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julesaz
Schindler's List, The Adventures of Robin Hood (Errol Flynn), Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Team America: World Police
Reviews
Corky Romano (2001)
Undeniably bad but so what?
I am a pathological fan of Chris Kattan. I think he is dead sexy as well as too funny. However, I was entirely prepared for Corky Romano to be a dreadful film, and in many ways it is. But I still enjoyed the time I spent watching it. You might want to wait till it's off the "New Releases" wall, though, so you won't feel overcharged for its pleasures. I hope these comments will help you decide.
Worst thing: The effect of the shooting schedule as evidenced in the editing. Kattan appears in very few two- or three-shots with other actors, especially the "name" ones. I theorize that, setting aside any possible genuine personal difficulties in the company, Chris was very busy and/or the film was much more affordable to make this way, e.g., "OK, Mr. Falk, just sit in bed and say all your lines in the entire script, then hug Chris a few times and you can go home. He'll do his lines later, sitting 180 degrees from where you are now."
Most of the actors in Corky could easily have been playing the lead in another film shooting the same week, with the possible exception of The Fellowship of the Ring. This disconnection was not just a problem in the Falk scenes. Only the female lead appears with Kattan regularly. The ensemble acting is thus very superficial--but so what?
Second worst thing: Chris Kattan didn't do any of things I love him for so very, very much.
Relatively good thing: But the film is somewhat clean and wholesome, at least partially because of that.
Quite good thing: A couple of hysterical moments. Others have mentioned the cocaine scene, but my big favorite is the final mano-a-mano fight between Corky and the bad guy. Lost my breath. Had to pee. Laughed enough to last me several days.
I disagree with criticisms of plot holes and the inconsistent "intelligence" of Corky the character. I am accused of having people skills as well as book smarts, I'm a Jeopardy! quiz show champion, but I didn't see Corky as unintelligent, just a sweet, guileless guy with the best of intentions who is clumsy and innocent and trapped outside his milieu (and, okay, darn annoying). As for the plot, I could follow it, so I was pleased (but, yes, the script is bland and dull).
Corky Romano is definitely an "I'm already in a good mood, just want something undemanding to watch while I snuggle with the S.O. or do some cooking" type of movie. And I bet that the 11- to 17-year-old crowd does like it a lot. I hope its apparent low cost makes more Kattan vehicles sound good to Hollywood.
Dreams Come True (1984)
This is awful! Here, taste it...
Anyone who has viewed Dreams Come True and can bring himself to comment on it at all is indeed quite a special person. I lived and breathed this film for a couple of days many years ago, while transcribing the dialogue for foreign distributors.
The remarkable part of Dreams Come True is that we have characters who can astrally project--how cool!--and they choose to enact the tamest, dullest fantasies. Between the unfortunately low budget and the subpar performances, it is a cruel waste of an interesting idea. Nevertheless, I salute anyone who finishes making a film, let alone gets it distributed. Dreams Come True is bad enough to enjoy for its badness, and that's an accomplishment.