The ultimate “man they don’t make them like this anymore” movie.
This is Bill Simmons’s favorite movie of all-time and when you remember the context of the time it’s easy to see why. The 80s are riddled with buddy comedies. 48 hours, Trading Places, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, etc. But this had never been done before.
Millennials like me know Robert De Niro mostly as a comedy star, but in 1988 De Niro had never been funny on screen before. No one even knew he could do it! So I get why Simmons is knocked out by it. Also this is the best De Niro has ever looked on screen. 45, grizzled, with flecks of gray, but still trim and tough, rolling around in a t-shirt and leather jacket. Sensational.
The secret sauce is Grodin though. So funny, so deadpan, so annoying, but also full of decency. Apparently the role almost went to Robin Williams. I’m sure that would have been great, but Robin’s manic energy probably would have overwhelmed De Niro’s performance and thrown off the balance, which is where the magic is. One small change I would make to the script is saving the reveal that Grodin stole the money and donated it to charity for near the end. It would add an additional emotional element to their relationship.
A lot of reviews on here don’t like the score. I loved the score! It reminded me so much of the Sister Act score I would have thought Danny Elfman did that one as well. It’s so 80s comedy in the best way.
On a recent episode of Blank Check they were asked a question about which movie premise should be remade every generation like A Star is Born. This exact premise seems exactly like right for that. Every 20-30 years re-do this movie with two stars playing against type. Make it right now with Glen Powell and Jack Quaid.
The ultimate “man they don’t make them like this anymore” movie.
This is Bill Simmons’s favorite movie of all-time and when you remember the context of the time it’s easy to see why. The 80s are riddled with buddy comedies. 48 hours, Trading Places, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, etc. But this had never been done before.
Millennials like me know Robert De Niro mostly as a comedy star, but in 1988 De Niro had never been funny on screen before. No one even knew he could do it! So I get why Simmons is knocked out by it. Also this is the best De Niro has ever looked on screen. 45, grizzled, with flecks of gray, but still trim and tough, rolling around in a t-shirt and leather jacket. Sensational.
The secret sauce is Grodin though. So funny, so deadpan, so annoying, but also full of decency. Apparently the role almost went to Robin Williams. I’m sure that would have been great, but Robin’s manic energy probably would have overwhelmed De Niro’s performance and thrown off the balance, which is where the magic is. One small change I would make to the script is saving the reveal that Grodin stole the money and donated it to charity for near the end. It would add an additional emotional element to their relationship.
A lot of reviews on here don’t like the score. I loved the score! It reminded me so much of the Sister Act score I would have thought Danny Elfman did that one as well. It’s so 80s comedy in the best way.
On a recent episode of Blank Check they were asked a question about which movie premise should be remade every generation like A Star is Born. This exact premise seems exactly like right for that. Every 20-30 years re-do this movie with two stars playing against type. Make it right now with Glen Powell and Jack Quaid.
