Houseguest
|
List Price: Our Price: $3.95 You Save: $6.00 (60%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $3.93 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Canada
Movie Reviews of Houseguest
Movie Review: Hilarious!
Summary: 5 Stars
HOUSEGUEST is definitely by far my all-time favorite comedy. Kevin Franklin, a down-on-his-luck orphan owing a gambling debt he can't pay, hides from money-hungry gangsters with a suburban family under the guise of the father's old camp buddy. Hilarity ensues, scene after scene, all the way through the credits. The main characters are warm, endearing and well-rounded. The sometimes too-perfect and coincidental plot elements require suspension of disbelief by the viewer, but the humor heaped throughout makes it a wild ride worth watching anyway. Whoever conceived the odd pairing of Sinbad and Hartman is brilliant. It's a clean, family comedy with a bit of slapstick, but mostly it's uproarious situations and truly well-written dialogue. If you don't laugh at something in this film, check your pulse, because comedic delight can be found at every turn and there's something for everyone. So many scenes from this film crack me up just thinking about them or if someone mentions them. Some are Brick House being sung at a party, the Camp Mapleridge song to which Kevin doesn't know the words and says he wishes he had some Dairy Queen, novacaine hands, speed golf, "it was just blood and bubbles and butts...his eye...his eye was on me", the entire railroad track scene. The McDonald's scene shown in slow-mo with the all-familiar jingle, which some deem as a commercial, is actually one of my favorites. Who can't identify with being denied something you crave so badly, and when you finally have it in your sights, you run with abandon to get to it? Yeah it's for cheeseburgers, but that's what makes it funny. :)
HOUSEGUEST is my favorite comedy because I can come back to it again and again and still crack up. Most comedies rely on shock value so the joy of viewing is lost after the first time, maybe the second. This one's a rare treasure, a masterpiece of comedic genius. If you're looking for lots of laughs, HOUSEGUEST is highly recommended!
Movie Review: VERY GOOD FOR A FAMILY MOVIE
Summary: 5 Stars
Most family movies seem hastily thrown together but HOUSEGUEST is an exception. The dialogue sparkles, the direction isn't just 2-takes-and-go, the cinematography is whackily speeded up in some places and the editing is rapid fire. And unlike most family movies, it lasts for 110 minutes. That's about half an hour longer than is usual. I know this hardly seems like a valid point but I reckon it proves the movie's got more content than fart jokes etc. My only gripe is the obvious McDonalds plugging about 40 minutes in. If you can just turn away for these 10 seconds then it's not so bad. It's a shame that it's there tho because it tarnishes the credibility of the movie.
Sinbad is always good and the late, great Phil Hartman can make any film watchable so they really add to this brilliantly entertaining comedy. Do yourself a favour and watch it. It's not just for kids. I watched my VHS a zillion times and I was so impatient for this DVD to be released.
So it's barebones, but who cares? I'm just glad to have it. The 1.78:1 anamorphic picture is super and the Dolby 2.0 surround track is decent enough. After all this is a dialogue driven comedy but some sound effects and music are presented pretty well. My subwoofer even go a big kick from a gunshot near the end.
Pick this one up whenever you see it. No matter what age you are, you and your kids will enjoy.
Movie Review: Sinbad rates 5 stars during his stay as HOUSEGUEST
Summary: 5 Stars
Anyone who would rate this movie with low stars is a moron with no sense of humor and has no constructive criticism. This movie made me laugh in every scene and Sinbad is a riot as he pretends to be a veggie-eating dentist when in reality, he's a guy who has invested in every "get-rich-quick" scheme, including $5,000 of the Mob's money, of which they want $50,000 back. So he has to run and hide from the Mob and runs into Phil Hartman's character by accident at the Pittsburgh airport. Then he decides to pose as the houseguest that Phil Hartman is obviously waiting for.
During his stay, Sinbad dives deep into the family's routine of things and ends up making life better for all of them, including saving a troubled marriage and helping Hartman stand up to his boss. So when his identity is established, Hartman thinks nothing else but trying to help Sinbad from the trouble he's in.
What was real hilarious in this movie was Sinbad trying to realize what his "career" is after the fiasco at the local school's Career Day, and even ends up trying to interrogate the little girl about it. Buy this movie!
Movie Review: ONE OF THE BEST COMEDIES EVER
Summary: 5 Stars
Definitely one of the most underrated films, "Houseguest" is laugh out loud funny! Sinbad is utterly hilarious and works harmoniously with Phil Hartman. It's about a man named Kevin Franklin (Sinbad), who owes money to a couple of loansharks. After threatening to kill Derek, he runs to an airport desperately trying to find a way to make it out of their alive, and happens to hear Gary Phil Hartman describing to his kids what his long-lost friend Derek Bond looks like, as they stand there waiting for him. Conveniently, Kevin happens to fit the description perfectly, and jumps up, taking on Derek Bond's identity.
One of my favorite things about Sinbad comedy is that he is able to be extremely funny without being provocative. He doesn't rely in sex to sell, which is quite different from most comedians these days.
If you read the back of the movie, you may think, "Wow, this sounds like it has a lot of potential to be funny. But does it?" And to sum it up in one word: YES! Not too slap-stick, not to talky, just perfect. Give it a shot!
Movie Review: A Keeper
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a great family film. Not only is it funny, but it is well acted. Of course we all loved Phil Hartman and miss him dearly, but I think that Sinbad shines in this film. I never really liked him until I saw this movie, but now I think he is great. He's very likeable. The supporting cast also does a great job and this is a very well paced film that will keep your attention and hopefully keep you laughing.
I'm not going to say that this is the funniest movie out there, but for a family comedy this one is a great choice. Phil Hartman and Sinbad make a great team and the movie has a good message about what a true friend is. Throw in some funny moments, some conflict and a good story... and there you have it. A good time for everyone in the entire family. 5 stars for Houseguest.