Escanaba in Da Moonlight
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Movie Reviews of Escanaba in Da Moonlight
Movie Review: Yooper Humor!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a truely unique and "Michigan-Upper-Penisula-Centric" movie. To anyone who lives in or comes from Michigan, this is one of the funniest films you will see in years, because if you have lived anywhere in Michigan north or west of the Metro Detroit Area, you know these characters are real and have probably met a few of them. Having family conections to the Traverse City area, and coming from a family of deer hunters, I can vouch for the accuracy of the "Deer Camp" cabin portrayed, right down to the old Michigan license plates on the walls,the never ending Eucher game, and "Da Two Holer." The complex Soady family relationships are wonderfully offset by the truely unique character of "Da Jimmer."
But you don't have to be from "Da Superior State" to enjoy this movie. Based on a long running hit play (in Michigan, anyway) of the same name, written by Jeff Daniels (who also adapted, directed, produced and starred in this movie), the humor is broad enough to be enjoyed by others not lucky enough to come from the Great Lakes State.
There is much more here than just a potential cult movie due to the abundance of insider jokes about Yoopers. This is a funny story about family and "Huntin' Buddies," and includes an insider's view of some of the mysteries and rituals of "Male Bonding."
The small cast of actors turn in very enjoyable and believable performances!
Movie Review: Heaven is North of Da Bridge
Summary: 5 Stars
When things start going strange in the UP, they go seriously strange.This is your typical boy-bags-buck story- only the boy is in his mid-40's and is known around town (Escanaba) as the "Buckless-Yuper." In fact, if he doesn't bag a buck this season he will go down in Soady family history as the oldest family member never to bag a buck. In fact his uncle (the family idiot) even bagged a buck by shooting through the outhouse wall. So, he shows up at the family deer camp for the 30th season in a row. But no one wants to hunt with him because they are convinced that he is cursed. It doesn't help that strange things start happening- from the whiskey going bad and the numbers on the playing cards changing, to UFO's and marauding bear spirits. My personal favorite scene is the family's decision to sacrifice a DNR ranger to appease the evil spirits.
It's a hoot, but then I used to live in the deep woods in the western UP- just north of the Mystery Lights (so nothing surprises me anymore.) Those folks from big cities like Escanaba always were a might high-strung.
Who ever thought of using Jeff Daniels from "Dumb and Dumber" deserves an award for good casting. Wait a minute- Daniels WROTE it- that explains things.
Movie Review: "Boop-A-Dee-Boop"!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
As a born-and-raised Yooper I was delighted by this film. Yes, it was a bit over-the-top at some points mainly having to deal with the bearwok and such but Jeff Daniels couldn't have been more accurate in other areas. The conversations between the Soady's could just as well of been my father and I. The extreme hatred for the DNR, the fear of camp rituals changing, and the firm stubborness of the father Albert (Harve Presnell) were absolutely perfect. Whether you're from the area or not, this quirky and slapstick comedy is at least a must-see. I know some folks from the area felt insulted by the film, but I know more, including myself, that found the humor in it rather than feel like we were being stereotyped. The bottom line is that the U.P. is one of the most unique places to be from and we should be proud of the fact that a great mind like Jeff Daniels was so intrigued by our little slice of Heaven that he made a film featuring it. Though some of the film throws you for a loop, the portrayal of the truisms and uniqueness that make the U.P. a place like no other, make this a wonderful film for the true comedy fan.Movie Review: Typical UP Michigan humor
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie is very good at helping the average person understand the importance of the ritual of deer hunting in the UP of Michigan. The movie depicts what hunting camp life is really like, including the stories, food, and conversations that take place with all seriousness directed toward how demeaning it can be when you don't get a deer during your hunt. Jeff Daniels and the other actors could really be seen as the "people next door" in the woods of Northern Michigan.
While the Bearwok and UFO scenes could have been deleted to keep the movie shorter and easier to understand, they were included in this movie because these topics always seem to come up during conversations at many areas of the North woods of Michigan. Even the disregard and direspect for the Michigan DNR (Department of Natural Resources) officer is typical of any self-respecting Youper. Although there is some language children should not repeat, overall this movie is very funny and a great family movie. I would watch this again and again, especially during the fall huting seasons.
Movie Review: The hunting movie to end all hunting movies!
Summary: 5 Stars
As a native of Michigan, this movie was a must for my DVD collection. I hadn't seen it, but felt it was my obligation to buy it - even if it ended up being terrible. Boy I'm glad I did!It is a film that pokes some good-hearted fun at the people who live in the upper peninsula (Yoopers!) as well as deer hunters. As a person whose lifestyle is antipodal to the whole "outdoorsman / sportsman" scene, this was quite a comical story. Not one I could really "relate" to, mind you, but jovial nonetheless. In between the Jimmer and the DNR man you're sure to have a smile on your face by the time the closing credits come up.
As others have likely mentioned, this feature gets pretty strange (to say the least). In fact, the subtitle could have been "HUNTING TRIP OF THE ABSURD." But just remember - it's all in good fun. This is not the type of film that would even try to win any awards. If Samuel Beckett were a hunter, he would have loved this movie. In fact, if Beckett had been a Michigander, he might have WRITTEN this movie!