Ah, cmon...5.8? You gotta be kiddin me?
This is not a good film, it’s a GREAT film.
It’s a great holiday comedy, with a great cast, a good story, a wonderful score by Alan Silvestri, and it’s funny as hell, AND it’s rather moving at times.
For my money it’s a classic “road” and “buddy” film reminiscent of Planes, Trains and Automobiles, and after just viewing it (for about the 4th time) and coming here to check people’s reactions to it I must say I’m amazed (and frankly kind of baffled) at how underrated it is.
Ed O'Neill was as affable an everyman as "Dutch" as you're ever bound to see. Ethan Embry was particularly good as the spoiled and stuck up elitist brat that learns his lesson. Jobeth Williams was winning and had her moments as the long suffering mom, and Christopher McDonald shines in his supporting role (as always) and was a fabulous cad as the dad—what more could you want?
That said, if you’re one of the people who didn’t care for the film I’d be interested in hearing why, and if you did like it please tell me your favorite part(s) and quotes.
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I particularly enjoyed the opening sequence wherein “Natalie Standish” (JoBeth Williams) explains why she wasn’t present at some stuffy country club party last year because she “wasn’t invited”, and a bit later the part where Dutch first drives into Doyle’s school while the beautiful song “Suo Ghan” is heard being sung by a boy’s choir.
The African American woman sharing a moment with Doyle in the shelter was very touching as well, but I think the funniest part, for me, had to be when Dutch sets Doyle straight in that diner when he tells him (paraphrased) “You really are a hypocrite aren't you? A couple 'o hookers
got a set of rockets, that's okay, but everyone else who enters your station in life is scum?”
Your turn......
"Stick with me baby, and you'll be fartin' thru silk!"