Amazon.com

Not even the executives at Disney could have predicted the runaway success of this live-action movie inspired by Jay Ward's goofy 1960s cartoon character. Not only did George make a killing at the box office, but Disney's marketing wizards turned it into one of their best-selling videos. It's hard to begrudge the movie's success, even if this is the kind of mindless entertainment that caters to the lowest common denominator. In any case, it's obvious that kids love this movie, in which the idiotic George (Brendan Fraser) repeatedly swings into trees and attracts the attention of a lovely jungle explorer (Leslie Mann) who decides to call off her engagement to a wealthy snob (Thomas Hayden Church) in favor of the vine-swinging hunk with an elephant named Shep (that thinks it's a dog) and an ape named Ape (with a proper Brit voice provided by John Cleese). Filled with slapstick gags and some funny special effects, the movie can be a bit of a trial for adults, but it's a hilarious treat for its intended audience. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (76)

A review from Mr. Entertainment Lover
Hee Hee Hee.... What a silly movie! Yes it's dumb and stupid! Still that's what makes it so funny. I have it in my video collection to watch on a day I'm bored. In this film George falls in love with a beautiful women named Ursala. However her nasty mother and her mean boyfriend won't allow it. From then on it's madness and comedy that will keep you laughing. John Cleese does an excellent job as an ape named Ape and Bredon Frasier is good as the bumbling George. This is a movie for the whole family!

Pretty good for a kid flick...The Review...
Well, first off I would like to "admit", the first viewing of this film did not go over well with my friend and myself. I thought it was boring and just plain dumb. It lacked something I like to call, PLOT! Well, those times have changed and I have sort of soled-out! Just kidding, it is better than before, though weak in thought. I first saw the film when it was on television and now I rented it on DVD.

The movie stars Brendan Fraser who plays the title role, George of the Jungle. He is not really musculer but I guess neither was the original character. This film is like Dudley Do Right, but this is MUCH, MUCH better! If you are stuck having to pick which of the two to watch, see this w-a-y before you see Dudley Do Right. The film is about George of the Jungle, he looks for love in a girl named Ursilla, a woman from America and George just can not understand why he starts having all of these feelings for another person. His mate. John Clease does an OK job of playing the voice for the character An Ape Named Ape. Ape is George's mentor and guide through his life until he leaves the "Heart of the Jungle."

This is an over all good film, GREAT for kids. If I was a little youger when this film came out, I would of loved it. If you liked this movie I would suggest the following movies, Dudley Do Right also starring Brendan Fraser, 101 Dalamations both the original and the remake and a host of others.

Hoped I helped, Have a good one!

Ryan

This is so stupid you have to buy it
If you have labeled movie shelves at home, you'll have to cut this DVD into thirds. One 3rd would go in stupid, another in funny and another in classics. This movie is so stupid its funny and its extreme stupidity makes it a classic! Ha! Ha!

So stupid it's funny.
George, who I'm assuming was raised by apes, is the king of the jungle (lol, NOT). Somehow he manages to meet Ursula, who has a wierdo for a fiance, and George falls in love with her. She takes him back to the city and he does all kind of wild stuff.

Meanwhile, two poachers in the jungle run across Ape the talking ape and manage to capture him. So this brings George and Ursula back to the jungle so George can save his best friend.

So stupid that it's hilarious, but I'm sorry, I can never take Brenden Fraser seriously again.

where is the widescreen version???
I love this movie - the wit is funny, the sight gags are funny and the characters are endearing - very hard to do when you are creating a movie from cartoon characters. But where is the widescreen version?? The whole reason for buying a DVD is having the chance to see the movie as it was originally envisioned. If I want to watch full frame, I'll watch television. ... Read more

Reviews (65)

Memorable Melodies Mayhem
Looney Tunes: Back In Action is an enjoyable, harmless romp, that will please both young and old viewers alike.

The story starts to unfold on the Warner Brothers Studio backlot and careens all over the map in classic Looney Tunes style. Bugs, Daffy, and many other childhood favorites embark on an adventure that takes them from Hollywood to Las Vegas, Paris and the jungles of Africa to help search for their human friend DJ Drake's (Brendan Fraser) missing father. He along with Kate (Jenna Elfman) are also on the trail of the mythical and powerful Blue Monkey Diamond. The only problem is that the evil Chairman (Steve Martin) of the Acme Corporation also wants the gem as well.

Thanks to films like Roger Rabbit and Space Jam, combining animation and live action, is not as difficult to imagine, as it was deades ago. It's hard not to enjoy this film. Having Joe (Gremlins) Dante, as the film's director is a good thing. He has solid insticts for a film like this. Anyone uptight about the movie should relax and enjoy. It's great to see these characters again. The film brought back some fond memories for me. The human actors are a perfect fit to this wacky film.

The DVD has some solid extras. Viewers get to see a new Looney Tunes short called "Whizzard of Ow". The featurette "Looney Tunes Out of Action: Best Scenes You've Never Seen" offer deleted and alternate footage. Next up, is the fun-filled "Behind the Tunes", as Daffy and Bugs as give a tour of the set. Also hosted by the duck and the rabbit is "Bang Crash Boom", a featurette on the film's special effects. The theatrical trailer, hidden easter eggs features Yosemite Sam and others, and more deleted scenes are available via DVD-ROM, top off the extras.

Fun all the way around-recommended

Too Hokey for Adults or Older Children.
In the world of "Looney Tunes: Back in Action", cartoon characters and humans co-exist and interact. As the story goes, Warner Brothers studios has grown tired of Daffy Duck's demands, and since the studio has a low estimate of his market value anyway, they have fired the Duck. But Bugs Bunny just can't work without Daffy to pick on, so Warner Brothers has insisted that the vice president of their comedy department, Kate Houghton (Jenna Elfman), get the Duck back pronto. In the meanwhile, a dejected Daffy (voice of Joe Alaskey) has taken up with D.J. Drake (Brendan Fraser), the security guard who escorted him off the studio lot. D.J. has been shocked to learn that his movie star father is actually a secret agent, and both he and Daffy have gone to Las Vegas to rescue the elder Drake and recapture the "Blue Monkey", a diamond that has supernatural powers. When they learn of D.J. and Daffy's whereabouts, Kate and Bugs Bunny (voice of Joe Alaskey) set out after them. They all end up trying to foil the plans of the evil Chairman (Steve Martin) of the Acme Corporation who wants to use the Blue Monkey to achieve global domination.

So the plot is hokey. It's a spoof of James Bond films, featuring former Bond himself, Timothy Dalton, as secret agent Damian Drake and Steve Martin as the head of a very Spectre-like Acme Corporation, alongside a host of Warner Brothers cartoon characters. "Looney Tunes: Back in Action" may appeal to young children, but there's nothing to entertain adults who enjoy the looney gang from Warner Bros. It has some clever moments, and the writing for Daffy Duck is good, but between the bright spots it's a real snooze. There are cameos by a host of television and film stars, including Heather Locklear and Joan Cusack. The story is far too silly, even for a cartoon, to keep the attention of any but the youngest viewers. The film exploits the humor of its Warner Brother characters but needs a much better story to tie them together. Looney Tunes have traditionally been sophisticated enough to entertain fans of all ages, so I see no reason why this movie shouldn't be. I'm giving it three stars for some occasionally clever writing, but as a whole "Looney Tunes: Back in Action" isn't very watchable. It may entertain children under 6 if they have the patience for it.

The DVD: Bonus features include "Behind the Tunes", a comical making-of documentary narrated by Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny, "Bang, Crash, Boom", a special effects documentary also narrated by the cartoon duo, "Whizzard of Ow", a short animated film featuring Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner in which the Coyote makes use of a book of wizardry in pursuing the bird, deleted scenes, a theatrical trailer, and a DVD-ROM which contains additional scenes. "Behind the Tunes" is only mildly informative, but it's fun. "Whizzard of Ow" is a must for Road Runner fans; it's the same format as all Road Runner cartoons. Subtitles are available in English, Spanish, and French. Dubbing is available in French and Spanish.

Looney fun
I have given this film 4 stars because my six-year-old son loves it, and I assume that's the age group it's aimed at. Brendon Fraser plays a security guard at Warner Brothers Studios who gets sacked, at the same time as a bossy female executive sacks Daffy Duck. Fraser and Daffy join forces to find Fraser's dad (Timothy Dalton) a film star who plays a spy who is actually a spy in real life. He has been kidnapped by a mad scientist (Steve Martin) who wants to find the Blue Daimond, which has magical powers. Fraser and Daffy have to get to the Blue Diamond before Martin does. also Bugs Bunny is trying to get Daffy back to the studios. The mixture of live action and cartoon characters will amuse children, and if you are a big Looney Tunes fan you should love it (I'm more partial to Tom and Jerry myself). On the other hand, if your main interest int he film was in the presence of Timothy Dalton, you may notice that there's not a lot of him in it really. Never mind, the kids will love it.

This is it folks!
"Dynamite?" yells Jenna Elfman halfway through this film "Who has dynamite?". "Welcome to my world" comes Daffy Duck's reply. Yes indeed, welcome to the world of the Looney Tunes.
This film has been unfairly compared with Who Framed Roger Rabbit and, although not in that league at all, it has enough comedy and inventiveness to stand as a semi-classic in it's own right. At least it's not Space Jam.
I'm a firm believer that Bugs and co. can quite easily carry their own movie without the help of non-toons, but until then this'll do. For a Looney Tune fan such as myself there are plenty of character cameos and in-jokes to warrent several repeat viewings just to catch them all. The same goes for general movie fans (Roger Corman directs Warner's new Batman movie!?). Most, if not quite all, of the Looney Tune family get screen time with Daffy coming away with the lion's share. Other characters that are well served by the script are Yosemite Sam, Wile E. Coyote and Marvin the Martian leaving the likes of Tweety, Sylvester, Taz and Elmer somewhat under-used - still, it's only a 90 minute movie. We also have a wonderful cameo from a suitably flat-looking Scooby and Shaggy - a joke against classic-versus-TV-animation for the keen-eyed!
A real high-light is the treatment that 'political correctness' gets in the script. We see Porky Pig and Speedy Gonzalez bemoaning P.C. attitudes (stutterers and racial stereotypes being somewhat taboo now) and, at one point, one of Sam's henchmen worrying that if he does indeed throw TNT out of the window "someone might get hurt". Sam's guns have been taken from him (although he's still allowed a cannon!) but at least Elmer Fudd has been allowed to keep his trusty rifle. Bugs Bunny's love of cross-dressing also gets questioned!
As with all of the other reviews for this film, I must mention the Louvre scene - Bugs, Daffy and Elmer running through a series of classic paintings. The DVD release allows a little more appreciation of this whole sequence with the use of freeze-frame. Other set-pieces that hit the spot are the Area-52 scenes (with lots of sci-fi fan pleasing cameos from classic aliens) and space-set climax.
The human actors are passable. Frazer and Elfman are not so bland as to be completely up-staged by the toons and Timothy Dalton proves he has a sense of humour by parodying his 007 character. I seem to be one of the few people who enjoyed Steve Martin's performance. Playing it ridiculously OTT, he is as close to a human-toon as possible - I think it works.
Overall, the script is funny enough although the 'plot' is incidental, the animation is excellent and interacts well, if not quite enough, with the real-world and, most importantly, all of the characters stay in character. But, as I said at the beginning, this ain't no Space Jam. Thankfully.

Fun for all ages!
This movie is hilarious! I enjoyed every moment of it! If you were a Looney Tunes fan as a kid then you'll love this movie! It will bring back a lot of memories from watching it on tv. I would recomend this movie to anyone! ... Read more

Description

Armed with a copy of a harvard student's thesis, a homeless man makes the desperate student an offer: in exchange for food and a place to stay during the harsh winter, he will return the thesis one page at a time. ... Read more

Reviews (61)

With Honors - English Review
I know I was supposed to write a summary but that's boring so I'll tell you what I got out of it! Lately I have been told a quote that I thought had no use for my life. It was "don't take life too seriously, you'll never get out alive". After watching this movie in English, I see where that is true. I might not have gotten the whole message out of this movie, or even what I was supposed to see, but I saw that quote. Monty (a Harvard student) was comsumed with writing his thesis and once he lost it he thought his life was over. After spending time with Simon (a homeless man) in order to get his thesis back, he saw that there was more to life than a thesis. Monty learned not to take life too seriously and enjoy what was around him that he didn't see in the past. Another thing I learned was that in life you have to roll with the punches. Monty had his whole life figured out but as soon as his computer crashed (something as simple as that) his whole plan for his life was out the window. I guess what I can take from this movie (which I thought was really great even though it was kinda old) enjoy the people around you and life, and make the most of life, even in bad times.

With Honors
When this movie first started, I was a little skeptical. But "With Honors" turned out to be a touching movie about a young college student who learns a great deal about life. The college student Monty (played by Brendan Fraiser) meets a homeless man Simon (played by Joe Pesci), and although they don't exactly hit it off at first, they eventually gain respect for one another as people and become great friends. Simon ends up teaching Monty a lot about life, most importantly that you should enjoy life while you have the chance. Although a predictable movie, it certainly touched my heart, and pointed out the more important things in life.

Tries WAY to Hard.
Joe Pesci's character in this movie tries WAY too hard. He is wise and all-knowing while the rest are narrow-minded and shallow.

Food for the soul...
The human spirit is such a vast yet complex thing that help us understand BReath taking films such as this one! Films like "with honors" come a dime a dozen. Films that show the reality of everyday life and the humanity and everlasting love of a friendship... old or new! It makes you weep of sadness and cry happy tears. Cause we've all experience it. We've all had or known a father who left his son/daughter and we've always hated that figure. Yet we've never known it from their perspective which can be very harsh... This film is eye opening and witty! The plot is ingenius yet heartwarming. With a great cast and great production this film shows the ways of the spirit in many ways. It truly deserves 5 stars. Buy it feed your soul

"prince of pop"

what, no baseball bat?
Although I believe that a Joe Pesci movie in which he does not viciously beat someone is bordering sacrelige, WITH HONORS was somewhat commendable. This movie follows a Harvard student (Brenden Fraser) as he loses his thesis and must obey the bidding of a remarkably cultured bum (Joe Pesci) to get it back. Anyone could predict the outcome; the two fall for each other (in a dissapointingly heterosexual way) and-believe it or not-Joe Pesci is revealed to have a critical illness just as the two become close. Though it was a hackneyed plot, this movie delivered a few laughs and also includes a glimpse of Fraser's hot young buns. I would reccomend this movie to anyone who has two hours to spare, and quite frankly, nothing better to do. ... Read more

Reviews (147)

A good ol' time at the movies.
Elizabeth Hurley was an ideal choice for the role of Satan in "Bedazzled," opposite Brendan Fraser, who is also well cast as a misfit who offers his soul in return for seven wishes. The movie is a remake of an original film, and while it may tend to drag down a bit in its final acts, the result is a comedy tour-de-force which had me laughing and feeling pleased throughout.

What more pathetic character could we ask for in Elliott, the computer technician with no life? Elliott has no friends, but that doesn't stop him from conversing with his coworkers whom he thinks are actually listening. When his attention becomes snagged by fellow coworker Allison, her rejection brings him to the attention of a mysterious woman in red who reveals herself to be the Princess of Darkness. Her plan: to offer him seven wishes in return for his soul, and while he remains skeptical, the thought of being with Allison (with the help of Satan's television screens) drives him to accept the offer.

This is where the movie gets good, as we follow him on his many adventures accompanying each of his wishes. His first wish, to be rich and have Allison for his wife, lands him as a Spanish cocaine dealer whose wife is cheating on him with her English teacher, followed by his second wish to be emotionally sensitive, which drives Allison into the arms of a shallow man ("I just want someone who wants to get in my pants"). Elliott soon catches on to Satan's tricks, yet still keeps taking his wishes, with hilarious results.

First and foremost, the performances from Hurley and Fraser are what make the movie worthwhile. Brendan Fraser looks like he's having so much fun playing his role, segueing from a fast-talking Mexican who speaks multiple languages, to the overtly sensitive red-haired boy who bursts into tears at the glance of the sunset. Hurley gives a smashing performance as a female Satan, her accent adding wit and charisma to a role that is being dealt with in a new way. In watching "Bedazzled," I could see how much fun the two actors were having in playing their roles, which made the movie more enjoyable and the comedy more comfortable.

That comedy arises from many different things: first, there's the relationship between the two characters. Satan knows that she's not going to live up to her promises entirely without flaw, which leads to some very funny results as Elliott discovers each wish's put-off. I also found a great many laughs during the opening sequence, which singles people out in the frantic pace of life and labels them with a certain flaw. Add a bit of witty dialogue and a goofy character on his way to his dreams, and what you've got is a reasonably successful film which delivers what it was intended to: laughs.

Which is why the ending, for me, doesn't quite live up to the rest of the material. The laughs seem to fizzle out a bit: they're still a couple of chuckle-worthy moments at hand, but not on par with the hysterics of the first two thirds of the movie. I originally intended to dispute the way in which the movie "cops out" by taking the approach it does in the end, but once I thought about it (and you'll understand me when you watch it yourself), there really was no other way for it to end and still retain a certain lightheartedness.

On a slightly off-the-subject opinion, I also felt that the film had a good advertising plan going for it. The preview trailers don't give away all the laughs, and the movie takes certain turns that we don't get to see in the ads.

All-in-all, "Bedazzled" is a regular comedy made just a touch better by the bright and vivacious performances of its leads. The fun they have in creating their characters' body and verbal language is laugh-out-loud funny, while the situations they find themselves in aren't original, but still have comedic charm.

Devilishly good fun from Fraser and Hurley
If you're looking for a light, screwballish comedy, this will fit the bill. The premise is predictable, but ripe with opportunities. Dweebish Elliot, marvelously played by Brendan Fraser, trades his soul to the Devil for seven wishes. The twist here is that each wish lands Elliot in a whole different world - Columian drug lord, NBA star, etc. In each scenario Fraser basically creates a whole new character, and principal members of the supporting cast also appear in revamped personas. Not only is it an impressive show of the actors' versitility, but it makes for a very funny movie. As funny as all the different wish lives are, the best parts of the movie are the connecting scenes where Elliot and the Devil plan the next wish. Elizabeth Hurley has a wonderful time as the Devil, and this is the perfect vehicle for her wicked sense of humor. This is also a movie where you really appreciate the work of the costume and make-up crews. Everything from Hurley's devilishly funny costumes to Fraser's repeatedly revamped features really contribute to the humor of the movie. All in all, a very appealing movie.

One of the worst remakes of all time
Very few movies have I been to see in theatres and wanted to walk out on. I ended up staying till the end of this one, but I wish I hadnt... This DVD isnt at a cheap price for any other reason then it beeing a pretty bad movie. Most people who didnt like the movie wouldnt even bother to reveiw it, but I got time to kill...

Read someone elses reveiw for the plot, I'm sure it's been explained a thousand times already.

The most annoying thing about the film was Liz Hurly. Her constand bobbing around as she walked was irratating, I dunno what she was thinking, but that was one of the worst performance's i've ever seen by anyone. ... I suppose if your one of her loyal fans who would go to see her do anything for a perv on her, you probably will be distracted by somthing else other then your mind to come to the conclusion shes is doing a terrible job of acting.. I hoep they didnt pay her for that role... and probably the fans of Brendan Frasier are giving out good reveiws because theyd give there right arms to watch him on screen... but for me, sex images dont sell a movie at all. Therefor, the thought that having 2 actors both men and women would go to see for some kind of attraction thing going on, just dosent cut if, espeiclly when it's not funny, the acting is terrible, and again, that annoying bobbing up and down as Liz Hurly walks... what is that??? was it supposed to be funny? well, underline "supposed to be" then.

Horrible film, only fans of these actors, or people looking at the movie for the wrong reasons will absolutly love this film.

Horrible acting

I enjoyed it
Selling your soul to the devil has been a theme in a couple of moives. This modern tale of it isn't that bad and is actually pretty good thanks to smart writing, a great director, and good casting.

Elliot Richards(Fraser) is the love desperate nerd that everybody hates. He is to nice and gets annoyinig from the simple fact that he trys to hard. He has the hots for a woman at work Allison(O'Connor) who barely even knows he's there. He wants her desperately so he says to God he'd do almost anything for her. The next thing you know The Devil(Hurley) is there offering Elliot a chance to get Allison.

The deal is simple. Elliot will get the Devil his soul in exchange for seven wishes. Elliot is reluctant at first to the proposition but after some clever temptations by the devil he buckles in and says yes to her. The next thing you know he is making wishes and the devil is fulfilling them with some nasty and quite devilish tricks. Now Elliot must decide if this is really the path he wants to take and if these wishes are all that they are cracked up to be.

Brendan Fraser is good in this movie. This guys movies are usually hit or miss and this one is a hit. I don't like it as much as say the Mummy series or Blast from the Past, but this is a good movie. Fraser is fantastic when he acts out the wishes. He's so funny when he's the Colombian drug lord speaking his Spanish. He's great in the movie and you can tell he really had some fun making this movie.

Elizabeth Hurley is breath taking in the film. This is one of the most gorgeous and flawless woman in the world and in ways she carries this movie. She is very tempting and I like how they casted her as the devil instead of some sweet talking con artist man. She's so hot in the film and she's just awesome. If you like Elizabeth Hurley you have to go and watch this film.

Harold Ramis has given himself another good film. This guy is a clever writer and it shows in the film. The movie was also clever in the way that he includes all of Elliots co-wokers from the beginning of the film in the wishes. He's a smart director and really is underrated in the business. He needs to make more movies because most of the ones he's made are great.

Bedazzled is a good movie and it's easy to find cheap. If your looking for a good pop corn movie this one is it. It has a good moral ending that I don't think will offend anybody. Go see Bedazzled and be prepared for a devilish good time.

Follow the skimpy outfits.
This movie is great entertainment for a day when you have nothing else to do. The Devil (Elizabeth Hurley) offers the office geek (Brendan Fraser) a handful of wishes that turn the poor guys world upside down in exchange for his soul. Fraser is chasing after a girl named Allison and uses his wishes to make her like him, but none of them work out since the Devil always had to twist them around and stick a wrench in the works. In the end, he figures out that you don't need to be rich and powerful to get a woman's attention and one simple wish breaks his contract with the Devil. A good movie, but the plot is a little overdone. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Brendan Fraser made his film debut in this 1992 comedy that never quite discovers its audience constituency. On the one hand, it features Pauly Shore, which would seem to define the picture's tone and identity accordingly. On the other hand, the film's other leading man is Sean Astin, the earnest star of Rudy, suggesting that Encino Man will have a lot of heart despite its silly premise. But none of that turns out to be true. Fraser plays an unfrozen caveman discovered by a pair of California high school outcasts (Shore and Astin). As the grunting newcomer becomes popular with the other kids, Shore and Astin try to bask in his reflected glow. Fraser, beginning a long movie career playing cartoonish goofballs, works entirely on instinct and earns his laughs. Shore, however, relies on his familiar verbal shtick, and Astin makes a great overgrown puppy pining after a lost girlfriend. Directed by Les Mayfield, who came to this project from his acclaimed documentary, Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Funny
Two high school geeks find a frozen cave man and become instantly popular. The movie is hilarious and I thought Brendan Fraser was so adorable as Link. He wss funny, but at the same time you could identify with his problems. I felt so bad for him when he was in the museum and found out that his people were extinct. I also loved it when he did wrestling moves on that creep at the end of the movie.

I would've given the DVD 5 stars, but it's only in Dolby Digital 2.0.

One star for each laugh in the movie
Sadly enough, if you were only comparing this movie to today's teen movie drivel it would rate five stars. Nevertheless, Pauly Shore is annoying (and looks frightenly feminine in several scenes), Sean Astin's character is so pathetic that he becomes an antagonist, and the plot drifts between non-existent and unbelievable (to the point where it interferes with your ability to enjoy the movie). Frasier is the only redeeming quality...you can tell he's having fun and it's fun to watch him in the process. Too bad his character didn't get rid of Shore and Astin when he first met them.

SWEET AND LIKEABLE
ENCINO MAN has no agenda, no political statement to make...it's a sweet and likeable film. And I'll bet there are many future PhD's who quoted liberally from this one...and can repeat verbatim the convenience store scene. Sometimes it's great to just sit back and watch one like this.

Another disaster from (use)Les Mayfield
This stinking cesspool of dung is one of a long list of movies starring Pauly Shore. Forgive me, Dinah, but your son may be the most useless and unentertaining clods Hollywood has ever offered, and this movie showcases Pauly's terminal buffoonery. Did girls at the time think that he was "cute?" Perhaps, but as far as being a convincing actor, even in the horrible parts he has played, he has shown me nothing but a foul odor. I have also read the list of movies directed by Mr. Mayfield and, while having a fair amount of success over the years, he has failed to leave us with anything truly memorable. Most of his films are aimed at stupid teenagers and are supported by VERY shallow comedy. I wish Mr. Mayfield well and hope that someday he can find something to direct that he can be proud to be remembered by, not some Martin Lawrence crap or this awful, awful movie. This is in my top 10 WORST movies of all time.

One of the best comedies EVER made!!!
How can I elaborate how funny this movie is?

First off, for as funny as he is, this is Pauly Shore's BEST performance ever!

Pauly Shore's one-liners will get laughs out of those who appreciate a good dialogue and script, whereas Brendan Fraser's slapstick comedy will make those of us who appreciate just the simple, funny stuff, very happy!

In the end, we have a perfect blend of comedy's best two forms of laughter-creation!

And may I add that this film offends no racial groups of cultures --- pretty amazing for a comedy as great at this one! ... Read more

Reviews (47)

Empty Headed Mis-fire.
Remember those innocuously awful Disney comedies of the 70's? That's what this mis-fire feels like even though you won't for a moment think it's a Disney film. A struggling group of friends who dream of being rock musicians hold a radio station hostage in order to get their demo-tape played.

It's kind of a Dog Day Afternoon meets Bill and Ted. They have an interesting premise and a cast that tries hard to be energetic and funny but the situations the writers invent quickly become like a bad situation comedy. The characters are all unrealistically dumb and there are very few funny lines. Worse it's all utterly predictable and lacks any kind of sharp satire or edges. It's not without some laughs thanks in large part to Michael McKean and Joe Mantegna but the comedy is often downright desperately unfunny at times. Brendan Fraser, Steve Buscemi, Adam Sandler , Michael Richards , Judd Nelson and Chris Farley play one note characters that wear out whatever welcome you are kind enough to give them way before the film is over. And it's one of those films that believes if it was funny the first time it will be funnier the second and third time.

There's a few laughs, but too few to waste your time on.

I'm wanna be a rockstar, but...on my own terms!
Finally I have my other favorite Rock and Roll comedy (the other being Spinal Tap, of course)! This movie is hilarious and depicts its characters, music genre, and attitudes in a hilarious but realistic way. Brendan Frasier, Steve Buscemi, and Adam Sandler are Chaz, Rex, and Pip aka "The Lone Rangers" (you can pluralize that?). Anyway they get fed up with never getting any airtime for their song "Degenerated", so they take the KPPX "Rebel Radio" station hostage with plastic uzis filled with hot sauce. I won't give away the rest but hilarity definitely ensues! The three stars are surrounded by hilarious co-stars like Chris Farley ("improvise"), Michael McKean (You can't smoke in here, babe.), Allen Covert (the guy in every Sandler movie!), Judd Nelson (we're making records), Ernie Hudson (a giant plastic baby bottle?), Joe Mantegna (Ian the Shark), Reg E. Cathey (Marcus with the wah wah pedal and afro!), Amy Locane (What the heck happened to my make-up?!), Nina Siemaszko (I like your hair), David Arquette (yall are like woo-hoo and ...), Michael Richards (I don't even have a home, I have a condo), Harold Ramis (Wrong, Lemmy is God!), Lemmy (Editor of the school magazine), Beavis & Butthead (voice only, ...)and others I may have missed!

The DVD is exceptional: Anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1), Theatrical Trailer, Featurette (made up of clips and fake news coverage), TV Spots, Music Videos for "Born to Raise Hell" by Motorhead (featuring ICE T & Whitfield Crane) and "Feed the Gods" by White Zombie (also performed at a night club in the movie! so Bonus!), 19 Chapter selections, English and French Audio, and English and Spanish subtitles, not to mention a disc with the three AIRHEADS pictured on it! Highly recommended, especially for fans of the cast and pretty much anybody who liked Spinal Tap! Even better than naked pictures of Bea Arthur (I'm just assuming here)!

Clearing something up...
I really enjoyed the review written about Airheads which happens to be one of my favorite movies. But I just wanted to clear something up. In the review it says Sandler (Pip) is the Lone Rangers' bassist and Buscemi (Rex) is the drummer. It's the other way around. Rex plays bass and Pip plays drums. I dunno if someone else already noticed this but I just wanted to point it out anyways.

how can u pluralize 'lone ranger'?!
i still remember the first time i saw this movie, it was a regular boring saturday afternoon, and i had nothing to do so i decided to see if FOX was running a saturday afternoon movie, after all, thats how i saw 'Predator', 'Aliens', and 'Terminator 2' for the first time. anyways, i saw that this movie was called 'Airheads' and i thought to myself "what a stupid title" but then i acknowledged the likes of brendan fraser and adam sandler so then decided to watch it. and im glad that i did. this movie is hella funny! its my favorite comedy ever! and on top of that, its entertaining especially to fans of rock music. adam sandler is at the top of his game in this one. the chemistry between fraser, buscemi, and sandler is hilarious! my fav scene is the one when they make pip(sandler) go outside when the cop is standing out there, pure comedy genious. most of the movie i find myself laughing out loud, even when i watch it alone. so if u get the chance, i strongly recommend u get this movie, steal it from a friend if you have to. laterz

Born to raise hell
AIRHEADS is a funny comedy about an aspiring rock band called "The Lone Rangers" (not actually pluralized, isn't it?) who unwittingingly hold a radio station hostage with... get this, water guns! The band "just wants to play their demo". Theyre' pretty dumb huh? Anyway the film does please the audience with a funny cast including Brendan Fraser, Steve Buscemi, an early up and comer Adam Sandler, Chris Farley and "Spinal Tap" star Michael McKean. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Coasting on the successes of Gods and Monsters and George of the Jungle, Brendan Fraser turns in yet another winning performance in this fish-out-of-water comedy in which Pleasantville meets modern-day Los Angeles, with predictably funny results. Fraser stars as Adam, who was born in the bomb shelter of his paranoid inventor dad (a less-manic-than-usual Christopher Walken), who spirited his pregnant wife (Sissy Spacek, in fine comic form) underground when he thought the Communists dropped the bomb (actually, it was a plane crash). Armed with enough supplies to last 35 years, the parents bring up Adam in Leave It to Beaver style with nary any exposure to the outside world. When the supplies run out, and dad suffers a heart attack, Fraser goes up to modern-day L.A. for some shopping and long-awaited culture shock. More of a cute premise with lots of clever ideas attached than a fully fleshed out story, Blast from the Past is also supposed to be part romantic comedy, as the hunky Adam hooks up with his jaded Eve (Alicia Silverstone) and tries to convince her to marry him and go underground. The sparks don't fly, though, because Silverstone is saddled with the triple whammy of being miscast, playing an underwritten character, and suffering a very bad hairdo. Fraser, however, carries the film lightly and easily on his broad, goofy shoulders, mixing Adam's gee-whiz innocence with genuine emotion and curiosity; only Fraser could pull off Adam's first glimpse of a sunrise or the ocean with both humor and pathos. Also winning is Dave Foley as Silverstone's gay best friend, who manages to make the most innocuous statements sound like comic gems. --Mark Englehart ... Read more

Reviews (130)

Light, smart comedy
Brendan Fraser seems to specialize in `fish-out-of-water' characters, and he plays it to the hilt in this smart comedy. Fraser plays Adam Webber, the son of a Cold-War-obsessed scientist (Christopher Walken) and his wife (Sissy Spacek) who hunker down in a fallout shelter for 35 years, when they believe the big one has destroyed the earth.

In truth, a plane fell on their house, and their now-grown son only wishes to go and see the world. Their neighborhood has changed a lot, from quiet suburbia to punk clubs and adult bookstores, but Adam, who only wishes to meet a nice girl, manages to meet his match in the appropriately named Eve, nicely played by Alicia Silverstone with the right mix of incredulousness and sweetness. Dave Foley (The Kids in the Hall, NewsRadio) as Eve's gay roommate and Joey Slotnick as a stoned club owner who becomes a cult leader (you'll have to see why) are also very funny.

Director/writer Hugh Wilson has created a sweet, satirical film that features romance with light, satirical humor. It also has terrific sets (especially the Webbers' shelter) and a terrific dance scene. Blast from the Past is a light comedy that is well worth watching.

Adam & Eve in Modern Day
I've seen this film a lot of times, more than I'd care to admit to, and I never tire of it. The first five minutes are pretty dull, so I tend to skip past them, as it really starts when the plane crashes into the house.

Christopher Walken & Sissy Spacek are the perfect people to play Brendan Fraser's parents, both as quirky as each other. Sissy plays the perfect wife, drinking to escape her husband and life below ground. Christopher is perfect as the Dad, teaching his son everything he knows.

Alicia Silverstone is kooky, "psychic", and is a perfect match for Adam's character, and of course she has to be called Eve. How original.

Troy's character is brilliant, playing the stereotypical gay guy, which Adam thinks means "happy". Troy and Eve live together, and have a very similar relationship to Will & Grace in the TV show. The girl who has a gay guy for a roommate - tell me, how many times has that been done?

The first fifteen minutes go quickly through the first 35 years of Adam's (Brendan Fraser) uneventful life, cutting back and forth between what's going on above the family.

I couldn't imagine anyone else in the part of innocent Adam, apart from Brendan. He comes out with the funniest expressions! He is brought up to be the perfect gentleman - opening doors for women, calling them ma'am, doing all those things, the guy who every girl would like but then quickly get fed up of!

Some parts of the film aren't explained, leaving you wondering how they had enough supplies to last 35 years, how none of them got seriously ill, until the dad does twenty minutes in, forcing Adam to go up into the big bad world, and how the money hasn't changed in 35 years!

The funniest bits of the film are when Adam talks to complete strangers, in his off-hand way. The best sequence in the whole film is The Mask-reminiscent dance scene, when Adam goes to a club and dances with the two women. It's very similar to when Jim Carrey & Cameron Diaz dance together in The Mask; both are great & memorable. And like any dance scenes in films (Grease, The Mask, Saturday Night Fever) the crowd instantly makes a circle around the main people dancing and watches them. This wouldn't happen in real life, so why do they keep repeating this in films?

The storyline is pretty predictable: boy meets girl, boy loses girl, and boy gets girl back.

There aren't many extras on the DVD. There are trailers; cast & crew biographies; deleted scenes and a B-roll. They're your basic extras - not worth watching more than once, if you can last through them. According to the back of my DVD, there's a "Love Meter" but I can't find it amongst the extras so god knows where it is.

This is definitely for sentimental fools, like me, who love a good romance, and think Brendan Fraser is so cute - just not when he sings!

BEAVER REDUX
Brendan Fraser is remarkably good in this good-natured comedy about a young man born and raised in a fallout shelter. Fraser manages to parlay his rugged good looks and youthful exuberance into an intensely likeable hero named Adam. Once released into the modern world, Adam is gleefully joyful to watch. Alicia Silverstone is fine as his "Eve" who is both enamored and repelled by Fraser's childishly kind behavior. Dave Foley as her gay friend is marvelous as well. I also liked Joey Skolnik as the bartender who metamorphoses from a happy teenager to the self-proclaimed monk of a new religion. Kudos also to Nathan Killion (Firefly series) as Alicia's macho boyfriend who gets put in his place by Fraser. Also to the delightful dance scene where Fraser and two girls jitterbug to high heaven. But one cannot overlook the truly marvelous performances from Sissy Spacek and Christopher Walken as Fraser's paranoid parents. They are both brilliant, and one can see how these two won Oscars for previous performances. Director Hugh Wilson keeps it all together and I found myself smiling and chuckling all the way through. A delightful find!

Very funny commentary about how nice people used to be
This is a nice, funny movie, which along the way makes an interesting point. The plot is pretty straitforward, but this is a comedy not a drama, and it is plenty good enough to get us from joke to joke.

Films lately seem to be saying that really nice guys come from some other decade, or even century (Kate & Leopold). This might say more about the audience (do we more readily accept niceness if it is ancient?) than the writers, but it is something the film makes you think about, when you're done laughing.

Entertaining, Witty and Extremely Likeable Comic Fantasy
Calvin Webber (Christopher Walken) is a slightly mad genius living in Los Angeles at the height of the Cold War. Paranoid about the communist threat, he has made a vast and elaborate nuclear bunker under his house. And, at the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis, he takes the precaution of going into it with his pregnant wife Helen (Sissy Spacek). By bizarre coincidence, just as they get down underground, a military aircraft crashes on their house. Convinced this is the dreaded nuke, he locks in and they prepare to stay there for 35 years until the radiation reaches safe levels. Finally come the 1990s and son Adam (Brendan Fraser) is sent out to reconnoitre and get look for fresh supplies in what they are convinced is a nightmarish and disintegrated post-apocalyptic world. (The neighbour has gone badly downhill in a way that makes this a more than understandable mistake.) Out he goes armed only with an indefatigable innocence and decency, an unshakable conviction that Perry Como is at the cutting edge of popular music and what he does not yet realize is a huge fortune in vintage baseball cards. After a few hours he is seriously at sea and hopelessly lost. Then he meets Alicia Silverstone's wordly and cynical Eve...

The central conceit of this film is the clash of what is basically a 1950s sensibility with the harsh and cynical realities of 1990s America. That way it strongly recalls 'Pleasantville', made a year earlier. But this is a much better film. While 'Pleasantville' rather condescended to the past, with its knowing modern kids teaching stuffy old 50s types how to be cool and have sex, this film is much more intelligently ambivalent about the blessings of modernity and has a very nice satirical edge. Not to mention much funnier. It is Eve who learns from Adam far more than the reverse. It's essentially an unusual romantic comedy with a bizarre fantasy premise. But it's an unusually sharp, witty and unintelligent romcom. A certain mismatch between British and American senses of humour may partly explain why I seldom laugh out loud at American movies. Several lines in this were notable exceptions. Its best moments recall, as very very few contemporary films manage to recall, the sharply observed intelligence of the great Hollywood romantic comedies of the 30s and 40s. Fresh, entertaining and extremely well-acted, it's well worth a look. ... Read more

Reviews (65)

Memorable Melodies Mayhem
Looney Tunes: Back In Action is an enjoyable, harmless romp, that will please both young and old viewers alike.

The story starts to unfold on the Warner Brothers Studio backlot and careens all over the map in classic Looney Tunes style. Bugs, Daffy, and many other childhood favorites embark on an adventure that takes them from Hollywood to Las Vegas, Paris and the jungles of Africa to help search for their human friend DJ Drake's (Brendan Fraser) missing father. He along with Kate (Jenna Elfman) are also on the trail of the mythical and powerful Blue Monkey Diamond. The only problem is that the evil Chairman (Steve Martin) of the Acme Corporation also wants the gem as well.

Thanks to films like Roger Rabbit and Space Jam, combining animation and live action, is not as difficult to imagine, as it was deades ago. It's hard not to enjoy this film. Having Joe (Gremlins) Dante, as the film's director is a good thing. He has solid insticts for a film like this. Anyone uptight about the movie should relax and enjoy. It's great to see these characters again. The film brought back some fond memories for me. The human actors are a perfect fit to this wacky film.

The DVD has some solid extras. Viewers get to see a new Looney Tunes short called "Whizzard of Ow". The featurette "Looney Tunes Out of Action: Best Scenes You've Never Seen" offer deleted and alternate footage. Next up, is the fun-filled "Behind the Tunes", as Daffy and Bugs as give a tour of the set. Also hosted by the duck and the rabbit is "Bang Crash Boom", a featurette on the film's special effects. The theatrical trailer, hidden easter eggs features Yosemite Sam and others, and more deleted scenes are available via DVD-ROM, top off the extras.

Fun all the way around-recommended

Too Hokey for Adults or Older Children.
In the world of "Looney Tunes: Back in Action", cartoon characters and humans co-exist and interact. As the story goes, Warner Brothers studios has grown tired of Daffy Duck's demands, and since the studio has a low estimate of his market value anyway, they have fired the Duck. But Bugs Bunny just can't work without Daffy to pick on, so Warner Brothers has insisted that the vice president of their comedy department, Kate Houghton (Jenna Elfman), get the Duck back pronto. In the meanwhile, a dejected Daffy (voice of Joe Alaskey) has taken up with D.J. Drake (Brendan Fraser), the security guard who escorted him off the studio lot. D.J. has been shocked to learn that his movie star father is actually a secret agent, and both he and Daffy have gone to Las Vegas to rescue the elder Drake and recapture the "Blue Monkey", a diamond that has supernatural powers. When they learn of D.J. and Daffy's whereabouts, Kate and Bugs Bunny (voice of Joe Alaskey) set out after them. They all end up trying to foil the plans of the evil Chairman (Steve Martin) of the Acme Corporation who wants to use the Blue Monkey to achieve global domination.

So the plot is hokey. It's a spoof of James Bond films, featuring former Bond himself, Timothy Dalton, as secret agent Damian Drake and Steve Martin as the head of a very Spectre-like Acme Corporation, alongside a host of Warner Brothers cartoon characters. "Looney Tunes: Back in Action" may appeal to young children, but there's nothing to entertain adults who enjoy the looney gang from Warner Bros. It has some clever moments, and the writing for Daffy Duck is good, but between the bright spots it's a real snooze. There are cameos by a host of television and film stars, including Heather Locklear and Joan Cusack. The story is far too silly, even for a cartoon, to keep the attention of any but the youngest viewers. The film exploits the humor of its Warner Brother characters but needs a much better story to tie them together. Looney Tunes have traditionally been sophisticated enough to entertain fans of all ages, so I see no reason why this movie shouldn't be. I'm giving it three stars for some occasionally clever writing, but as a whole "Looney Tunes: Back in Action" isn't very watchable. It may entertain children under 6 if they have the patience for it.

The DVD: Bonus features include "Behind the Tunes", a comical making-of documentary narrated by Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny, "Bang, Crash, Boom", a special effects documentary also narrated by the cartoon duo, "Whizzard of Ow", a short animated film featuring Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner in which the Coyote makes use of a book of wizardry in pursuing the bird, deleted scenes, a theatrical trailer, and a DVD-ROM which contains additional scenes. "Behind the Tunes" is only mildly informative, but it's fun. "Whizzard of Ow" is a must for Road Runner fans; it's the same format as all Road Runner cartoons. Subtitles are available in English, Spanish, and French. Dubbing is available in French and Spanish.

Looney fun
I have given this film 4 stars because my six-year-old son loves it, and I assume that's the age group it's aimed at. Brendon Fraser plays a security guard at Warner Brothers Studios who gets sacked, at the same time as a bossy female executive sacks Daffy Duck. Fraser and Daffy join forces to find Fraser's dad (Timothy Dalton) a film star who plays a spy who is actually a spy in real life. He has been kidnapped by a mad scientist (Steve Martin) who wants to find the Blue Daimond, which has magical powers. Fraser and Daffy have to get to the Blue Diamond before Martin does. also Bugs Bunny is trying to get Daffy back to the studios. The mixture of live action and cartoon characters will amuse children, and if you are a big Looney Tunes fan you should love it (I'm more partial to Tom and Jerry myself). On the other hand, if your main interest int he film was in the presence of Timothy Dalton, you may notice that there's not a lot of him in it really. Never mind, the kids will love it.

This is it folks!
"Dynamite?" yells Jenna Elfman halfway through this film "Who has dynamite?". "Welcome to my world" comes Daffy Duck's reply. Yes indeed, welcome to the world of the Looney Tunes.
This film has been unfairly compared with Who Framed Roger Rabbit and, although not in that league at all, it has enough comedy and inventiveness to stand as a semi-classic in it's own right. At least it's not Space Jam.
I'm a firm believer that Bugs and co. can quite easily carry their own movie without the help of non-toons, but until then this'll do. For a Looney Tune fan such as myself there are plenty of character cameos and in-jokes to warrent several repeat viewings just to catch them all. The same goes for general movie fans (Roger Corman directs Warner's new Batman movie!?). Most, if not quite all, of the Looney Tune family get screen time with Daffy coming away with the lion's share. Other characters that are well served by the script are Yosemite Sam, Wile E. Coyote and Marvin the Martian leaving the likes of Tweety, Sylvester, Taz and Elmer somewhat under-used - still, it's only a 90 minute movie. We also have a wonderful cameo from a suitably flat-looking Scooby and Shaggy - a joke against classic-versus-TV-animation for the keen-eyed!
A real high-light is the treatment that 'political correctness' gets in the script. We see Porky Pig and Speedy Gonzalez bemoaning P.C. attitudes (stutterers and racial stereotypes being somewhat taboo now) and, at one point, one of Sam's henchmen worrying that if he does indeed throw TNT out of the window "someone might get hurt". Sam's guns have been taken from him (although he's still allowed a cannon!) but at least Elmer Fudd has been allowed to keep his trusty rifle. Bugs Bunny's love of cross-dressing also gets questioned!
As with all of the other reviews for this film, I must mention the Louvre scene - Bugs, Daffy and Elmer running through a series of classic paintings. The DVD release allows a little more appreciation of this whole sequence with the use of freeze-frame. Other set-pieces that hit the spot are the Area-52 scenes (with lots of sci-fi fan pleasing cameos from classic aliens) and space-set climax.
The human actors are passable. Frazer and Elfman are not so bland as to be completely up-staged by the toons and Timothy Dalton proves he has a sense of humour by parodying his 007 character. I seem to be one of the few people who enjoyed Steve Martin's performance. Playing it ridiculously OTT, he is as close to a human-toon as possible - I think it works.
Overall, the script is funny enough although the 'plot' is incidental, the animation is excellent and interacts well, if not quite enough, with the real-world and, most importantly, all of the characters stay in character. But, as I said at the beginning, this ain't no Space Jam. Thankfully.

Fun for all ages!
This movie is hilarious! I enjoyed every moment of it! If you were a Looney Tunes fan as a kid then you'll love this movie! It will bring back a lot of memories from watching it on tv. I would recomend this movie to anyone! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A real feel-good movie
"The Scout" is one of those movies that leaves you with a warm feeling in your soul after the video has been turned off. It is the story of a man who finds a friend and triumphs over his fears.
Al Percolo is a New York Yankees scout who is experiencing the worst luck of his life. When his boss sends him to Mexico on a grudge trip, Al discovers "the greatest ballplayer that ever lived": Steve Nebraska. Al manages to land a deal with Steve, but is fired while telling his boss about his great find. When the pair returns to the United States, Steve is promptly snapped up with a $55 million bid from the Yankees. Despite all his success, Steve's world is anything but the fairytale it appears to be. Steve has dangerous idiosyncrasies and an abusive past, which are uncovered as time goes on.
Brendan Fraser plays the part of the slightly eccentric, slightly insecure Steve Nebraska with astounding depth. Albert Brooks is perfect as the cheeky, unyielding scout.
However, Dianne Wiest is much too abrasive as Steve's psychologist, Doctor Aaron. She cannot decide who her character is. One minute she is speaking gently to Al, the next she is glaring and snapping at him. I'm afraid this psychologist might need a psychologist herself!
Despite the heavy subject material, the movie has its light moments. There are several comedic occasions provided by Steve's singing, and I must say, these points alone are reason enough to see the movie. Of course, there is also the inevitable victory, which makes everything beforehand worth it.
What is really refreshing about this movie is how clean it is. There are less than ten profanities in the entire film, and they are the only objectionable content.
"The Scout" is simply a fine piece of work, and a wonderful trip to take from everyday life.

Its hard to believe this was actually made...
Just so there is no mistake, this is THE worst movie I have ever seen. I have seen a lot of movies. I saw this when it came out. And still, 7 years later it holds this prestigious position. I have to spoil a few parts of this film to make my point. Don't read on if you want to be "surprised" by it.

Lets start with the things that we know about the characters in the film by the end.
Albert Brooks is a washed up Baseball scout until he finds Brendan Fraser. He is really desperate to find his "King Kong" to bring back and show the world. Because of this he plays the mildly pathetic role of the pushy mentor. That's pretty much it for this textbook one dimensional character.
Diane Wiest is the psychiatrist that is introduced to help out Brendan Fraser's character since he has a few "issues". She cares for his well being, well, because she's a doctor. Oh and a woman, so of course she's motherly. Whatever. That's pretty much it for this ( also ) textbook one dimensional character. I think she has about 10 minutes of screen time. I think Steinbrenner had about 10 too.
There is a list of other curious characters that awkwardly stumble in and out of this story but I won't mention them here to save time.
Now lets get to Fraser's character. The things we know ( by the end of the film ) are that he is an inhuman pitcher. He knocks the catchers over with his awesome power. He hits every ball out of the park. He loves baseball. We figure out that he has abandonment issues mostly from the hints dropped early on. He avoids questions about his parents, he freaks out at the airport in New York when he loses sight of Brooks and begs "don't leave me alone again" or something equally obvious. And then of course because Diane Weist tells us this is so an hour into the movie. "He has abandonment issues" I think is her line. "REALLY?" was mine. She also informs us ( and Brooks ) that he had an abusive father with the deeply moving and poetic line "I think he had an abusive father".
Ok now to my biggest problem with the film. The questions that are NEVER answered about Fraser's character.
1. Brooks finds him in Mexico. We never find out why he is living there.
2. His parents are gone. We never find out where or why. No of course we never meet them. That would be to obvious.
3. He hates questions. He freaks out right from the start "I don't like all these questions, I don't like answering questions". We never find out why.
4. Woman walk by him and give him their phone number without ever meeting him. We don't know why. I guess cause he is cute. But this character point is never used again. With the exception of a woman that works for the Yankees who wants to take him home. No nothing ever comes of this. Well maybe it is so that Brooks can deliver the responsible social commentary "You know you need to use protection?". Kill me know.
5. Before he gets signed he says that he has no problem playing in front of people, big crowds or not. When he signs with the Yankees, he freaks out when asked if he is going to pitch this season. "Oh... I .... I don't know about that" he states. WHY?. You never find out. I guess its the abandonment issues. Whatever.
6. And now my favorite character trait. Oh god I love this one. He's really good at doing laundry. That's right. He knows all there is to know about doing laundry.
Laundry my friends.
You know this because he tells you so in one scene. How does he know so much? you ask. That's right, you never find out. Amazing.

This movie actually sucks the quality out of all other movies. It is the movie that I gage all other movies by. In that respect I suggest you see it too. Every thing you see after will at least be better than this one.

A final note, just so you know I'm not the only one that thought this movie stunk. This movie was actually made in 1988 and shelved by Fox. It only saw the light of day because of the baseball strike in 1994 to try to recoup loses.

One of the best movies I've ever seen
I like everything about this movie. It's got comedy, it's got drama, and it's something you can watch with your girlfriend's family without getting embarrassed. I love baseball movies and this is one of my favorites. A lot of celebrity cameos, too: Steinbrenner, Saberhagen, Keith Hernandez, Ozzie Smith and singer Tony Bennett. A good movie for any underdog with major league dreams.

The Scout
Albert Brooks fans will not be disappointed with this one. The irony of it all, which is the classic style of Brooks, is told in a story about a baseball scout (Brooks) down on his luck and banished to Mexico where he finds the ultimate free agent Steve Nebraska (Frasier). One catch - Nebraska isn't all there upstairs. Brooks goes all out to make the impossible possible and learns a greater lessen in the end that the best interest of others isn't served when our own interests are involved. Witty, funny and touching. Classic Brooks!

I would not call this a comedy
Brendan Fraser is great in this movie, but I would not call it a comedy. It is a drama with some funny lines. I don't think a young man seriously disturbed by an abusive background is funny. However, I enjoyed the movie and would watch it again. Tender & touching ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Adelina
If you'd EVER partied in college, lived with roommates, drank, had post-teen angst, or knew people who did, you will love this movie. If you'd NEVER swear in your life, had no angst from growing up, and considered yourself to be perfect and normal, you'll hate it.

THOSE THAT GAVE BAD REVIEWS HERE EITHER CANNOT RELATE TO IT OR DO NOT UNDERSTAND IT. A movie should not explain everything in plain view for you. Let it make you think a little and you'll walk away enlightened!

Glory Daze is rather a cleverly written movie with unconventional dialogs. It is set in the small town of Santa Cruz, California.. and I believe it to be based on a true story. The characters are not typical and therefore are much more interesting to watch than your average American Pie flick. You will probably find similarities between yourself and one or more of these characters.

The CAST consists of Ben Affleck, French Stewart, Sam Rockwell, Vien Hong, Matthew MacConauhey(sp?), Alyssa Milano, Megan Ward, Brendan Fraser, Vinnie Deramus, Matt Damon(cameo), Spauding Grey, and John-Rhys Davies. I thought the two most stunning performances were from Sam Rockwell(ROB) who played the party guy gone conservative.. and Vien Hong (SLOSH) who was a computer science major dropout turned Bukowski-drunk. Sam Rockwell can be seen in many other wonderful movies such as Charlie's Angels, Green Mile, and A Box of Moonlight. And Vien Hong is not as well known, very versatile, and can be seen in smaller roles in big movies like We Were Soldiers playing Mel Gibson's interpreter, City of Industry(a Harvey Keitel movie). He's one of those skilled-actors that can take a small part and give it a lot of life. Affleck, although not bad.. I thought he did a better job in Chasing Amy.

I'd recommend you to buy it. Why waste your money and rent it, when you can have it delivered to your door. If you end up hating it, you can always give it to someone who'll appreciate it. Chances are there'll be more people loving the movie than not.

Again, the movie is perfectly cast. It's got a great sound track. And It is destined to be a cult classic!

Moving with very good performance by Ben Affleck
I bought Glory Daze just because I am a Ben Affleck fan. I didn't expect much. I am 38 years old and I thought that the story of a bunch of college graduates would have nothing to do with me. Boy, was I wrong ! Only 10 minutes into the movie I could see myself portrayed in those characters. Although the movie was shot with young people, for young people and about young people, there are certain things that stay with you as you mature and Glory Daze sure manages to pull some of my emotional strings. The actors are all fine. We get to see French Stewart from 3rd Rock from the Sun, Alyssa Milano from Who's the Boss and Charmed, and Brendan Fraser in a small part. There's also a very small scene with Matt Damon. Ben Affleck delivers such a powerful performance. He really knows how to touch you with his sensitive portrayal. It always amazes me his capability of deep emotions at such an early age. This is pretty rare in young actors. It makes you wonder what was Ben's emotional background. A pretty intense one I suppose ! Glory Daze is a must for any Ben Affleck fan and will be enjoyed by young people of all ages. Finally it has come out on DVD. And I can't wait to get my hands on it ! :)

Gem Hidden in Half Baked Cliche-fest
I find it both amusing and horrifying that legendary underground cinema star Brian Strauss -- who appears briefly in this film and upstages future screen star Ben Affleck and noted burnout Alyssa Milano -- made his final screen appearance (to date) in an uncredited, unrecognized cameo in this crappy film. (He is in the restaurant scene near the end, when Affleck stops to melodramatically deface the window.) Before becoming a Pynchon-esque recluse, Strauss graced avant cinema classics such as Do the Rice Thing, The Life and Tymes of Doo Doo Brown, Baxter the Killer Squirrel, and Watch Out!, just to name a few. Who could forget his emotionally tour de force in the later, as Cragmont the mentally handicapped groundskeeper? Or his oft-quoted "eat this powdered sugar..." soliloquy from Do the Rice Thing? The films Mr. Strauss made during his brief heyday (roughly 1992 to 1996) radically altered the American Independent cinema, and leveled a searing critique at voracious consumer society, tired (...) PC-protected quasi-sociological tribalism, sobriety, and outmoded notions of acceptable personal hygiene (see his fearless plunge into Temescal in Watch Out!). That this miserable movie (whether you refer to it as Glory Daze or it's earlier, more literal-minded title Cruz) remains the most widely known film from Mr. Struss' oeuvre is a savage indictment of the collective tastes of this nation and, indeed, film enthusiasts world wide. For shame!
P.S. - One final historical footnote: (...)

good movie with a great cast
good look at the disfunctional fraternity brothers, the house includes Ben Affleck(Paycheck, Dogma), Sam Rockwell(Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind, Charlies Angels), Vien Hong(Gleaming The Cube and City Of Industry), French Stewart(tv's 3rd Rock From The Sun and Stargate) and Vinnie DeRamus. They all have problems but each one works it out in the end. Cameos by Matthew McConaughey(Reign Of Fire), Brendan Fraser(Looney Toons:Back In Action), Leah Remini(Old School) and Matt Damon(Dogma, Gerry) spark this movie. other cast members include Megan Ward(Arcade), Meredith Salenger(Lake Placid,The Kiss), John Rhys-Davies(The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy),Spalding Gray(Kate & Leopold,How High) and Alyssa Milano(tv's Charmed and Fear). great beginning, middle and ending. a good view

favorite line
Rob(Sam Rockwell)-"Look at me, I look like Jam Master Shecky!"

Slosh *IS* the man....
OK, I'm not a film student/critic of any kind, but I saw this movie about 4 months before I graduated college, and it really struck a chord with me.

Brief synopsis: The focus is on five college roommates who are close friends, some of whom are facing graduation in a week or so. What follows is how they react to the group being broken up, and how they spend time together before going their separate ways.

Ben Affleck actually turns in a fairly good performance as a disaffected slacker type who chose to pursue an art degree despite his parents' wishes; French Stewart is his typical self despite his role as a "professional student", but I thought the best performance in the movie was turned in by Sam Rockwell. To top it all off, some hilarious bit parts with Matthew McConaughey, Matt Damon (it's quick, and he doesn't say a word), as well as Spalding Gray, who plays Affleck's dad.

There are some heavy-handed pieces of symbolism -- check out the very end of the scene when "We're Only Going to Die for Our Own Arrogance" is being played -- but then again, college was rarely about metaphors, and (for me, anyway) more often about friends, parties, and cheap beer. I think anyone who has spent time living with several of their close friends, in college or otherwise, and then has had to go their separate ways, will enjoy this film.

Sometimes films don't have to be artistic or expensive to be good; they just have to tell a story that people will enjoy watching again and again. For me, this is one of those stories.

P.S. - An outstanding punk soundtrack, including NOFX, The Vandals, The Mr. T Experience, the New Bomb Turks, and a pretty good cover of the above mentioned Bad Religion song by Sublime. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Brendan Fraser plays the best-looking cartoonist you'll ever see in Monkeybone. Stu (Fraser) has created an animated character named Monkeybone, who sprang from his repressed sexual anxieties. He's just sold his animated series to a cable channel, and is being bombarded with proposals for toys and other marketing extravaganzas, when he and his girlfriend Julie (Bridget Fonda) get into a car wreck and Stu falls into a coma. But comas are much more complicated than you might expect: Stu finds himself in Down Town, where lives a mixture of other people in comas and figments of these people's imaginations. Naturally, Monkeybone himself is there, and he and Stu quickly start fighting like cats and dogs. When Stu realizes that his sister, due to a pact they once made, is preparing to pull the plug on him, Stu makes a deal with Hypnos, the god of sleep, to help him steal a golden ticket from Death himself (or herself, as Death is played by Whoopi Goldberg). Sound complicated? Well, from there it only gets more ornate. Monkeybone is a bit of a mess, but it's never boring, and every now and then it roars to amazingly dynamic life. Fraser is excellent, and the strong supporting cast includes Giancarlo Esposito (Do the Right Thing), Rose McGowan (Scream), Dave Foley (Brain Candy), and Saturday Night Live's Chris Kattan as a gymnast with a broken neck who... well, it's a bit complicated to explain. A crazy quilt of a movie, chock-full of delirious ideas and inspired moments. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (73)

Surprisingly delightful!
I had my reservations about this film because of all the negative reviews I read about it, but I love Chris Kattan, so I decided to give it a chance. I was surprisingly delighted in this hilarious movie! "Citizen Kane" it's not, but it's not supposed to be either. It's a zany, bizarre and totally "out there" kind of movie, and escapism at it's best! It doesn't use the standard formula of most movies either (a refreshing change!), and I found the story and plot very original. Chris Kattan is hilarious in his role (my sides were aching from laughing so much) and Brendan Fraser proves once again that he can take on a myriad of roles with ease.

The opening sequence with the cartoon is probably the "wierdest" scene in the movie and I almost turned it off right there (thinking that the rest of the movie would follow in the same manner), but sheer curiosity kept me watching. The visuals are also quite impressive and lend a certain "Beetlejuice" meets "Nightmare Before Christmas" feel to them. This is a fun movie through and through. Worth a "rent" at least!

Monkeybone A Cult Masterpiece
I have found that the people that like this movie are usually the ones with a stroke of creativity in their blood...people that can actually relate to Stu. Being an illustrator myself I found a lot of truth behind this film about a man and his psychological baggage. The characters real and fictional are very well developed and the movie moves along at a pace that really kept me interested and involved. If you liked the movie, the DVD is well worth acquiring for all the special features. My favorite extra's were the extended scenes, explaining a lot of plot development in further detail. The animation is great, the story is great, the characters are great. I don't know what creative person can sit through this movie without wanting to buy their own Monkeybone doll. I researched and found a copy of Kaja Blackley's graphic novel "Dark Town" upon which the movie is based, and found it just as fascinating. Only problem now is dealing with the fact that only #1 out of a 12 volume series was published...and I'm left with only the movie in its completion!

Used to hate it and now I love it.
I saw Monkeybone when it was in theaters without knowing what it was even about. My impression at the time was that it was a wierd and stupid movie with no point. I recently found it for $5 so I decided to give it a try, and I am glad I did. Everyone I know hates this movies or has not seen it, but I now think this is a wonderful movie.

Stu Miley (Brendan Frasier) has just launched his new animated character Monkeybone, created from Stu's repressed sexual anxieties(as another reviewer put it). Monkeybone is a hot character that brings a huge demand for cartoons, toys, and just about any other kind of merchandising you can think of. After a party for the launch of his new character, Stu and his girlfriend are in a car wreck leaving Stu in a coma. This happens just when Stu is going to propose to his girlfriend. As others see him in a coma, Stu ends up in Downtown, the place where other people in a coma reside, along with their nightmares. I really enjoyed the effects that take place in Downtown. But once there, Stu comes face to face with his creation, and together must find a way out of Downtown before Stu's sister "pulls the plug" on him in the outside world. Monkeybone turns on Stu and steals his pass into the real world, and so with a deal from Death (Whoopi Goldberg) Stu must get back to his life and stop Monkeybone from ruining his life. Thats all I want to say about the plot, and it may sound dumb or a little complicated, but to me is a good and very entertaining movie. Bottom line is that this is a nice blend of live-action and animation and is nicely directed by Henry Selick. And as usual Frasier gives a nice performance in this starring role. At the heart of this movie is also a good love story. A lot of you may not like this movie, but at least watch it once and give it a chance. You might be surprised.

I know it looks stupid, but trust me.......ts funny
I know it may look stupid but it is real funny. This movie is about a guy who is in a deep deep coma. He is in this fantasy land kinda thing. It reminds me of the set of Tim Burton's nightmare before christmas. Then he has this kinda pet named "Monkey Bone". Then once he finally gonna get out, Monkey bone betrays him. So now Stu (Brendan Fraser)has to find a way back to his girlfriend. This is a real funny movie. It has the kinda smart comedy we needed years ago.

Monkeyblah
Synopsis:
A freak car crash, (involving a giant inflatable monkey) sends cartoonist Stu Miley (Brenden Fraser) into coma and into a nightmarish and bizarre between world called Downtown where coma patients must wait for their ticket back. There he meets an aspect of his twisted personality, a character he created called Monkeybone.

As Stu waits in limbo, back in the real world where his girlfriend (Bridget Fonda) waits for him to recover, his sister, Kimmy plans to pull the plug. Monkeybone and Stu discover her plans and try to escape back to the real world. But a double-cross nearly dooms Stu and his life altogether and sends Monkeybone on a crazy (and somewhat raunchy) escapade in the real world.

About the movie:
I found this movie somewhat painful to watch and was left wondering how anyone could think that something this bizarre and poorly written would do well in the theaters. (It didn't do that well).

As a movie, this one is pretty odd overall, and the script is below par at best. There are quite a few spots that could use more exposition, and the main characters definitely needed to be fleshed out more. None of them make you care a whit about what happens to them. Bridget Fonda is nice to look at, but she was totally luke-warm in her role as Stu's girlfriend (not that she had much to work with) and Brendan Fraser's character is so neurotic as to make you wonder why she'd even like him. Whoopi Goldberg has a cameo as Death, but her role is pretty much a yawner as well.

This is not to mention that there are some pretty gross things in this movie. Chris Kattan (who proves in this role that he is a fantastic physical comedian, something worth seeing, if only for his acting) running around as a reanimated dead guy with a broken neck was extremely entertaining, for his physical comedy, but the bit with the organs falling out onto people was in really bad taste and more than a little gross.

The end result of all of this is that you have a weak movie that subsists mainly on bodily function jokes and sexual gags for almost all of its humor, and of that, most of it is of the extremely low brow and immature sort. If you happen to like that sort of humor, great, but me, I got tired of being browbeaten with it by halfway through the movie.

The only thing semi redeeming about this movie was the sophisticated stop motion photography that was used in creating the Monkeybone character. It really is impressive to see what they pulled off, somewhat akin to the sort of stuff done in Who-Framed Roger Rabbit. It's a shame it was wasted in a movie that ended up being so painful to watch.

Neat special effects don't make a movie. Script, plot and acting do, and while Fraser and Kattan were decent in their parts, the rest was sorely lacking. Not the most painful movie I've seen, but it's lurking down there nearby.

About the DVD:
Monkeybone comes in a standard hard case in 1.85:1 widescreen format with 5.1 Dolby digital sound. It contains English and French audio tracks and English and Spanish subtitles. The picture and sound are quite good.

The cover of this DVD release claims that it's the SPECIAL EDITION. Considering that there never was a regular DVD release of this movie, that label is a bit pretentious. Of course, it does make up for it by being loaded with extra goodies, not that the extra goodies make up for the movie itself.

Among the special features are, a director's commentary, 11 extended scenes, an alternate ending (both with optional director's commentary), 7 animation studies for scenes in the movie, a gallery of stills, and the obligatory theatrical trailers.

The director's commentary is interesting, as he talks about what it took to put the movie together, mostly from a production point of view. His commentary helps explain how certain scenes and shots were put together and the amount of work needed to make them solid and believable. Interestingly, near the end of the commentary, there seems to be a sense of consternation in his conversation as he subtly wondered in a roundabout way why his movie hadn't done better in the box office.

I'm not a film critic, but I probably could answer that one. It was just too off the wall, a little too weird and simply had humor that was too immature (and at one point, gross) for most audiences. I certainly would suggest previewing this before letting kids watch it.

Anyway, back to the point. While all these goodies on the DVD are nice, they really don't make up for the fact that the movie itself is so poor. 2 stars for a decent DVD release and a not so good movie. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Brendan Fraser (George of the Jungle, The Mummy) bringshis considerable charm to this awkward live-action version of the classic cartoon Dudley Do-Right. The first half of the movie lays out the basic elements of the cartoon (none-too-bright Canadian Mountie battles melodrama villain Snidely Whiplash with pluck and dumb luck) with little wit or imagination, but lots of pratfalls and broad gags. But about halfway into it, when Whiplash has taken over the town of Semi-Happy Falls and become its leading citizen, the movie takes a curious turn: Sinc