Review of They Live (1988) by Joshua P — 10 Feb 2010

I'm pretty sure this is the best film to come out of America in the 80s. It works as a great period piece in that it deals with some of the economic issues of the 80s. I've been told the President's address seen on TV during the movie is actually filled with Reaganisms. It manages to be both a serious critique of the affluence and apathy of society and comically absurd at the same time. I was initially drawn to the movie because of its most famous line ("I'm here to chew bubble gum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubble gum.") and because of the impact it's had on Shepard Fairey's street art.

The acting isn't great, but its poorness adds to the hilarity in the bad B movie kind of way. The plot is predictable once the more absurd elements are out of the way. The soundtrack and plot development add to the cheesiness. Did I mention the most awkwardly long fight scene in movie history?

Overall, no matter who you are you should find this an entertaining watch worth at least one view.