Mar 11

When I like to relax and veg out I kick back and watch some movies on my AppleTV. I'll even have them playing in the background while I work. Admittedly, most in this list are comedies - but with so many to choose from - its hard to pick only a few.

Road House

Admit it, if you stumble across this on TV, you'll watch at least for a little while. The quotability of this flick is simply awesome. So many great snippets of simply god awful dialog delivered with gusto. Funny thing is...I'd only seen the edited TV version, so when I purchased the DVD and it contained nudity and swearing it caught me off guard. But it's still a winner for delightful 80's movie drek. And you have to love the Jeff Healey's character, "the guy who introduces everyone." Anyway, this is one of my guilty pleasures. Someday I'll have to purchase and watch the sequel they made....yes, they made a sequel.

True Romance

I love this movie. I think it contains some truly extraordinary acting performances. For instance, the part where Christopher Walken interrogates Dennis Hopper is pure excellence. Over all the movie is loaded with a talented ensemble cast...Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette, Dennis Hopper, Val Kilmer (really unseen), Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt, Bronson Pinchot, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Rapaport, Saul Rubinek, James Gandolfini and others. If you've never watched this movie...I highly recommend it.

Trading Places

An Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd masterpiece. I watch this over and over and over and over again. It always amuses me. Perhaps it's a bit more interesting to me since it takes place in Philadelphia. I've always wanted to go travel the city and try to find the locations where it was shot...I'm sure if I look online I could find some reference to the locations used. Anyway, this is truly one of my favorites. I also find it funny that it's somehow become a holiday movie staple, simply because the escapades take place around Christmas...but hey...I'll watch it anytime.

True Lies

Yes I'm a big Arnold fan. I watch and enjoy all his movies, the good ones and the bad. But James Cameron really crafted an excellent "spy" movie. Somehow he even made Tom Arnold funny in this one. The entire movie contains a good mix of action and humor - and I especially love the opening sequence - it's a fun homage to James Bond. I've always been a bit disappointed that they didn't make a sequel to this...it's one I'd definitely enjoy.

Big Trouble In Little China

The premise is ridiculous. The plot very thin. But it's still a good movie to waste a Saturday afternoon on on a cold winter day. Of course it was almost automatic that I'd like this movie....it's directed by John Carpenter. And it doesn't hurt that Kim Cattrall appears as well as one of the femme fetals. Oh yeah...and it also feature silly kung fu action mixed with gratuitous violence and monsters....so it's got a bit of everything for everyone.

The Big Lebowski

Who doesn't love "the dude abides."  A classic Coen movie, it became an instant cult classic. And it's another quotable movie. Definitely more appealing to guys....it's sort of like Monty Python, girls just don't get it. But get a few buddies together, flip this DVD in, and sit back a chill while drinking a few beers...or more appropriately, some white russians and you're guaranteed for a testosterone fueled good time.

Fletch

Chevy Chase's early movies are clever, funny, and Fletch is one of the best. Sure his talk show didn't do well, and everyone enjoys National Lampoon's Vacation movies (especially Christmas Vacation) but I've always loved this kooky film. The characters and situations just make me chuckle. I also like Fletch Lives, the follow-up....but the original is the better of the two. I mean it has a younger Geena Davis and George Wendt too. And of course, the villain....Tim Matheson....you gotta love that.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off

An instant John Hughes classic - perhaps destine to be revered as much as Animal House - the character of Ferris certainly echoes in everyone's hearts and minds. We all wish we were this cool and clever. Everything about this movie is hysterical. Principal Rooney, Cameron, and we even get a cameo by Charlie Sheen. Really what could be better. Oh yeah...Wayne Newton's Danke Schoen lip synced during a parade. Sure John Hughes crafted a lot of teen angst movie classics...but Ferris is probably the pinnacle.

Happy Gilmore

Adam Sandler, you generally either love his humor or hate it. There doesn't seem to be a lot of in between. I'm a big fan. I like his silly, fart-laden humor, and I also think he's immensely talented, which is apparent in some of his other works, such as Punch Drunk Love, Spanglish and Reign Over Me. But taking a bad hockey player and transforming him into a golfer with a bad attitude that's classic. And throw in an ass-kicking by Bob Barker....I mean how do you top that.

Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle

Who hasn't gone out for fast food after a bender - only to stumble into crazy situations - and end up crossing paths with Neil Patrick Harris. Well OK...perhaps it doesn't happen to everyone. But John Cho and Kal Penn are excellent in this - they're the most perfect stoner pair since Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure (another good flick).