I'm sure everyone has them: the movies you'll stop channel surfing to watch again. And again. But you have that remote at the ready in case someone walks in the room. Or, for the truly bad movie, in case someone calls and could hear it in the background. In some cases you even own them but are so ashamed you keep the dvd or video in drawers and hidey-holes so you won't have to answer the inevitable "Oh my GOD you own THAT??"
So I thought I'd get some of mine out in the open. And attempt to defend why I like them. If I can.
Plunkett & Macleane
Bad historic drama with modern techno music (and the TigerLillies!) and two secret boyfriends? oh hell yeah.
The Cutting Edge
A spoiled rich girl, a hockey player, and heavily intercut ice skating footage to bad music!
I Was a Male War Bride
Cary Grant in drag! Ok WAC drag. With a horsetail made into a wig. And he's supposed to be French. Average Hawksean sex farce that's not quite as good as his other collaborations with Grant but hey, that's why it's on this list!
Saturday the 14th
Circa 1981 horror movie spoof with Richard Benjamin who was probably still enjoying his fame from the ultimate horror spoof, (and another guilty pleasure of mine) Love at First Bite. Also has his real-life wife, Paula Prentiss, and Jeffrey Tamboor. Yes, that Jeffery Tamboor.
Clue
Before there were movies based on disney rides there were movies based on board games and they ruled the earth. Even the ones with Tawny Kitaen.
The Beautician and the Beast
I like Fran Dresher. There. I said it. I even Tivoed that Nanny reunion special that was on Lifetime last Monday. In fact, I don't find her voice or accent annoying in the least in this movie. Now Timothy Dalton's attempt at a growly Eastern European accent on the other hand...blergh.
Cruel Intentions
Me and probably every adolescent girl and gay man on the planet.
Foxes
Jodi Foster in a seventies teen angst flick with Donna Summer singing "On the Radio". Cherie Currie (of Runaways fame with Joan Jett and Lita Ford) does every kind of drug on the planet while sporting a serious flip hairdo. And Scott Baio does a killer nighttime skateboard race with a car in the Hollywood Hills! Did I mention Foster's mom is played by Sally Kellerman? Hee!
Barefoot in the Park
Yeah yeah Jane Fonda and Robert Redford. Whatever. It's all about Charles Boyer as Victor Velasco, the epicurean bluebeard of 10th street who happens to live on the roof.
Shag: the movie
So bad. God I'm embarassed to even admit it here. But Annabeth Gish is just so cute in that little dancing scene.
Urban Cowboy
It's not what you think. By the time this came out I was way way over my miniscule thing for him in Grease (I had really preferred Kiniki anyway). It's really just the unashamed redneckness of this movie. I mean, they got married in a bar. She wore cowboy boots with no stockings but a garter belt under her dress. He gave her a trailer and she was happy. They went to a prison rodeo for their honeymoon. You've got to appreciate the complete hokey redneck love theme even if it is admittedly scary as all hell.
Police Academy movies
I don't think I've seen all of them. But yeah. I like them. Even the ones with Bobcat Goldthwait. Sorry.
The Bad News Bears
When I was young I totally thought I was Tatum O'Neal in that movie.
April Fool's Day
Typical teenage slasher flick. With Deborah Foreman from Valley Girl! (Are you seeing a theme of movies with poor little rich girls? I've never noticed this before.)
Problem Child
I'm sorry. I have no idea what it is about this movie that I like. It's so bad.
Career Opportunities
Fabulous soundtrack to this movie. And while there are no gratuitous shots of Jennifer Connelly's thighs there is one of her in a tank top on a coin-op bouncy horse. But I'm willing to overlook that for the adorably geeky hero.
Bell Book and Candle
Jack Lemmon playing a Bongo-playing beatnik witch in 1950s New York!
Against All Odds
Suprisingly good eighties noir suspense. No, really! Ignore the Phil Collins video love triangle video marketing bullshit. I've really come to appreciate James Woods in this.
French Postcards
I think this little-known romantic comedy set amongst American exchange students in Paris was a harbinger of the huge success of the genre in the 80s. In fact, the author of the postcards, Blanche Baker (Baby Doll Caroll Baker's daughter!), also plays the bride-to-be in Sixteen Candles. I think it was shot on video or very cheap film because the film quality hasn't held up well at all. Which is a shame because it is a pretty good little film. Mandy Patinkin and Debra Winger steal the show even in their small roles.
The Pirate Movie
So bad. On a number of levels. But damn is it fun!
Foul Play and Seems Like Old Times
Even though one is a disco murder mystery in San Fran and the other is adapted from a Neil Simon play but because they both star Goldie Hawn and Chevy Chase they are forever married in my brain. And Robert Guillame rocks in the Old Times - but when does he not?
I feel so much better now. Oh no, it isn't all of them. But it's a start.
Feel free to share yours. They can't possibly be worse!
Comments
Clue! Barefoot In the Park! Cruel Intentions! And I thought I was the only one. I knew there was a reason why I liked you so much!!
Posted by: angie at December 11, 2004 7:15 AM
Ummm...yeah. I am kind of frightened that someone else has love for The Pirate Movie. Frightened, yet strangely comforted.
Keep pumpin', blowin'...
Posted by: macgeezel at December 11, 2004 10:43 AM
The Princess Bride. That's the one that I stop to watch every time I see it on cable. Um. And I did that with Blade this afternoon.
Posted by: Jocelyn at December 11, 2004 3:26 PM
I like your list. My dog was in Problem Child, which is no doubt what keeps it fascinating.
You don't post your rss feed?
Posted by: Warchild at December 11, 2004 7:38 PM
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