Review of The 'Burbs (1989) by Johnny T — 28 Mar 2011
Joe Dante once again makes a fun film filled with homages. It's very silly, of course, but Hanks' fine timing is matched by a strong supporting cast, and thanks to Dante's wicked, comic-strip view of the world, the movie achieves an admirably wacky consistency as it debunks American mores and movie clichés, from Hitchcock and Leone to Michael Winner and Tobe Hooper. The film is fantastic at making us feel totally uncomfortable and enthralled. We want to know what's behind these weird neighbors and are glad that Ray is doing all the awkward and inappropriate snooping for us. The web becomes more and more tangled as the film progresses and the hilarity grows at the same rate.
VERDICT: "Full Price" - My second highest rating (Positive to Mixed reaction). This is a rating to a movie I view as very entertaining and well made, and definitely worth paying the full price at a theatre to see or own on DVD. It is not perfect, but it is definitely excellent.
This review of The 'Burbs (1989) was written by Johnny T on 28 Mar 2011.
The 'Burbs has generally received positive reviews.
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