Review of The Monster Squad (1987) by Johnny T — 30 Nov 2013

Though it does possess an amiable vibe and a number of genuinely funny bits of dialogue (ie "wolfman's got nards!"), The Monster Squad hasn't aged all that well in the years since its 1987 release. There's a playfulness within Shane Black and Fred Dekker's screenplay that often elevates the proceedings, although - despite their best efforts - the movie is never quite able to maintain the free-wheeling, adventurous vibe of such similarly-themed '80s efforts as The Goonies and Gremlins. The comedy is cheerless. The performances are either inept or unlovably coy. More of a clever comic parody than a jokey pastiche, this lively kiddies' horror pic delivers frights and laughs which are rooted in a sure and sympathetic grasp of Monster Movie mythology. Though the previous film credits (''Star Wars,'' ''Aliens,'' among others) of the special-effects people are impressive, ''The Monster Squad'' looks like a feature-length commercial for a joke store that sells not-great, rubber monster masks. That being said, the climactic battle is admittedly quite thrilling and the whole thing is never boring exactly - yet, when everything's said and done, one can't help but wonder how it is that such an underwhelming film has engendered such a passionate following.

VERDICT: "In The Zone" - [Mixed Reaction] These kinds of movies are usually movies that had some good things, but some bad things kept it from being amazing. This rating says buy an ex-rental or a cheap price of the DVD to own. If you consider cinema, ask for people's opinion on the film. (Films that are rated 2.5 or 3 stars).