Post by ronnierocketago on Feb 25, 2006 18:28:16 GMT
As posted on www.andersonvision.com/Caddyshack.html
Caddyshack
A Film Review by Joe Gayeski
-----------------------------------------------------------
United States, 1980
U.S. Release Date: 7/25/80
Running Length: 98 min.
MPAA Classification: R
Theatrical Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Cast: Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Ted Knight, Michael O’Keefe, Rodney Dangerfield, Sarah Holcomb, Lou Loomis, Brian Doyle-Murray and Cindy Morgan
Director: Harold Ramis
Screenplay: Douglas Kenney, Harold Ramis, and Brian Doyle-Murray
Cinematography: Stevan Larner
Original Score: Johnny Mandel
Studio: Orion Pictures
It is interesting to review a film whose reputation is much more than the subject itself actually is in reality. “Caddyshack” is seen as the best film involving the sport of golf, but considering that sub-genre includes competition from Kevin Costner, Adam Sandler, and that recent lame Disney flick, is that saying much? The film is #71 on the American Film Institute’s “100 Years…100 Laughs” list, and basically made possible for the successful film careers of Chase, Murray, and Dangerfield to occur.
For when this film is painted by viewers as a “great” comedy, I can only visualize how “Caddyshack” is basically a retooling of the same formula Kenney and Ramis themselves used for “National Lampoon’s Animal House”. Consider that both films have the same starting point with minor characters that is only used as a storytelling device to introduce us the audience to the more interesting and captivating people around a small universe, plus the very basic social-economic class rivalries between the snobbish establishment and the more modest and easygoing radicals. Except while I think for American comedy, “Animal House” is an absolute masterpiece where everything works together to such a cohesive execution that many would simply it as “perfect”.
This is not to be with “Caddyshack”. Unlike Pinto or Flounder, the main character of the kid who hangs out at the local golf club with the other slacker caddies (and thus the title’s source) is so uninteresting compared to the other cartoons that live at the course, that he is rightly forgotten by most people who have seen the movie. When the film wastes our time with his meaningless story, we only desire more to see the wealthy yet yuppie golf master Ty Webb (Chevy Chase), the even more richer yet easy-going party favorite Al Czervik (Rodney Dangerfield), or better yet, the obvious mental instability that is groundskeeper Carl Spackler (Bill).
Meanwhile, another facet that bogs down the film in my opinion is the whole dated cultural aspect of the “youth” from back in the late 1970s. In other words, marijuana jokes galore. As an undistinguished member of Generation Y, I never understood the “pop drug” attitude with pot itself in these films. Sure I can laugh at “Cheech & Chong,” but that is about it in terms of me relating to it. Maybe it’s because for my generation, unlike the overrated Baby Boomers, pot is not this hip narcotic, but instead just one of the many over-abused drugs out there. Pot is not equitable to rebellion or freedom for peace anymore, but simply just smoke. Plus, it has to compete with cocaine, heroin, amphetamines, and other drugs that people I know of have used to stay alert and conscious for their all-career vital academic studies.
Back to the film itself, the two things that I did absolutely love is the picture’s whole legendary subplot where Bill Murray basically starts World War 3 against a poor little gopher on the golf course. This is pure “Looney Tunes” mayhem here, with the Sylvester and Wile R. Coyote in Murray and the groovy rodent playing the Tweety and Road Runner of this relationship. Perhaps it helps that the gopher himself moves in such a jerky and silly manner while it communicates in dolphin vocals. So while we are plodding through the story of Chase and Dangerfield playing a wisecrack ideological war with Knight’s evil rich whitey villain, this ultimate battle of the numbskulls culminates in quite an explosive finale…and all to the grove of bad dated pop music.
Second, well I mean who doesn’t love the infamous Baby Ruth pool sequence? DOODY!
I am tough on this movie, but just to go with the flow for the sake of it is as un-American as paying toll to take a piss at a public restroom. However, while it is not a great movie, it is a humorous comedy with many moments of hilarity that perhaps clinched this film’s place in the golf culture, which leads to my final batch of thoughts. Yes I think the film’s antagonistic relationships feel very artificial and manipulative, the drug jokes are dated and silly, and god, no more shit about that damn kid.
However, whenever I go golfing with my club-swinging pals, we always quote the movie. We all laugh, and yes…..I do the Chase Putt Chant. NANANANANAH! So I guess the film works pretty well for what it is. I mean, I will agree that it is a great comedy. That is, if compared to “Caddyshack II”.
Film Rating - /5
© 2006 Joe Gayeski
Caddyshack
A Film Review by Joe Gayeski
-----------------------------------------------------------
United States, 1980
U.S. Release Date: 7/25/80
Running Length: 98 min.
MPAA Classification: R
Theatrical Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Cast: Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Ted Knight, Michael O’Keefe, Rodney Dangerfield, Sarah Holcomb, Lou Loomis, Brian Doyle-Murray and Cindy Morgan
Director: Harold Ramis
Screenplay: Douglas Kenney, Harold Ramis, and Brian Doyle-Murray
Cinematography: Stevan Larner
Original Score: Johnny Mandel
Studio: Orion Pictures
It is interesting to review a film whose reputation is much more than the subject itself actually is in reality. “Caddyshack” is seen as the best film involving the sport of golf, but considering that sub-genre includes competition from Kevin Costner, Adam Sandler, and that recent lame Disney flick, is that saying much? The film is #71 on the American Film Institute’s “100 Years…100 Laughs” list, and basically made possible for the successful film careers of Chase, Murray, and Dangerfield to occur.
For when this film is painted by viewers as a “great” comedy, I can only visualize how “Caddyshack” is basically a retooling of the same formula Kenney and Ramis themselves used for “National Lampoon’s Animal House”. Consider that both films have the same starting point with minor characters that is only used as a storytelling device to introduce us the audience to the more interesting and captivating people around a small universe, plus the very basic social-economic class rivalries between the snobbish establishment and the more modest and easygoing radicals. Except while I think for American comedy, “Animal House” is an absolute masterpiece where everything works together to such a cohesive execution that many would simply it as “perfect”.
This is not to be with “Caddyshack”. Unlike Pinto or Flounder, the main character of the kid who hangs out at the local golf club with the other slacker caddies (and thus the title’s source) is so uninteresting compared to the other cartoons that live at the course, that he is rightly forgotten by most people who have seen the movie. When the film wastes our time with his meaningless story, we only desire more to see the wealthy yet yuppie golf master Ty Webb (Chevy Chase), the even more richer yet easy-going party favorite Al Czervik (Rodney Dangerfield), or better yet, the obvious mental instability that is groundskeeper Carl Spackler (Bill).
Meanwhile, another facet that bogs down the film in my opinion is the whole dated cultural aspect of the “youth” from back in the late 1970s. In other words, marijuana jokes galore. As an undistinguished member of Generation Y, I never understood the “pop drug” attitude with pot itself in these films. Sure I can laugh at “Cheech & Chong,” but that is about it in terms of me relating to it. Maybe it’s because for my generation, unlike the overrated Baby Boomers, pot is not this hip narcotic, but instead just one of the many over-abused drugs out there. Pot is not equitable to rebellion or freedom for peace anymore, but simply just smoke. Plus, it has to compete with cocaine, heroin, amphetamines, and other drugs that people I know of have used to stay alert and conscious for their all-career vital academic studies.
Back to the film itself, the two things that I did absolutely love is the picture’s whole legendary subplot where Bill Murray basically starts World War 3 against a poor little gopher on the golf course. This is pure “Looney Tunes” mayhem here, with the Sylvester and Wile R. Coyote in Murray and the groovy rodent playing the Tweety and Road Runner of this relationship. Perhaps it helps that the gopher himself moves in such a jerky and silly manner while it communicates in dolphin vocals. So while we are plodding through the story of Chase and Dangerfield playing a wisecrack ideological war with Knight’s evil rich whitey villain, this ultimate battle of the numbskulls culminates in quite an explosive finale…and all to the grove of bad dated pop music.
Second, well I mean who doesn’t love the infamous Baby Ruth pool sequence? DOODY!
I am tough on this movie, but just to go with the flow for the sake of it is as un-American as paying toll to take a piss at a public restroom. However, while it is not a great movie, it is a humorous comedy with many moments of hilarity that perhaps clinched this film’s place in the golf culture, which leads to my final batch of thoughts. Yes I think the film’s antagonistic relationships feel very artificial and manipulative, the drug jokes are dated and silly, and god, no more shit about that damn kid.
However, whenever I go golfing with my club-swinging pals, we always quote the movie. We all laugh, and yes…..I do the Chase Putt Chant. NANANANANAH! So I guess the film works pretty well for what it is. I mean, I will agree that it is a great comedy. That is, if compared to “Caddyshack II”.
Film Rating - /5
© 2006 Joe Gayeski