After last week’s heavy casualties from the Netflix stream, it’s nice to see that we’re not losing too much this week. Still, we have to say goodbye to an underrated Kevin Smith movie, an amazing stand-up special, and Raul Julia’s final theatrical film.
Mallrats (1/21)
Kevin Smith broke out big with ‘Clerks’. It was a success both with critics and audiences, and the film industry expected a lot from the young director. ‘Mallrats‘ dashed those expectations and killed Smith’s reputation.
But you know what? ‘Mallrats’ is still my favorite of his films. It’s hilarious. It has some of Jason Lee’s funniest work, comic book references throughout, a great cameo by Stan Lee, and a side of Ben Affleck that you may never have seen.
The only complaint I have is that the Netflix version of ‘Mallrats’ doesn’t include the side-splitting commentary from the cast of the film, including Smith, Mewes, and a very witty Affleck.
Louis C.K.: Chewed Up (1/22)
Without a doubt, Louis C.K. is one of the funniest comedians out there today. He has a wonderful approach to comedy and delivers jokes in a way that no one else does. He’s offensive to some and endearing to others, but I find him very relatable.
If you haven’t seen his ‘Chewed Up‘ comedy special, now’s the time to do so. While you’re at it, go check out season one of his show ‘Louie‘, which just might be one of the funniest things on television.
Street Fighter (1/21)
This might be one of the worst videogame movies of all time. Then again, considering the source material (a game with very little actual story and some very silly characters), it might be one of the best. It’s goofy and campy, but it’s fun and that has to count for something.
Jean-Claude Van Damme is pretty bad in ‘Street Fighter‘, but Raul Julia embraces the role he’s given and overacts to the extreme. Kylie Minogue is in it too as Cammy.
Look, I know ‘Street Fighter’ hurt when it first came out, since we were expecting something more, but watch it again. Is it bad? Of course! But it’s bad in a very fun way. (Read Blu-ray review.)
TJ Kats
Mallrats is great. Not sure if it is my favorite of is but I don’t see how people can’t like it. “Brenda?” so good.
nate boss
mallrats UNDERRATED? it’s easily Smith’s worst film, even behind Jersey Girl. totally amateur, lacking in heart and point, with pretentious dialogue and situations. it’s the 90s version of an 80s comedy, really.
i’ve seen the damn film many a time. it deserved to bomb as thoroughly as it did.
Dick Ward
Oh come on now. Dogma, Clerks 2, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back and Cop Out are way worse than Mallrats.
nate boss
impossible. cop out, i’ll give you, but the others are far superior. any film that has emphasized dialogue remaining that refers to deleted scenes that no longer even take place in the film’s arc, on screen or not, ranks solely as amateur in my book.
Dick Ward
AuthorWe’ll have to agree to disagree on this one. Mallrats has likeable characters all the way through, doesn’t have a ham handed theological message, doesn’t rely on in-jokes and doesn’t completely change tone halfway through.
Amateur? Maybe, but so was Clerks. That doesn’t stop it from being awesome!
William Henley
If you hate it so much, why do you keep watching it? 🙂
William Henley
I started Innerspace last night, with Dennis Quaid, Meg Ryan, Martin Short, and Robert Picardo (man, if I hadn’t been looking for him, I would have missed him). It leaves the stream today.
Dick Ward
Woah, been forever since I’ve even thought about Robert Picardo. Might have to get in some ‘Voyager’ over the weekend.
William Henley
Or some Star Trek: First Contact – but I prefer Voyager.
EM
Robert Picardo is a Joe Dante regular. In addition to “Innerspace”, Picardo’s been in “The Howling”, “The ’Burbs”, “Gremlins 2: The New Batch”, “Matinee”, and “Looney Tunes: Back in Action”, among others. It seems a shame he happened to skip being in the original “Gremlins”.
El Bicho
“any film that has emphasized dialogue remaining that refers to deleted scenes that no longer even take place in the film’s arc, on screen or not, ranks solely as amateur in my book.”
Hey, leave the Goonies alone!