Directed by:
Joe DanteScreenplay:
Dana OlsenCinematography:
Robert M. StevensComposer:
Jerry GoldsmithCast:
Tom Hanks, Bruce Dern, Carrie Fisher, Rick Ducommun, Corey Feldman, Wendy Schaal, Henry Gibson, Brother Theodore, Courtney Gains, Gale Gordon, Dick Miller (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
Set in an average neighborhood that is anything but average, Tom Hanks portrays suburbanite Ray Peterson, who finally takes a much-needed week of vacation. However, Ray doesn't use the time to jet off to some exotic locale, there are no frolicsome adventures in his plans, all he wants is a week of mindless relaxation in his own comfortable suburban home. His wife Carol (Carrie Fisher) warns him that he's liable to go crazy from the boredom, but he refuses to listen. The nothingness finally does get to him, however, and he creates a little excitement for himself by spying on his neighbors - the Klopeks, a mysterious, oddball family that just moved in to a dilapidated home down the street. When the neighborhood grouch mysteriously disappears, Ray and a motley crew of other neighborhood crackpots begin to concoct wild theories about the strange, and perhaps murderous, goings on in the Klopek's creepy, old house. For one brief, shining moment their lives seem to have some meaning and purpose as Ray and his friends become consumed with the secrets of the bizarre family. Tom Hanks is hysterical as Ray, bring his own brand of boyish charm and zany slapstick comedy to the screen. (official distributor synopsis)
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Reviews (3)
Even with a solid percentage rating on FilmBooster, The 'Burbs did not feel convincing to me. On the contrary, one could say that the film disappointed me with raised hopes for solid entertainment. I would completely exclude "horror" from the three genre boxes when it comes to this film because it is exclusively a family comedy with parodic features, which aims to appeal to the widest audience and therefore uses fairly undemanding and predictable "sitcom" humor, which is not exactly my cup of tea. It definitely doesn't go below the level of teenage and toilet humor comedies. Considering its "family" genre label, it didn't offend me, but at the same time, it didn't make me laugh or engage me. It makes fun of genre clichés of movies about strange houses and strange neighbors, but those situations, just like the whole story, are horribly predictable, the characters are exaggerated to the point of cringe, so even though under different circumstances I could give similar work 4 stars because the potential was unquestionably there, this time I will remain sober in my rating, despite the likable cast in the form of Tom Hanks and the well-known Carrie Fisher, who benefited from her role in the cult series Star Wars. The casting of this film can be considered star-studded, as many of the acting legends of the late 80s appeared in it. Overall impression: 45%.
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Prejudice can kill, suspicion can destroy... Although you are not watching "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street", however, Dante refers to this cult episode of the Twilight Zone in a way that one wonders if it's not its regular comedic family remake. However, Dante refers to many other horror and sci-fi movies throughout the whole movie. After all, it not only refers to that. And Goldsmith, with the most playful soundtrack of his career, is really good at helping him to achieve that. Hanks relies on physical comedy. The movie is imaginative, the cast is apt, it has spirit of 80s, slightly excessive footage and too much room for an annoying, fat sidekick.
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I give it a fifth star for the absolutely superb finale, the previous four are for the wonderfully black comedy script, the actors, the excellent universal atmosphere suitable for all audiences and Jerry Goldsmith's perfectly (self-)parodic soundtrack. In short, another excellent work by Joe Dante. The phrase "They don't make movies like that anymore" is a cliché, but it's true in the case of The 'Burbs.
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Gallery (74)
Photo © Universal Pictures
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