Rating: 
Summary: Thank You Good Viewers
Review: Thank you to everyone who wrote good reviews of Meatballs and looked past any so-called "sophmoric" humor, and realized that Meatballs is a very good feel-good movie. I am 28 years old and grew up on this movie. I only own a few movies, but this was one of the first ones I bought. I have watched it over and over since getting it, and I am happy to know that others feel sentimental about it like myself. True Meatballs fans don't acknowledge any other "Meatballs" movies (they made more than one?). This is a classic, despite what "professional" reviewers say. I just wish I could find the soundtrack to this great movie. Anyone have any ideas? "Lets say it was the Moondust..."
Rating:
Summary: The Strength of this movie is in the Characters.
Review: The combination of Bill Murray, Ivan Reitman, and Harold Ramis is well known among movie fans. "Ghostbusters", "Ghostbusters II", and "Stripes" are three well known movies among this combination that featured Murray's acting, Reitman's Directing, and Ramis' writing (as well as acting). However the movie that started it all for them was a low budget, but highly successful Canadian filmed comedy called "Meatballs". This movie basically tells the story of an Sleep-away Camp named Camp North Star and all of the hijinks involving both the Campers and the Counselors.
There are two main plots involving the story of Camp North Star. The first involves the Head Counselor Tripper Harrison's (played by Bill Murray) relationship with a Camper by the name of Rudy Gerner (played by Chris Makepeace). Rudy is ostracized by several of the other campers and finds a friend in Tripper. The two will grow and learn from each other as the summer progresses. The other main plot involves Camp North Star's rivalry with a High Class Elite Camp named Camp Mohawk. These two plots will actually converge when the two Camps meet in a two day Olympiad Competition at the end of the movie.
Revolving around the two main plots are several subplots, hijinks, pranks, and one liners. There are subplots that explore some of the romantic entanglements of the Counselors. The most interesting ones are: Tripper trying to rekindle a relationship with the Head Girls Counselor, Roxanne (played by Kate Lynch); A nerdy Camp Counselor named Spaz (played by Jack Blum) and a Female Jock named Jackie (played by Margot Pinvidic); Two blonde haired Counselors - Crockett (Played by Russ Banham and Candace (played by Sarah Torgov). There are also some interesting events that take place at the camp such as The Olympiad, An Overnight Campout by the Counselors, a Counselors Social a Basketball Camp with Camp Mohawk, and Parents Day. These events do a great job at helping to shape the movie.
However the real strength of this movie is in the characters. These are characters that you can easily relate to. The Counselors almost seem like people you'd hang out with when you were in your late teens. I also think the theme of the "underdog" that is prevalent throughout the movie helps in the audience being able to relate to these characters. Bill Murray is really the only name movie star in this film. Another character who has been seen is Harvey Atkin. Atkin plays Morty, the beleaguered Camp Director, who is victim to multiple pranks and hijinks throughout the movie - providing for some of the funniest moments in "Meatballs". Most people will probably remember Atkin from the TV Series "Cagney and Lacey" in which he played Desk Sergeant Ronald Coleman. Besides Tripper and Morty, the other stars (who aren't well known names do a tremendous job at building their characters throughout the movie. The characters that stand out include:
- Roxanne - the Headstrong Head Girls Counselor who is a great balance to the goofy Tripper
- Spaz - a complete geek, but as he gets a chance with a relationship with Jackie - you can't help but root for him to succeed.
- Larry a.k.a. "Fink" (played by Keith Knight) - the chubby Counselor who has some hilarious moments when his pants are run up the flagpole and when he beats "The Stomach" in the Olympiad Hot Dog Eating Contest;
- Hardware (played by Matt Craven) - the Counselor who is a whiz at "handyman" stuff - who when hooking up an air conditioner knocks all of the electricity out of Camp North Star.
- Rudy - The Kid who we all can relate to as. When Rudy runs the marathon in the last event of the big Olympiad, you can't help but root for him.
Also worh mentioning are Crockett, Candace, Jackie, Phil, A.L., Wendy, and Wheels.
The one liners are also a key to this film. There are plenty of times where you are going to want to stop the film and listen to the line again. Some of these highlights include:
- "Hi Mickey!" - what everyone says to Morty whenever Morty introduces himself.
- "An Air Conditioner just doesn't pick itself up and walk away" - Morty to Jackie and Tripper when he learns his air conditioner is missing.
- "I thought you said you had it Meat Ball" - Fink to Spaz while they are playing doubles tennis against Jackie and another girl
- "Spaz, You're on your Way" - Fink to Spaz after Spaz tells him he held Jackie's hand.
- "It just doesn't matter!" - Tripper's rally cry at Morty's Olympiad rally.
- "Spaz! Spaz! Spaz!" - What the North Star teams says to Spaz as he is in the Olympiad Stacking Contest.
- "Come on Morty! Make up your Mind" - Tripper to Morty when they are trying to decide whether Rudy should run the marathon.
The music is fun in this movie. Three great songs include David Naughton's "Makin' It", the Opening Song "Are You Ready for the Summer?", and Rick Dees' title song "Meatballs". They all fit in perfectly to the film.
Finally, the hijinks are also key to this movie. Some of these highlights include:
- "Operation Late Night Excitement" - on Morty!
- The hijaking of Morty's Air Conditioner
- The final play at the Camp Mohawk Basketball game
- Spaz and Fink eavesdropping under the Female Counselor's Cabin
I do think all of these factors added up to a real enjoyable film. Even 25 years later, I still enjoy this film as much as when it was in the theaters. There were several sequels that were made to this movie. I would call these sequels "loose sequels" at best. None capture any of the charm that made this movie up. One should note is there is some foul language and sexual references. But ultimately this is a very funny movie - highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Miss movies like these
Review: These comedies are great. Great and fun humor. Yes, there was some toliet humor mixed in, but its so tame by today standards you don't even raise an eyebrow when you hear it. Bill Murray is one of my favorite comedians. When I was younger I saw this movie and then every movie after when I saw Murray I would say "Hey, its the guy from Meatballs." Even to this day I when I see him I remember Meatballs.I with this movie would get a better treatment with the DVD. Its one of the best comedies ever. Actually, its a family comedy that you can watch with any age group. The adults will get the minor sex jokes, and the teenagers will too, but enjoy the rest. Kids will enjoy the fun of Bill Murray father like figure to one of the kids. This is a must see comedy.
Rating:
Summary: Miss movies like these
Review: These comedies are great. Great and fun humor. Yes, there was some toliet humor mixed in, but its so tame by today standards you don't even raise an eyebrow when you hear it. Bill Murray is one of my favorite comedians. When I was younger I saw this movie and then every movie after when I saw Murray I would say "Hey, its the guy from Meatballs." Even to this day I when I see him I remember Meatballs. I with this movie would get a better treatment with the DVD. Its one of the best comedies ever. Actually, its a family comedy that you can watch with any age group. The adults will get the minor sex jokes, and the teenagers will too, but enjoy the rest. Kids will enjoy the fun of Bill Murray father like figure to one of the kids. This is a must see comedy.
Rating:
Summary: Profound, Moving
Review: This 70's classic remains the masterpiece of Bill Murray's noteworthy career. Murray's years of training in the Suzuki method of acting is plainly evident as he tackles the challenging role of camp counselor. You'll laugh, you'll cry. You'll cheer on the campers as they navigate the tricky shoals of adolescence. This movie is an extraordinary achievement is American theater.
Rating:
Summary: Not Funny At All....
Review: This is juvenile humor at it's worst. I was actually a camper at the summer camp this horrible nightmare was filmed at during the summer of '78. I wasn't amused then and it isn't funny now. Not good for children. A waste of time for adults. Not even reasonable fodder for the hormone-addled adolescent minds for whom this was created. Don't waste your time. Certainly don't waste your money and buy this tape !
Rating:
Summary: Great off the wall humor, as Bill Murray is so good at.
Review: This is one of Bill Murrays best early movies. It is in the league with Caddy Shack. And Bill is in prime form.
Rating:
Summary: Hey, You Have a Good Summer, Too
Review: This is one of my favorite movies from childhood, and I still love it (I'm now 27). Bill Murray is terrific as head counselor Tripper Harrison in this warm and funny feel-great movie. All of the players in the ensemble cast are good, and the music is also really effective. If you like summer, good times, goofy humor, if you were born in the seventies (or even if you weren't) check out "Meatballs". It's a great way to spend a Friday evening--make something strange for a midnight snack and put on "Meatballs". As for the DVD transfer, here are a couple of comments: 1. It does include the trailer. 2. It's a "matted" widescreen version, which means you actually see less than you do on the full-screen VHS version, because they simply lay black bars across the top and bottom of the full-screen image (I compared the two versions scene-to-scene). 3. For some reason, some of the music has been changed in the DVD version. I found this unfortunate, because the music is one of my favorite parts of the movie. Whenever the song "Meatballs" plays, for instance, an alternate version is played. Also, the "Makin' It" song at the "big social" scene is cut differently. Aside from these few complaints, I'll still give the disc five stars, because I love the movie so much.
Rating:
Summary: First and best of the Meatballs series of movies
Review: This movie is one of the funniest movies starring a SNL cast member, I see some people are complaining about bathroom type humor but it's pretty mild stuff and it's really very funny unlike the stupid sequels which don't even star Bill Murray, this movie is far superior! I never went to summer camp but after watching this movie again recently I wish I had as it looked like it would be so much fun, well at least if it was a camp run by Bill Murray's Tripper Harrison and not that other camp
Rating:
Summary: The Coolest
Review: this movie rocks but i wish they would get the 2,3, and 4th ones
|
