"Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name..." and Cheers does a great job at creating that friendly, hometown atmosphere. Season 1 follows a young woman named Diane Chambers who takes a job at a Boston bar named Cheers, where she gets to know the colorful clientele, and strikes up a romance with former baseball star/bartender Sam Malone. The casting is outstanding; Ted Danson and Shelley Long have great chemistry, and George Wendt, John Ratzenberger, and Nicholas Colasanto give strong supporting performances. Still, the laugh track can be kind of annoying and some of the ‘80s sitcom humor is out of date. Yet all in all Season 1 of Cheers is hilariously entertaining, and sets a solid foundation for what would become a seminal television series.
Winona Ryder and Keanu Reeves star in the satiric romantic comedy Destination Wedding. The film follows two misanthropes who are paired together at a destination wedding as they critique each other, the wedding activities, life, and love. Both Ryder and Reeves give strong performance, and prove able to carry the film; which is entirely focused on their two characters. And, the witty banter is incredibly clever and has a nice rhythm and style to it. Still, it can get a little raunchy and nihilistic – which kills the romance vibe. It’s a bit of a gimmick film and is kind of limited by the two character format, but Destination Wedding is entertaining and delivers some laughs.
AnnaSophia Robb and Uma Thurman lead the cast in the supernatural horror film Down a Dark Hall. Based on a bestselling book, the story follows a rebellious teenage girl who’s sent to a reform school for troubled youth called Blackwood, but she soon discovers that something strange is going on and begins to suspect that she and her fellow students are being used for some nefarious purpose. Robb gives a fairly good performance and director Rodrigo Cortes does an impressive job at creating an atmospheric mood. However, the storytelling is a little weak and lacks strong villains. Also, the supernatural isn’t really played for scares, and the scares that are there seem a little out of place. Still, despite its problems, Down a Dark Hall is a creepy thriller full of mystery and intrigue.
Chucky is re-born in Child's Play 3. After Chucky's blood gets mixed into a vat of plastic his soul is transferred into a new Good Guys doll, and he then precedes to go after his old nemesis Andy Barclay. It's a trite story and is full of the stereotypical horror movie clichés. And the characters aren't that interesting; even Andy has lost his appeal as a sympathetic victim. Chucky however, is still pretty fun and some of the kills are entertaining. With Child's Play 3 Chucky's story has pretty much been played out, and the series doesn't really have anywhere to go.
Chucky's back for more mayhem and murder in Child's Play 2. The story continues as the Play Pals Company rebuilds Chucky in an attempt to find defects, but he soon escapes and tracks down Andy at a foster home. As far as horror films go, this is one of the more plausible resurrections of a villain. But, the rest of the script (with the exception of the final showdown) is pretty weak. Also, the film gives into the campiness a little more this time; with Chucky being more playful than scary. Even so, there's some excitement and suspense to the chases and fight sequences. Though not as good as the original, Child's Play 2 manages to stir up some scares.
Delivering terrifying thrills, Child's Play is an iconic '80s horror film that launched one of the major franchises of the horror genre. Unbeknownst to 6-year-old Andy Barclay, the Good Guy doll that he got for his birthday, "Chucky," has been imbued with the soul of a serial killer who's out for revenge. Starring Catherine Hicks, Chris Sarandon, and Brad Dourif, the cast is pretty decent (though their performances aren't anything special). What really sells the film is the animatronic work that's done to bring Chucky to life. By the end, the doll feels like a real character with deadly menace, and is a significant threat. Child's Play has some problems overcoming the corniness of its premise, but it ends up succeeding and offers some frightening chills.
The crime thriller Prescription: Murder marks the debut of Peter Falk as Lieutenant Columbo. Adapted from a stage play, a philandering psychiatrist attempts to get out of his marriage by committing the perfect murder, but to get away with it he'll have to get by a sly, soft-spoken homicide lieutenant named Columbo. This is a very different portrayal of Columbo than what the character would become; he's much more menacing, cautious, and direct. The film is also overly focused on the details of committing the murder; which hurts the pacing and momentum. Prescription: Murder is an interesting entry in the Columbo series, it has the raw material but doesn't quite have the formula right.
"That rug really tied the room together, did it not?" The Big Lebowski stands as one of the best Coen brothers' films, and quickly became a beloved cult classic. It's a clever take on the film noir genre, and is full of dark humor and interesting characters that feel authentic in a strange way. Leading this spectacular ensemble cast of immensely entertaining and eccentric characters are Jeff Bridges and John Goodman; both of whom give outstanding performances. The story is a wild adventure that's all about the journey. The Big Lebowski is a phenomenal film that just gets better and better every time you watch it. The Dude abides.
