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Unwed Father (1997)
Really quite good story with irony and self-discovery
Brian Austin Green is Jason Kempler, a college student who is home one summer playing with his band in a bar. He meets Melanie, played by Nicholle Tom, an aspiring artist who takes a liking to him quickly. Jason comes from a wealthy family, while Melanie is raised by a working-class single mother. Jason and Melanie make out on Jason's family boat, and Melanie gets pregnant. The baby is a boy named Sean. Melanie initially asks for Jason's financial support, but does not get it from him. She tries raising Sean on her own with her mother's help, but finds it difficult to impossible to do without a steady job. So, she decides to get away for a while to sort things out, and she has the perfect idea. She finds out where Jason lives, and leaves Sean with Jason and his family to raise.
The challenges are for Jason to accept responsibility for a child he had with someone he barely even knew, and for his father and stepmother to support him and their grandchild. Mr. Kempler is willing to help provided Jason does his part by selling cars and taking care of his kid. His stepmother is not so forgiving of Jason's actions, especially when it comes to Jason and the kid in their house and being awake at all hours of the night. Gradually, things change for the better when Jason and Sean move into their own cabin by the sea, and Jason learns how to be a responsible parent. But Melanie finds she misses Sean more by the day, and begins to think she deserves to take Sean back and gain full custody of him. This happens only after Melanie gets a job as a waitress, and slowly begins to get her life back on track. Is Sean better off with his father or mother? Is it possible to compromise?
The premise of "Unwed Father" is all too common in our society. Teen pregnancy needs to be addressed for what it really is, and individuals need to be held responsible for their actions. Moreover, it basically boils down to thinking before acting on impulse, especially when it involves a lifelong commitment. Good movie that should be released on DVD!
Clean and Sober (1988)
One of Michael Keaton's best films
Michael Keaton gave one of the best performances of his career in "Clean and Sober." It is amazing that he was not given anything close to an Oscar nomination for his role. He definitely deserved more recognition than he got. Nonetheless, he proves here he can do a serious role quite well.
Keaton is Daryl Poynter, a yuppie real estate broker who is oblivious to his alcohol and cocaine addiction. He has embezzled $92,000 from the company escrow account and invested it in the stock market. But he lost this gamble, and now must quickly recover the money or face serious embezzlement charges and termination. As if that's not enough, he wakes up one morning to find a dead girl in his bed from an overdose (someone he partied with the night before). The police are on his case about the dead girl, the girl's father has posted fliers around the neighborhood branding Daryl a murderer, and his employers are about to discover his embezzlement. Daryl is in a bind, and needs to hide out for a while to straighten things out. He tries to leave town, but his credit cards are maxed out. He is turned away from staying at a friend's house, so he gets his own idea: a drug rehabilitation clinic promising discretion and confidentiality. Thus, he takes advantage of it.
The catch is that Daryl does not think he has a problem, and only wants to hide out in the clinic rather than face the music. His saving grace may be counselor and former addict Craig, played by Morgan Freeman. Craig is a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is type of person, and has seen and heard all of Daryl's lies and tricks. Daryl must play by the rules and face his addiction, or get expelled from the facility. He begins his slow transformation when he meets Charlie Standers, played by Kathy Baker, in rehab. Charlie operates a steel mill crane, and lives with an abusive addict boyfriend named Lenny. When Daryl gets to know her better, he offers her a way out of her situation. He also comes to like her, although she does not feel the same way about him right away. But controlling someone else's problems and destinies is next to impossible (even a bit conceited), as Daryl finds out the hard way and through his AA sponsor Richard, played by M. Emmet Walsh. Will he see the light and admit to his problems before it's too late? Can Charlie find the courage to leave Lenny, or is she headed toward destruction?
I highly recommend "Clean and Sober" for anyone who has ever had a substance abuse problem, knows someone who has, or is a family member or friend of an addict. No matter the circumstances, this film is truly a wonderful depiction of the consequences involved with addictions of any kind. The good news is that if one is willing to admit to their problems and get help, with consistent effort there is light at the end of the tunnel. A terrific film with realistic people and challenges!
Mama's Family (1983)
Both versions were funny, but the syndicated series was better
Before "Roseanne" and during the height of "The Golden Girls", one perhaps lesser known sitcom made it big. It was none other than "Mama's Family." I was a die-hard fan of this show when it aired in syndication in the late 80s and early 90s. While not as realistically funny as say "Roseanne", I liked "Mama's Family" for its down-home Southern humor. My grandmother and I seemed to never tire of this show. I taped nearly all episodes in syndication. Naturally, I am pleased that the first season has finally been released on DVD. Yet, it needs more in the way of special features, even if the original uncut episodes are not available.
The series concerned the Harper family situated in Raytown, part of the "tri-state area" as Mama often said. Presumably, it was based on the real-life city of Raytown, Missouri. Vicki Lawrence is Mama, better known as Thelma Harper. Thelma is an unemployed, widowed, sarcastic, but lovable person who, in the original NBC series, shares her small house with her journalist sister Fran, played by Rue McClanahan. Ken Berry is her dim-witted, locksmith son Vinton, who moves into her house with his children Buzz and Sonja from his first marriage. He soon marries next-door neighbor Naomi, whom he knew in high school but never dated. Naomi is a cashier at the local store Food Circus, and like Vinton, has been married before. Plans to live on their own do not work out, so Vint and Naomi move into Thelma's house and live in her basement. Adding more tension and humor to the plot are Mama's daughters: the drunken, argumentative Eunice, played by Carol Burnett, and rich, stuck-up Ellen, played by Betty White. Harvey Korman is Eunice's husband Ed. Ellen's husband Bruce is mentioned but never seen; they eventually divorce. Thelma is often seen as manipulative, bossy, and difficult to work and live with. Fortunately though, she has a caring anf loving side. This makes her a humorous and likable character. On a side note, "Mama's Family" was originally based on characters and stories from "The Carol Burnett Show."
The NBC series ran for two seasons (35 episodes) from early 1983 to mid 1985, and was then canceled. Initially, it looked like the end of the series, but that was short-lived. In 1986, an updated version of "Mama's Family" was picked up by CBS and sold into first-run syndication for four seasons. Only Thelma, Vint, and Naomi from the NBC cast remained in the syndicated series. Fran was written out as having passed away, Buzz and Sonja had graduated high school and moved out (no explanation was given as to their whereabouts, but they may have gone out West to be closer to their mother), and Ed and Eunice had relocated to Florida. Ellen makes one guest appearance, but otherwise fades. Ed and Eunice's son Bubba is in reform school in Raytown for stealing a car, and moves in with Mama after serving his sentence. Neighbor Iola Boyland makes frequent appearances at Mama's house and has a crush on Vint. Iola is unemployed, not married, and lives with her domineering parents. She is also very into arts and crafts, and designs many treasures. Later on, Vint and Naomi have a baby girl named Tiffany Thelma.
In my opinion, the syndicated edition of "Mama's Family" was much better than the NBC edition. The first edition, while good, was too dramatic and tense at times (i.e. they do a lot of yelling and screaming). The house interior also has a different design, with a large window between the stairs and the closet, darker wallpaper, and darker stage lighting as well. Mama, Vint, and Naomi are not as funny either, as all three have a tougher edge to their characters. They are made funnier and grow into themselves much more in the syndicated series. In syndication, the interior design of the house is better. The window between the stairs and the closet is removed, the wallpaper is a much brighter flower-like color, the doors are painted yellow, and the lighting is much brighter. The symbolism here I believe is that the show was supposed to be funnier in syndication, and it definitely was! My only hope is that enough consumers purchase the first season DVD set, and future seasons are released and have special features. Live on "Mama's Family"!
Beaches (1988)
Entertaining and sentimental all at the same time
Among the movies that get to us emotionally, "Beaches" is on the top of my list. Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey convey the story and portray their roles to perfection. Midler also shines with her musical talent much of the time, especially with the theme song "Wind Beneath My Wings." All things considered, the movie is great.
Midler is Ceceila Carol "C.C." Bloom, a New York aspiring entertainer with attitude and a drive to be successful in show business no matter what it takes (which she does). Hershey is Hillary Whitney, a rich kid from San Francisco with little experience beyond her posh and privileged upbringing. She and C.C. meet by chance on a beach in Atlantic City when they are 11 years old. They instantly become friends, and keep in touch with each other over 25 to 30 years through thick and thin (i.e. distance, career challenges, marriage and divorce, fights, jealousy, competition for the same man, etc). Fate and choice bring them together when they need each other most. Ultimately, their bond will be tested in a way they never imagined. How they deal with this challenge is what will determine their destiny as friends.
Midler and Hershey round out the film with believable character development. They have their moments (C.C. can get on your nerves with her ego, and Hillary has her ways), but they prove that friendship weathers the most difficult of circumstances. The small supporting cast is nice as well, including Lainie Kazan as Leona Bloom (C.C.'s mother), John Heard as John Pierce, C.C.'s theater director husband, James Reed as Michael Essex, Hillary's husband, Spalding Gray as Dr. Richard Milstein who Midler takes interest in while living with Hillary in San Francisco, Mayim Bialik and Marcie Leeds as young C.C. and Hillary, and Grace Johnston as Victoria, Hillary's daughter in the latter half of the film. The "Wind Beneath My Wings" montage toward the end will make more than a few emotional. I highly recommend "Beaches" because it will make you truly appreciate and strive for the meaning of friendship and those most important to you!
Uncle Buck (1989)
John Candy is at his best in this comedy
John Candy always had a way with comedies, and "Uncle Buck" is no exception. This film, coupled with "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" and "The Great Outdoors" in my opinion brought out his true comic genius. In all three films, he is the nice, everyday, even if somewhat odd man who has a knack for making the best out of the most difficult and unfortunate of circumstances.
Candy is Buck Russell, a 40-year-old bachelor who has been giving girlfriend of 8 years Chanice (Amy Madigan) the runaround about marriage and responsibility. Buck pays his rent by gambling at horse races, and occasionally working for Chanice at her tire shop. Admidst this, we have the suburban Russell family (parents Bob and Cindy, and children Tia, Miles, and Maisy), recent arrivals from Indianapolis. Tia (Jean Louisa Kelly), 15, is surly and rebellious, while younger Miles and Maisy are innocent and much friendlier. Tia resents her parents because they moved to the suburbs from Indianapolis in the hopes of earning more money than they were there despite the fact that the kids were completely satisfied with their lives there. Then, tragedy strikes one evening when Cindy's aunt calls to inform them that Cindy's father has suffered a heart attack. Desperately trying to leave as soon as possible, they have no one to care for the kids. After several calls to neighbors, Cindy reluctantly agrees to call upon Bob's brother Buck to come to their rescue. A city person, Buck is at first out of sync with suburban life. He has to cook, clean, take the kids to school, and hold down the fort in his brother and sister-in-law's absence. Miles (Macaulay Culkin) and Maisy (Gaby Hoffmann) take a liking to him very quickly. Tia, however, butts heads with him for several reasons: 1) she believes her parents have turned to him only as a last resort and that they don't care for him as it is (he had not been over to their house until they were stuck for a caretaker), and 2) she is attached to "Bug" (Jay Underwood), a sleazy rich kid who has malicious intentions that Buck has qualms about. On top of this, Chanice is contemplating whether or not she and Buck are meant to be. Can Buck prove he can be responsible and get his priorities straight for the Russell's and Chanice? Will Tia come around and see Bug for the creep he truly is, and patch things up with her parents and Buck?
There is comedy in every scene of "Uncle Buck." The Macaulay Culkin/John Candy interrogation scene is the best! The late John Candy will be remembered for his genuine friendliness, humor, and ability to make you laugh when you need it most!