UHF
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Movie Reviews of UHF
Movie Review: An outrageous, hysterically funny movie "Weird Al" style
Summary: 5 Stars
Assailed by film critics upon its release in 1989 'UHF' has acquired a huge cult following in the years since. It has been unavailable for purchase for several years because the film company that produced the movie went bankrupt. This DVD edition is every fan's dreams come true and was definitely worth the waiting.If you're a fan of "Weird Al" Yankovic then chances are you have seen this movie as many - or more - times as I have. If you're not a fan of "Weird Al" but are willing to take a risk then this offbeat film just might make you one. Yankovic and Jay Levey, who directed, concocted this bizarre and side-splittingly funny look at the operations of a UHF station, as "Weird Al", the station's manager, would run it. For everyone who remembers those UHF channels that would run practically any type of show to attract viewers this is priceless entertainment. Yankovic and Levey devised loads of TV and movie spoofs that begin slowly but soon come at you with machine gun pacing. There are also several in-joke references to fondly remembered campy television and sci-fi films scattered throughout, such as; the station's chief engineer Philo, played wonderfully by Anthony Geary of 'General Hospital' fame, has a lab that continuously emits the familiar sound of the radar from 'Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea'. When "Weird Al" first meets Philo, he is asked to help Philo test his "interociter" - a device used in the 50's sci-fi film 'This Island Earth'.
The shows that the station airs are equal parts amusing and insanely absurd. "Wheel Of Fish", "The Wonderful World Of Phlegm", "Wide, Wide World Of Tractor Pulls" and the uproarious "Town Talk" that takes many welcome pokes at Geraldo Rivera. Michael Richards (Kramer of television's "Seinfeld") creates one of cinema's most memorable eccentric characters as Stanley Spadowski, host of "Stanley Spadowski's Clubhouse", the station's most popular program. Many of the movie's biggest laughs happen when his program is onscreen. Other highlights worth mentioning are Emo Philips as an accident prone high school shop teacher; Fran Drescher (of TV's "The Nanny") as the station's newscaster; Victoria Jackson, of Saturday Night Live fame, as the long-suffering girlfriend of "Weird Al"; Gedde Watanabe (of TV's "E.R.") as the hilarious Kuni. The most noteworthy cast member though is the veteran actor Kevin McCarthy who hams it supremely as R. J. Fletcher, a rival station owner who is so-o-o-o evil - but you just know he's going to get it in the end!
Yankovic and Levey wisely keep 'UHF' short, clocking in at a little more than ninety minutes, making it an excellent time filler. It's a movie that you can safely watch with the whole family as well because it is completely free of vulgarity - though there are some gags that might be considered a bit tasteless. But that's the risk all fans of "Weird Al" are willing to take to see and hear his unique brand of humor.
Some final notes: the DVD has several special features including commentary by Yankovic and Levey, with cameo appearances by Emo Philips, Michael Richards and Victoria Jackson. Also included are some production stills, promotional materials stills, deleted scenes and a music video of the song 'UHF'. Cult radio personality Dr. Demento can be spotted as a whipped cream eater in a TV spot for the UHF channel - but you'll have to look fast.
Movie Review: Roger Ebert and others should go drink from the fire hose!
Summary: 5 Stars
I remember the first time i saw scenes from UHF. I was three at the time and i saw pay-per-view ads for the movie, with the only scene i could remember from it being when Stanley pulls the straw wrapper out of his nose. I got the DVD recently, thinking it would be a cruddy movie, based on what my Dad said about it. Actually, I got a cool comedy treat that everyone should have seen!The movie centers on George Newman (Weird Al), a daydreamer with a wild imagination which causes him to lose his jobs. His latest fantasy and insult of the boss winds up costing him and his friend and roomate Bob (David Bowe) their jobs at Big Edna's Burger World. While at a going-away party for for his Aunt Esther and Uncle Harvey (Stanley Brock), Harvey winds up winning the deed to a UHF station in a poker game, and George is hired as manager. Along with Bob he meets his co-workers, including receptionist Pam (Fran Drescher), techinican Philo (Anthony Geary), and former Channel 8 worker Stanley Spadowski (Michael Richards). When his girlfriend Teri (Vicki Jackson) leaves him after he forgets one too many dates, he is too depressed to continue doing a children's show, and puts Stanley on as a joke. The ratings begin to soar, and George comes up with more ideas like "Wheel of Fish" (where the winner gets his or her weight in fish), "Raul's Wild Kingdom" (where poodles are taught to fly from third story windows), and "Secrets of the Universe" (where we learn to make plutonium from household items). The sudden ratings soar angers Channel 8 boss R.J. Fletcher (Kevin McCarthy), who will stop at nothing to shut down Channel 62. Can George find a way to keep the station on-air? What do you think?
The movie was a critical and commerical bomb when released, but it's better than the [stuff] that Ebert thinks is good. Luckily, the movie found a home on Video and Cable TV. The DVD was supposed to be bare bones, until fans stepped in and MGM put a bevy of features on (Too bad they didn't do that for Bill and Ted). Features include deleted scenes with a walktrough by Al, A behind the scenes featurette on the Wheel of Fish scene, commentary by Al with Jay Levey and surprise guests (i want to keep them as surpises), which is hilarious by Al commenting on the MGM logo and singing along with the Orion theme, "Orion, Orion, is bankrupt now!", a music video of the song "UHF", The teaser and theatrical trailers, easter eggs, production still gallery, Posters and stuff gallery, and menus with Al playing around in each. Overall, this DVD will go to anyone who has a sense of humor, but still pick up the VHS because it is a collector's item. As Stanley would say, "Roger Ebert, you get to drink from THE FIRE HOSE!"
Movie Review: Put down your remote control!
Summary: 5 Stars
The unstoppably funny "Weird Al" Yankovic plays George Newman, a Walter Mitty type character who is given the job of running a local UHF TV station owned by his uncle, Harvey. Though George is full of imagination, he's been forced to suppress his crazy ideas all his life. He starts out running the station the most basic way he knows how, and things are not going well. George and his best friend Bob are desperate for an idea that will save the station. One day, in a fit of depression after being dumped by the girl of his dreams, George hands over his kids' clubhouse show to simple-minded Janitor Stanley Spadowski (Michael Richards of Seinfeld). But Stanley's bizarre idea of putting on a kids' show makes their station an instant hit! Suddenly, George is letting all his wildest ideas become reality, from game shows like Wheel of Fish, to action movies like Conan the Librarian, and UHF channel 62 is becoming a total sensation! Everyone is watching, including rival network owner R.J. Fletcher. R.J. is determined to destroy UHF 62 by whatever means necessary, and when Uncle Harvey's gambling debts put him in need of some quick, major cash, R.J. sees the perfect opportunity. The only way George can raise enough money in time to pay Uncle Harvey what he owes before R.J. Fletcher buys the station is by holding a telethon, hosted by none-other than Stanley Spadowski, and featuring some of the strangest novelty acts you've ever seen! UHF is gag after gag of bizarre fun. The plot is simple, but the plot is of little importance. The main reason to watch this film is for all the "Weird Al" style humor. Great character actors like Michael Richards, Fran Drescher, John Paragon, and Kevin McCarthy, among several others, make this film a laugh riot! The DVD is great too, with Al all over the menus, awesome deleted footage, and a commentary that's up there with the best of them, such as Bruce Campbell's Evil Dead commentary and Brendan Fraser's commentary on the Mummy. Don't pass on this film if you're a fan of totally stupid comedy, or just a big fan of Weird Al or early Michael Richards! And don't miss the Supplies gag! Hilarious!
Movie Review: Hilarious
Summary: 5 Stars
This film in underappreciated. I really can't comment on the DVD as it is not out yet, but it looks good so far. I really just wanted to make one simple comment: the film did not bomb because it 'didn't work.' It bombed because it was released at a bad time(if I remember correctly, it went up again Batman and another box-office bestseller which I cannot recall just now). Another aspect is marketing. Just because a film does not do well does not mean it is a bad film; and a film that does great does not a great film make. Monetary success is not a measure of artistic success, and people keep forgetting that. Even critically-acclaimed films like "Mystery Science Theater 3000"(which even Siskel and Ebert liked) did poorly. Why? Because the company that released it spent no money on advertising whatsoever. The point is, there are many factor involved in whether a movie is a success or not, the least of which is whether it works as a movie. Its success is usually based on controversy(put a lot of sex and/or violence in and people will generally flock to it), lots of explosions and action or great special effects(if i had a penny for every time I've heard "The plot [stunk], but if you just want to see good special effects..."), a famous star("stop bashing that movie! It has Bill Cosby in it, so it must be great" which I have heard before, believe it or not) or just the media ramming it down your throat.
I digress. View this movie and see for yourself. I can see how some people might not like it; it has little plot admittedly, and the jokes are downright silly. But if you like that kind of thing, this movie is for you. If you like the Airplane! films or anything with Leslie Neilson, if you like Mr. Bean or Monty Python, you'll probably like this movie. Otherwise, you might or might not want to give it a shot. Personally, I thought it was a great movie and can't wait for the DVD. In a comedy, to me, plot is secondary to whether or not it makes me laugh. For those of you who want plot in your comedy, check out "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles," it is really funny and has a decent plot.
Movie Review: WE GOT IT ALL ... ON UHF!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
One of our local TV stations is UHF 62 ... and they like to show this film "UHF" about channel 62 ... that's where I first caught it, one lazy Saturday afternoon ...One either likes Weird Al's sense of humor or one doesn't ... I don't suppose there's a whole lot in between ... I started listening to Weird Al on Dr. Demento, while I worked an overnight shift, back in 1980. Who could forget "Another One Rides the Bus" and "It's Still Billy Joel to Me"? ...
Weird Al fans: you're gonna love it ... anyone expecting high-brow humor ... you're in for one big disappointment ... I love it for what it is ... a campy, goofy spin that only Weird Al Yankovic could create ...
From the opening scenes of Indiana Jones and the idol, which is an Oscar BTW, to the cheese-covered Twinkie hotdog, to Michael Richard's (Seinfeld, Fridays) animated goofy janitor-turned-children's-show-host, to the Beverly Hillbillies MTV video spoof, a rubber Rambo body suit, the very lovely Fran Drescher, an alien TV station programmer (Tony Geary, 80's heartthrob for many of the ladies, "Luke" of General Hospital if you can believe it!), a midget cameraman, this film has definitely got it ALL ...
There's "Wheel of Fish", the new TV game show, a clown hit with a frying pan on the kids show, a perfectly restored Root Beer and brown metallic Nash Metropolitan automobile, a discount funeral home with a salad bar, Spatula City where your 10th spatula is FREE! (WOW!), the competition, Channel 8 with evil guys, learning life's lessons with a new mop, and a GREAT music video as bonus material on the DVD ("We Got It All on UHF!") ... whew!
OK, so it's not cinematic gold ... so what? ... it's fun ... if you've ever heard Weird Al's "I Ran Over the Taco Bell Dog" then you can appreciate his twisted sense of humor ... hey, relax, take a break and enjoy some low-brow humor ... it's great!
"Badgers? We don't need no stinking Badgers!!!" (The film is dedicated to Trinidad Silva who passed away in a car accident during filming in 1988 - too sad).