While Mr Hanks didn't win an Oscar for this movie perhaps Bruce Dern should've won one for it? It's got Dern as a psychotic military vet, Princess Leia, one of the Coreys (Feldman) and Henry Gibson before he was telling William H Macy not to confuse children with angels in a bar. It's not particularly funny, but it is just entertaining enough to have good replay value.
Ray Peterson (Tom Hanks) would like nothing better than to spend a quiet week's vacation in his suburban home, drinking beer and watching TV. But, spurred on by his two friends' spinning of boyish paranoid fantasies about their reclusive neighbors, the Klopeks, the usually down-to-earth Ray begins to suspect his idyllic neighborhood has been invaded by an evil force, to the point where he and his friends become psychotically nosey. You see where this is going, and you see it from a mile off. Kudos to the Klopeks, for their evil ways are ably embodied by Henry Gibson, Courtney Gains, and Brother Theodore. Hanks is brilliant here, it's easy to see from his 80's work why he was only going to get even bigger in the 90's, if not necessarily better.
I recall seeing this in the theater, stoned out of my mind. God Damn, I thought this was the funniest movie. I'll have to give it a second, non medicated look.
This is one of my all time favorites. I've probably seen it over a hundred times. It was one of the few movies I had on tape when I was growing up. Some nice lady taped it off of HBO. It was on the same tape as Pretty Woman and Steel Magnolias. Ah, memories.
If you've ever had trouble with your neighbours then this is the flic for you. Part Munsters part 3rd Rock... this family next door gets us all wondering. Glad it's not in my back yard.
i've just seen this movie recently, it wasn't aa great as i remember watching as a child, but i still like it, some of it was just plain boring, but it was worth it to keep watching in the end.
A strange, suspenseful and sometimes even a little funny film about a family on vacation with too much time on their hands who realize a weird family has moved next door. Tom Hanks is great.
If it weren't for the sentimental value that Joe Vs. the Volcano holds over me (I used to feel emotions), this would easily be my favorite Tom Hanks movie. I don't care how many awards he gets, there is no better acting than Hanks as Ray just trying to get some sleep in his backyard.
Tom Hanks early comedies are funny no matter how you slice them. I am a big fan of physical comedy and his earlier comedies are full of it! You can just sit back and laugh at some stupid crap going and the irony of it all.
An overstressed suburbanite and his paramilitaric neighbor struggle to prove their paranoid theory that the new family in town is a front for a cannibalistic cult.
one of the greatest movies ever. tom hanks is in his 80s prime, & every supporting character is hilarious. this movie is an amazing mockery of burb towns. such a quotable movie.
excellent fun. hanks is on fine 80's form, with this being a peak of his particular brand of comedy. with excellent support from bruce dern, corey feldman, carrie fisher and rick ducommun.
Averagly funny 80's movie. Tom Hanks really makes me laugh and I love him at the very end of the film when he goes a bit crazy then starts shouting take me to the hospital as he lies on the stretcher. Then gets fed up waiting and throws the bed into the ambulance himself then throws himself onto it face down. That is probably the best piece of acting from the whole film and it's seriously funny watching him act it out as well. Good performances from all the actors. Another fine performance from Corey Feldman. Without him in it, it doesn't feel like an 80's film. Carrie Fisher is average but you don't really get to see many sides from her character in this film. Overall pretty entertaining and worth at least one watch.
Did you know Tom Hanks used to be funny? Well, he's not in this one either. Fortunately an awesome supporting cast rescue this 80's classic from total obscurity. An entertaining, if forgettable piece of nostalgia. Dern and Feldman are great fun as curious neighbours, but it's the neighborhood paranoia that really sucks you in. I mean seriously, aren't you a little suspicious of your neighbours sometimes?
MCT:August 7, 2008
MCT:August 7, 2008
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MCT:January 8, 2008
