Saturday, September 7, 2002|
There is a daily comic called "Non Sequitur" that, in spite of some borderline artwork, is still pretty funny. Tdoay's seemed even more appropriate, posing the eternal question, "Which came first? religion or war?" But you have to make sure the September 7th cartoon is up to see what I mean. 12:55:20 PM  Comments?()
|
|
You know how, if you really like movies and have some sense about it, there are people whose judgement you trust and others you don't? This has nothing to do with character. My parents were wonderful people (father still is), but I knew with certainty that if they really liked a movie, thought it was "cute", that I probably wouldn't. "Curly Sue" being a case in point. On the other hand I know that if Joanna Connors or Roger Ebert likes a movie than it probably worth at least a look. Trusting one's sources came to mind after a conversation at work and a suggestion that I see "Better Off Dead." I was guaranteed a good time, plenty of giggles. Besides, it starred John Cusak, one of my favorite actors and the man I want to be if I grow up. Solid, huh? Wrong! I couldn't finish it. After an hour with a plot line that wouldn't challenge a senior class play and a minimum of giggles, I gave up. "Better Off Dead" was stupid, but not in the gloriously in-your-face stupid sense of "Airplane" or, stupidest-of-all "Three Stooges." The movie has neither the wit of the former nor the skill of the latter.It was tired, cliched-stupid and felt ponderous.
John Cusak was pretty young then and I'm glad he got a chance to star, but he's done better in almost every movie since - "Say Anything", "High Fidelity", "Being John Malkovich", "Gross Pointe Blank", The Grifters". My own recommendation? "Better Off Dead" would have been. |
Last update: 7/12/04; 13:12:46 .
