My mother suggested to me that I cover one of my favorite comedies of all time, "Noises Off". How can you say no to your mom? Seriously, how do you say no to your mom? No, I, asking you. Why did you say no to your mom? She was just trying to help, and you shut her down like an old computer. I think you need to go apologize and give her a hug......right now. No, don't text her, go see her. No, not a phone call either. Get in your car and go see her. Geez!! Stubborn much?!
...that was weird...
Noises Off: (1992) - PG-13 (Comedy)
Starring Michael Caine, Carol Burnett, and John Ritter
Overview - Loydd Fellows (Caine) is directing a stage play called "Nothing On". With less than 24 hours before the opening night, he feels the cast is wildly unprepared. Stumbling their way through the night, the cast just hopes they can cut it when the curtain goes up. But as each succeeding show happens, things backstage start to go haywire.
Review - My mother tried to get me to watch this film for years before I gave in. In 92' I was only 9 years old, so I had no interest in watching this kind of movie. I was more concerned with bike riding, baseball, and talking over my brother. Then I became a teenager, and my mom tired again. Being a teenager, I did what any teenager does, and rebelled against every one of my mother's wishes (sorry mom). A few years ago she suggested it yet again. I reluctantly said I'd try it, and within 45 minutes, thought I was going to have bruises from laughing so hard. The on-stage, and off-stage antics are so well-timed that you would have to be in a long wooden box, 6ft under to not laugh. The movie starts with the dress rehearsal for the play "Nothing On". Michael Caine plays the director who is bordering on a psychotic meltdown because they have less than 24 hours to prepare for the opening curtain. Constant stops, mechanical issues, and personal drama keep slowing the reheasal and sending the director, and his cast, deeper into a pit of annoyance and sleep-deprivation. This movie is a film adaptation of a real stage play called "Noises Off" which features the exact same plot and timing. It was adapted to the silver screen in 1992 with a dynamite cast of movie icons such as Carol Burnett, John Ritter, Christopher Reeve, Julie Hagarty, and Denholm Elliot. Michael Frayne wrote the play orgininally back in 1977 while watching a stage play from the wings. He thought, "what could be funnier than this?" And "Noses Off" was off and running. When the movie hit the theater in 1992 there were many, who had seen the play, that said it didn't translate to film. Now, I am sill a spry youth. I'm 30 years old with a receding hairline (thanks dad), and built like a bull elephant. Seeing a 20 year old movie adaptation of a play was not my idea of fun. I'd rather see giant metal robots from a distant planet punching each other with cars for fists. Or see Captain Jack Sparrow bumble around on a boat on the high seas. But after seeing this movie, I can not stop talking about it. When friends come over to see a movie they haven't seen yet, this one always makes the short list. It's clean, quick, and purely hysterical! I have a brain that moves at 10X the speed of light. I have the ability to think 3 steps ahead of nearly everything in my life. Sometimes this is a gift, but when it comes to comedy and movie plot, it's a curse. I have a tendency to get the joke before its made, or figure out the twist before it happens. But I can honestly say that this movie throws you some curve balls that even elephant-legged dudes like myself get thrown off by. The back stage banter, and use of prop-comedy is perfectly timed. Even my brother in-law, who is a giant dope of an eleitest when it comes to movies, gave this one a big thumbs up. There is not much of a score to the film, because they didn't want to take away from the hilarity of the spoken word. If there was a funny song playing in the background, it would lose a lot of depth for the characters. Michael Caine, John Ritter, Carol Burnett, and even Christpoher Reeve are very funny in this, and have some great little character-building issues that are the quint-essential "cherry on top" for this layer cake of comedy.
Overall I give this one a 5 out of 5. I think this is a pure joyous comedy that you can watch over and over again and catch new things each time. On top of that you can watch in with your beer-guzzling buddies, or a little old blue-haired Church lady and not feel awkward in the slightest.
Things to watch out for...
1) Nicollette Sheridan is seen for about half the film in her white underwear. It's not so risqué that you get uncomfortable. It's actually VERY modest according to today's standards. But if you have issues with seeing a woman in her underwear, then steer clear.
2) There are 2-3 unnecessary uses off the F word. They could have made it just as funny without them, but oh well.
Other than that, find it, buy it, watch it, laugh, and enjoy.
- Have a movie you want to hear me rant on? Maybe your girlfriend still thinks "Phantom of the Opera" is a great love story, and you need backup. Maybe your husband won't stop talking like Bruce Willis in "Die Hard" and you need help. Email me at entertaindave@gmail.com or follow me on twitter @entertaindave
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