The Film Junkie

I remember watching this movie as a child and loving the fact that for the first time I was seeing a woman taking control of her life.  Sure, she is bogged down by the child she inherited and the job she has allowed to run her life, but she holds the reins.  When the men in her life fall by the wayside and the job prospects fall through, J.C. (Diane Keaton) finds her way back.  As a child this gave me hope that no matter what happened as long as I was smart and had control I would find my way.

20 years later this film still holds up.  Sure the music is cheesy, the costumes are dated and James Spader is young and beautiful, but the issue of the working mother is just as important and hot button now.  There are very few films that have had the guts to view a single mom as anything other than pitiful, to allow a woman to choose the life of single motherhood and prosper because of theat decision both emotionally and economically.  I suppose that is why I still love this movie, no matter its many faults and the over-acting from Keaton in many early scenes, the message is one of hope and of a world where we can have it all.  How can you say no to that?

Grade: B+

One of the greatest parodies of all time is this take on the Star Wars trilogy by that master of farce, Mr. Mel Brooks.

He takes pieces of ‘Star Trek’, ‘The Wizard of Oz’, ‘Alien’ and many other movies and mixes them in with a hilarious take on the culture of ‘Star Wars’.  From the mass marketing campaigns to the self-referential moments of mockery.  Brooks gets it right every time.

Bill Pullman and Daphne Zuniga star as the two lovers in peril, with John Candy and Joan Rivers as their sidekicks.  Brooks plays a few characters alongside Rick Moranis as Darth Helmet.  These actors are all at their funniest in this great comedy.

I loved this movie when I saw it as a kid, and I love it even more now.  It is one of the few 80’s comedies that really stands up over time. 

Not to be missed!

Grade: A