Hello, all.
And a very happy Good Friday to all, at that! For a good long while, I found it quite strange that the annual observance of Christ's crucifixion would be associated with anything "good," but I guess that all changed once I actually accepted a relationship with the Almighty.
On the topic of potentially strange naming conventions, tho', I'll be following in that trend for one more day with today's pick, featuring a cinematic duo that, for whatever reason, is as memorable to me as Abbott and Costello. The names Bob and Doug might not resonate cinematic brilliance to the average moviegoer, but maybe they should - from the ignominious ranks of the SCTV alum to the silver screen, the McKenzie Brothers brought us a cult classic from the 80s:
STRANGE BREW
From IMDb, the plot is about "Canada's most famous hosers, Bob and Doug McKenzie, [who] get jobs at the Elsinore Brewery, only to learn that something is rotten with the state of it."
This flick is just so delightfully off-beat, it's hard not to like it. It isn't for everyone, of course... that's not to say it's the comedic equivalent of flicks like A SERBIAN FILM or SALO, because it isn't. It's more like... grits. Not everybody digs it, but for those that do, it gives you that nifty contented feeling when you indulge in it. The McKenzie Brothers are like Canada's Cheech and Chong... only with beers instead of bongs. It's hard not to enjoy the goofy antics of the two, and in case you're curious what those are, I've embedded the trailer below:
From the opening frames of the film, where the grand MGM lion burps instead of roars, this film sticks to its guns in maintaining its tone. The one and only [and newly late] Max von Sydow - yes, from THE SEVENTH SEAL to STRANGE BREW - makes for a quality antagonist, true, but this movie lives and dies on the back of the on-screen chemistry of Bob and Doug. I don't know how, but it just works. Happily, the film isn't so stuck in the conventions of the 80s that it doesn't provide the laughs today. The Mel Blanc cameo might be a hidden gem to younger audiences, but the whole thing still translates well, by and large.
Enjoy! Or take off, eh?
Other films recommended:
[Day 1 - GROUNDHOG DAY, Day 2 - KINGPIN, Day 3 - TRADING PLACES, Day 4 - FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF; Day 5 - MODERN TIMES; Day 6 - AIRPLANE!; Day 7 - CHEECH AND CHONG'S NEXT MOVIE; Day 8 - STRIPES; Day 9 - I MARRIED A STRANGE PERSON!]
And a very happy Good Friday to all, at that! For a good long while, I found it quite strange that the annual observance of Christ's crucifixion would be associated with anything "good," but I guess that all changed once I actually accepted a relationship with the Almighty.
On the topic of potentially strange naming conventions, tho', I'll be following in that trend for one more day with today's pick, featuring a cinematic duo that, for whatever reason, is as memorable to me as Abbott and Costello. The names Bob and Doug might not resonate cinematic brilliance to the average moviegoer, but maybe they should - from the ignominious ranks of the SCTV alum to the silver screen, the McKenzie Brothers brought us a cult classic from the 80s:
STRANGE BREW
From IMDb, the plot is about "Canada's most famous hosers, Bob and Doug McKenzie, [who] get jobs at the Elsinore Brewery, only to learn that something is rotten with the state of it."
This flick is just so delightfully off-beat, it's hard not to like it. It isn't for everyone, of course... that's not to say it's the comedic equivalent of flicks like A SERBIAN FILM or SALO, because it isn't. It's more like... grits. Not everybody digs it, but for those that do, it gives you that nifty contented feeling when you indulge in it. The McKenzie Brothers are like Canada's Cheech and Chong... only with beers instead of bongs. It's hard not to enjoy the goofy antics of the two, and in case you're curious what those are, I've embedded the trailer below:
From the opening frames of the film, where the grand MGM lion burps instead of roars, this film sticks to its guns in maintaining its tone. The one and only [and newly late] Max von Sydow - yes, from THE SEVENTH SEAL to STRANGE BREW - makes for a quality antagonist, true, but this movie lives and dies on the back of the on-screen chemistry of Bob and Doug. I don't know how, but it just works. Happily, the film isn't so stuck in the conventions of the 80s that it doesn't provide the laughs today. The Mel Blanc cameo might be a hidden gem to younger audiences, but the whole thing still translates well, by and large.
Enjoy! Or take off, eh?
Other films recommended:
[Day 1 - GROUNDHOG DAY, Day 2 - KINGPIN, Day 3 - TRADING PLACES, Day 4 - FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF; Day 5 - MODERN TIMES; Day 6 - AIRPLANE!; Day 7 - CHEECH AND CHONG'S NEXT MOVIE; Day 8 - STRIPES; Day 9 - I MARRIED A STRANGE PERSON!]
