Larry M. (madmac17)

Think you've seen every possible incarnation of the cop/buddy flick? Well, if you missed this gem from 1987, think again. Kyle MacLachlan plays FBI agent Lloyd Gallagher, who is on the trail of an alien being that killed his partner 9 years ago. This particular species of ET is not the cute, cuddly type that has a fondness for Reese's Pieces. Not even close. This slimy critter has the following M.O.: it likes to inhabit human bodies, and it has a penchant for listening to loud rock music, driving fast cars (preferably Ferraris), robbing banks, and obliterating anything or anyone that gets in its way. The opening sequence is a real grabber that involves a bank robbery (seen through a security camera), followed by a high-speed chase through the streets (and sidewalks) of Los Angeles, as the perpetrator tries to outrun a mess of squad cars, leaving a trail of bodies and wrecked vehicles in his wake. Even the guy in the wheelchair is not spared! Not coincidentally, Gallagher has tracked the alien to L.A., where he enlists the aid of Homicide Detective Tom Beck (Michael Nouri), who is not thrilled by Gallagher's idea of inter-agency co-operation. He becomes even less thrilled when law-abiding citizens start going ballistic and the bodies start piling up in his city. When Gallagher eventually lays it all out for him, Beck's response is to throw him in a cell until he can come up with a better story. It is pretty far-fetched, but Beck soon discovers the truth for himself, and they team up to try and catch the alien before it can switch bodies once the current one becomes unuseable (i.e. riddled with bullet holes). Apparently, the only time it can be killed is when it is between bodies and out in the open. There are some pretty amusing scenes where the alien is getting used to its latest new body. Check out the one where it has just taken over the body of a gorgeous and nicely endowed stripper. After it finishes fondling its new breasts, it proceeds to give some unknowing slimeball the best (and last) screwing of his miserable life. Talk about using sex as a weapon! Anyway, all I can say is any movie that pays homage to Blade Runner (the gorgeous babe being hunted down), Assault on Precinct 13 (the shootout at the police station), The Dead Zone (the political assassinaton), and especially The Thing (the alien as a dog) is pretty cool in my book. Maybe it gets a little hokey towards the end, but the road that gets you there is filled with sci-fi/action FUN. Take the ride!

If you're a Jack Black freak like me, I'm sure you've already seen this. But, If you're not and you haven't, listen up. The screenplay was written by Mike White, the twisted genius who also brought us School of Rock, The Good Girl and Nacho Libre (nobody's perfect). And, believe it or not, Orange County actually out-performs SOR on the guffaw meter. Colin Hanks (son of Tom) is perfect as Shaun Brumder, the poor schlub who gets screwed out of attending Stanford, when the school Guidance Counselor (Lily Tomlin) accidentally sends in the wrong transcript. He spends the rest of the movie trying to correct the mistake, so he can study under his favourite writer Marcus Skinner (Kevin Kline). Of course, the more he tries, the worse things get, since he has his stoner brother Lance (the aforementioned Mr. Black) ostensibly 'helping' him. Also along for the screamingly funny ride is Schuyler Fisk (daughter of Sissy Spacek), as Shaun's girlfriend Ashley, Catherine O'Hara as his loopy alcoholic mother, and John Lithgow as his work-obsessed father. Chevy Chase is hilarious in a brief cameo as the school principal, as is Mike White himself, as the English teacher with Shakespeare issues. The direction by Jake Kasdan (son of Lawrence) is smashingly good, and the soundtrack is used to perfectly enhance the craziness. Check out the scene where the cheerleaders are practicing to 'Butterfly' by Crazy Town, and you'll see what I mean. Beautiful, man. I almost forgot to give props to Kyle Howard and R.J. Knoll as Shaun's surfer dude buddies, who are absolutely priceless. And pay very close attention to the wonderful performance of the dog (uncredited) who plays the poor, homeless 'puppy' that Ashley rescues from certain death on the PCH. Pure, comedic genius. Actually that statement can be applied to the whole film. An unqualified triumph for White, Black and everyone in between. I'm not kidding, "this is the real story, dude".