almost as many precious moments as another cult classic (although less steeped in mythology) "The Wanderers". These are the moments you want to look back on. These are the friends who will always love you. This is a movie which feels good to watch.

high potential to achieve college cult status
Sure, "Queens Logic" might at first come across asnothing more than "The Big Chill" Italian-American-style,with a marriage instead of a funeral drawing folks back together. But if ever a movie begs a second (and third) watching it's this one. Not only is it sharply directed by Steve Rash but the acting is quite nearly pristine throughout, an astounding accomplishment considering the number of prime characters, bit-parts and cameo appearances which permeate the storyline from beginning to end. But it's the screenwriting angle that elevates this movie to the category of significant cinematography. The street-level dialogue is classically accurate -- and perfectly delivered.While it shines as an uncensored piece of Big Apple Americana, it also has that feel of college cult favorite, as much for its quirkiness as the now high-profile faces which appear throughout, like an always-way-cool Tom Waits, a left-field-guruish Jamie Lee Curtis, a can't-score-for-nothin' Kevin Bacon and a trascendentally-gay John Malkovich. Worth buying instead of simply renting. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Better than expected
I wasn't expecting much from this movie since it was a new release 6 months ago and you can already find it in the dicounted section of certain stores. It's well worth the money. It's a good romantic comedy. I never thought Charlie Sheen was much of an actor but his performance here is better than usual. Denise Richards isn't too outstanding. She really can't act and that shows here and in everything else she's ever been in. It's Angie Harmon who steals the show. She's a very beautiful, very talented actress who pretty much dominates this movie. She hasn'e been in too many movies before, but hopefully we'll see more of her. Another highlight is Sheen's friend, played by Jon Lovitz, a P-whipped plastic surgeon married to a controlling wife played by Rosanna Arquette. They add a lot of comic relief to the movie. Don't let the fact that this movie is already in the dicounted section at stores fool you into thinking this movie [is bad]... It's worth the money depending on where you buy it.

Good Romantic Movie
I saw this movie on cable and watched it. It's a pretty good romance between a down-and-out Wall Street whiz and an editor of a newspaper. Charlie Sheen plays a financial whiz who loses his job due to a scandal and takes the place of his shallow and insensitive girlfriend who runs off to Brazil with another man. While writing the advice column, he falls for the studious editor played by Angie Harmon.
My sister thought the movie was shallow but to me I thought it was romantic as a man was dealing with hisself and the people who read his article.

Sassy, Silly, and Funny. Quality Entertainment
I bought this movie on the advice of my sage friend Pnut and because this movie featured Charlie Sheen, who is a top-flight actor who usually picks decent scripts. I was not disappointed. This is a fun and sassy show with a good story and slightly implausible but satisfying finish. Well acted and scripted and loaded with laughs. Warm and lighthearted comedy at its finest. Definitely recommended.

Better than expected, a good DVD for the Price!
I just saw this movie last night. I was flipping through the channels and decided to give this one a try. I thought it was going to be lame, but it wasn't! The comedic performances of Angie Harmon's secretary, full of inuendo and some pretty hysterical remarks really made it all worthwhile. John Lovitz and his gold-digger wife also contribute much with their love-hate dialouge. Denise Richards doesn't have a huge part, but does a good job in this comedy. Charlie Sheen, although not usually a favorite of mine, was pretty good in this one, thanks to Angie and her Sec. Enjoy!

Good, but...
This was an interesting, sometimes narrow film. There were too many striking similarities to the movie "Wall Street" (Charlie Sheen was also in that) to be called anything different than a copy of it. While it was good, I kept wanting to picture Gordon Gekko as the head of the newspaper rather than the other guy. Overall good, but too much a copy of "Wall Street" to be recognized as different. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Not even Tom...
I originally bout this for Tom Waits, but he's hardly in it.
And John Malckovich as 'the gay friend'.
Don't bother with this one

Underappreciated gem.
If you know a group of 30 (and even 40) somethings who just can't seem to let go of their adolescence, this film will resonate with you. The buddy relationships depicted amongst the pack of guys are right on target, and the awkwardness between the guys' reliance on the pack and their building adult romantic relationship (heterosexual or gay)beyond the pack is well detailed. Linda Fiorentino and Chloe Webb are a credible and recognizeable pair of friends who suport each other, sometimes in anger, somtimes in bemusement, while the somewhat arrested guys in their lives stumble into growing up. Others may disagree, but I am willing to bet that many single urbanites will shout "bingo" when they overhear some of the film's conversations between guy and girl, guy and guy, and girl and girl. Add some quirky, fun NYC caricatures, an evening of last hurrah stunts, and first rate performances from everyone (particularly Mantegna, Jamie Lee Curtis, Fiorentino, and Malkevich)and you have a solid, enjoyable ensemble piece.

Queens Logic: I'm Moving Out
As a lifetime resident of the neighborhood depicted in the movie(which is Astoria, where NOBODY says they're from "Queens"), I excitedly anticipated renting and viewing this movie. Unfortunately, the high points consisted mainly of spotting neighborhood sites and scenes, unless you also include laughing at the incredibly lame situations and dialogue. The high point of lameness (among many) is the speech by Chloe Webb, in which she explains how she's just a girl from Queens and "will always be from Queens". The accent selected for this speech is unidentifiable, and may contain some part Bowery Boys and some part Nanny, but has never been heard inside the city limits of Astoria (or Queens for that matter). Her boyfriend, Ken Olin, is going through the struggle (as all artists must) in which he must decide if this ordinary girl from Queens with the odd accent can be his "muse", or will he need to find a muse in Manhattan. Luckily, the N train is near, so the decision can be made conveniently. Elsewhere in the convoluted plot, Joe Mantegna inexpicably climbs the Hellgate Bridge with a toothpick in his mouth,and prefers to hang out in bars rather than with his extreme babe wife, Linda Fiorentino. The main saving graces for the movie are John Malkovich playing a lovable, friendly but somehow menacingly Malkovich gay guy, Fiorentino just for showing up, and the general attitude that Astorians are cool while Manhattanites are idiotic. (This is clearly true, but why base a movie on it?) Note that Malkovich and Kevin Bacon (also appearing) never ever discuss being in this movie. PS: Watch out for the howling scene-I give you four slices of Astoria pizza for free if you can watch it without cringing and running out of your living room. Oh yes, Jamie Lee Curtis plays a ditzy crazy lady- never seen that before!

Where was I when........?
Queens Logic is another of those movies where you ask yourself.... How did I miss this movie before? Queens Logic? Never heard of it!

The movie is special for its little moments and its great characters. The bartender we all wish we knew (Molinaro), the sleazeball with a heart of gold (Tom Waits), Joey Clams, Joe Mantegna paying his employees "in cash or check?", shotgun handy.

The performances are great, particularly Mantegna, and the film succeeds in transporting you to a section of New York only otherwise known as the home of the Mets.

The film succeeds in showing how these friends truly care for one another and has almost as many precious moments as another cult classic (although less steeped in mythology) "The Wanderers". These are the moments you want to look back on. These are the friends who will always love you. This is a movie which feels good to watch.

high potential to achieve college cult status
Sure, "Queens Logic" might at first come across asnothing more than "The Big Chill" Italian-American-style,with a marriage instead of a funeral drawing folks back together. But if ever a movie begs a second (and third) watching it's this one. Not only is it sharply directed by Steve Rash but the acting is quite nearly pristine throughout, an astounding accomplishment considering the number of prime characters, bit-parts and cameo appearances which permeate the storyline from beginning to end. But it's the screenwriting angle that elevates this movie to the category of significant cinematography. The street-level dialogue is classically accurate -- and perfectly delivered.While it shines as an uncensored piece of Big Apple Americana, it also has that feel of college cult favorite, as much for its quirkiness as the now high-profile faces which appear throughout, like an always-way-cool Tom Waits, a left-field-guruish Jamie Lee Curtis, a can't-score-for-nothin' Kevin Bacon and a trascendentally-gay John Malkovich. Worth buying instead of simply renting. ... Read more