BUT WHAT DID I "DO" ON HALLOWEEN?

Hi friends. I am back after some r&r.

I started my vacation, actually, on the night of Halloween proper!

Continuing a "new" tradition at castle rogue evolent (started only on Halloween night 2010; last year) the "Mrs." and I retired down into the dungeon basement to watch a properly "themed" movie for such an auspicious evening. In 2010 we watched "ABBOT & COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN." This year we watched "THE BURBS"

What's a point of both interest to me (only me :) ) and a charitable fact, is that both of these movies were given to me free (as a gift) on commerical "store-bought" DVD's by my best friend, the Californian named Bookman187. I call him the "Spoiler" Thanks big-guy. If you keep buying them, I'll keep watching them :)

THE BURBS is a winner on all acounts. It gets a 5 out of 5 on my .... ah.... 5 point scale. It's not deep, important, trend-setting, or classic, but it is pure entertainment. It's a fun popcorn movie that works on all levels.

It was directed by Joe Dante, and he turns in a fine performance. The movie is well paced and never drags. A very smart script with clever and believable dialog was penned by Dana Olsen. And the acting is top-notch. Tom Hanks plays the lead and while this is not the very beginning of his meteoric rise to stardom, it's at the beginning of the end of his purely 80's output of comedy. Carrie Fisher plays his wife and turn in an admirably grounded and solid role. Bruce Dern steals every scene he's in as the slightly eccentric ex-Vietnam vet. Wendy Schall is some nice "eye candy" but actually turns out to be a sympathetic and decent character. Heck, even the usually obnoxious and sleazy C0rey Feldman does a good job with his smaller role of the bemused "slacker" observer to the mayhem on one little cul-de-sac in the "Burbs."

The two actors (even more so than Hanks and Dern) that make this a winner are Rick Ducommun and Henry Gibson. Ducommun plays the best friend of Hanks with an energy and manic zeal that DOES steal every scene. How this guy did not have a break-0ut career is beyond me. His comedy timing is as good as any of the "heavy-hitters" that have starred on SNL over the years. And the veteran & legendary Henry Gibson plays the perfectly sinister, yet restrained antogonist. Gibson's character is beautifully surrounded by two other brilliant character actors: Brother Theodore and Courtney Gains.

It was the second time in the last few months that I've watched THE BURBS and I think it was even better this time. It's the perfect "spooky mystery" but updated to the modern (well, 1989) suburban setting. The plot doesn't give much away too early and lets the audience experience what Hanks and his team of "mystery solvers" encounter step by step. Kudos to Tom Hanks for letting this film work so well as a true "ensemble cast" and not as a vehicle for his own comedy career.

I had a ball and laughed and chuckled at all the great scenes.

Now the wife.............................
I think she "didn't dislike it," but she said as the credits were rolling: "well, that was interesting.... long.... pause " :) A true "meh" experience I'm thinking.

But still I can't wait till next Halloween.... I think I'm going and try and trick her (or treat her :) ) into watching FRAILTY (2001) with Bill Paxton and Matthew McConaughey. I'll keep you posted.

Thanks again Spoiler. Plus, it kept me from having to give my cool Shane Jones monster stickers away to the little beggars up at the castle door.