Review of The 'Burbs (1989) by Bill M — 30 Jun 2013

The Burbs is one of those movies, the "any mood your in" movie, the "rainy day movie", one of my favorite "pick me up" films, and generally one of my all time faves, it's kinda perfect.

Lets look at it, you've got Joe Dante at the peak of his powers during his amazing streak of great movies from the 80's to the 90's, you've got much hilarity, great gags, wonderful characters, too many to choose a favorite, you've got Bruce Derns legendary badass Mr Rumsfield (YO RUMSFIELD!!!) Corey Feldman as the hilarious, permanently chilled out, pizza loving party dude Ricky Butler, The creepy, memorable Klopek clan, and of course Tom Hanks at his effortlessly lovable best as passive everyman Ray Peterson, but possibly the stealer of the film is the hugely underrated Rick Ducommun as Rays complete freeloading, nosy nuisance of a neighbor, Art Weingartner, a truly classic character whose every utterance is a gem.

It's also filled to the brim with quotes, including PIZZA DUDE!!! You keep a horse in the basement? and of course the immortal, "Ray, this is Walter, NOOOOOOO"!!!!!!!!!! it's level's of comedy, creepiness and malovence are perfectly judged and balanced, theres no violence or blood, and the darkest, most grim stuff is all mearly hinted at, albeit with a cheeky grin.

Plus you have another amazing score by the great Jerry Goldsmith, every aspect of this film is pretty much perfect, if you dont own it or for some ungodly reason have never seen it, your life remains incomplete.

I love this film immeasurably.