Brandon Comments:
‘Meatballs’ is a fun movie. Not quite a classic, not quite an epic, not quite a side-splitter…but it’s a fun movie. But for some reason, I always remembered it being much funnier than it actually is. Watching a 30-year-old male camp counselor “spending lots of time, but keeping it a secret” with a girlish 12-year-old boy really takes on a whole new meaning when you watch it in 2007.
It’s hard to critique a classic comedy because, do you (a) review it as if it was the first time you saw it, when it was hysterical and fresh and raw, or (b) review it from the eyes of a person seeing it again after 25 years of off-and-on viewings? It’s a difficult line to walk because you can’t forget what you already know. Of course, it’s a classic comedy! But does it hold up some 25 years later? That’s the difficult line I spoke of earlier. I chewed ‘Bringing Up Baby’ to pieces because of this very same reason, and in hindsight I was wrong about that one. I gave that review after seeing nearly 70 years of film-making’s evolution first—and that, to me now, is a crime. I was prejudiced going into that film, and prejudiced in my review of it. And I will not make that same mistake with ‘Meatballs’ – although it’s not campy slapstick like ‘Bringing Up Baby,’ my review will still lean that way because I loathe slapstick...and because I've seen it maybe 65 times. So I will lay down my sword and let this unicorn live; the ugliness of my blade will not destroy the true beauty of ‘Meatballs.’
Nubs Comments:
In the same vein as our selection, ‘Meatballs,’ I will keep this short and sweet. I’m glad the last minute change to indoors didn’t force Ben to audible and bring us a prison pick. As it often does, Movienight mirrored the atmosphere of the night and served the Crew well. With all of us very nervous about the future of our summer and accommodations, our camp director, Wiener (“Hi, Marty!”) gave us an overview of the rules, which promised hope within compromise. Then our wacky head counselor, Tooda, presented us with one of his favorite traditions, ‘Meatballs’ that follows a bunch of misfits goofing off and living their mantra, “It just doesn’t matter.”
I don’t remember seeing this classic before, and though it a personal part of other’s upbringing, I felt it was perfect. I immediately turned off my analytical part of my brain, and took in some summer fun.
However, I still had some questions being the one newbie to this gem. Why are they called “Meatballs” and are they ever called so in the movie? Where are the smoking and the nudity? They talk about buying cigarettes and I figured camp counselors in 1979 would be smoking whatever they can and often. Along the same lines, where is the nudity that kept most of us pre-pubescents watching ‘Animal House’ and ‘Stripes’ way too many times. Was it a rating issue? Finally, though they make a cute couple, why is our main love interest the least attractive girl at camp? Being a nebbish, non-leading male type myself, I do applaud the casting choice of Kate Lynch, I was just wondering if she was related to Ivan Reitman whom she resembles.
Other than that I was blown away to discover this was Bill Murray’s first movie, virtually. His performance carries the whole film. It's also fun trying to guess the young, aging actor’s true age. It’s like trying to guess a drunken derelict’s age. His energy says 20’s but his face and body say 40’s. Nevertheless, he is sweet, cool, inspirational even all at the appropriate times. Perhaps the end when he asks Roxanne to move in with him is not as powerful as it could be, but that’s what you get with Bill Murray. His smirk draws us in, though never too close. Anyway, it’s just summer camp you’re supposed to forget the lasting relationships and good times as soon as it’s over. I hope it’s not over for our summer is just beginning.
Speaking of Bill Murray, save a ‘Children of Men’ apocalyptic field-trip, we have a Bill Murray double feature, ‘Rushmore’ and ‘Meatballs.’ Both show aging men trying to preserve their boyhood clubhouses. There have already been comparisons drawn to our beloved, and sometimes harsh facilitator Tooda. Though he has given out plenty of verbal and written lashings over the past 82 consecutive Movienights, it is important to respect him as the reluctant hero (is that still a hero?) that keeps us going. Believe me, I usually get the worst of it, but it pains me to see visitors come in and disrespect him. Only I can do that. I am very glad I was not at the fateful night in question, but it is now clear that violating our petty rules cost us the freedom we try to preserve. As the guest list may be getting smaller to accommodate sound and seating we should bite our lip and let Mr. Live Free or Die-Hard have his last word. Word.
Oops, I was going to keep it short and sweet.
Netti Comments:
It was interesting to see American Apparel's summer fashion line featured so heavily in a film. Hadn't seen this for about fifteen years and I was happy to see it again. Though the jokes sometimes fell a little flat and the cultural references were a little distant, Bill Murray and some hilarious casting choices made this an enjoyable swim through summer camp memories. A good pick for the beginning of the summer. Perfectly sets my mood to blow a lot of things off and try and find girls who "want it". And in keeping with that perspective I'm headin out to a social and shirking any further work.
SELECTOR Comments:
As I mentioned in my preamble, I have an annual ritual of watching this film. Summer just isn’t summer till I watch it. So when my Selection fell on the eve of the summer solstice I had no choice but to bring this film and share it with you all.
Granted, ‘Meatballs’ is a piece of shit.
The film presents few characters to care about, and lacks any subtlety or skill in its writing, cinematography, editing, production design, casting, and I’ll bet the catering sucked as well. Only Elmer Bernstein demonstrates any sort of mastery on the production side of this film. And yet... I love this stupid movie so fucking much.
How is it that I can forgive a film the presents the old saw of two dumbasses carrying a plate glass window only to have it shattered as one of its first big gags? I’ll tell you how. Heart.
I was a big fucking nerd in grade school. I’m still a big fucking nerd, but now I am so big few people call me on it. But when I was little, I wished for a mentor like Bill Murray. His efforts to connect with Chris Makepeace strike me as truly genuine. He can see right away that this kid just doesn’t fit anywhere. I come from a family of teachers and know first hand the positive impact a caring adult can have on a child who doesn’t fit in. This pure and innocent core gives an otherwise vapid enterprise a spine strong enough to endure.
‘Meatballs’ is truly the worst film I have ever brought to the Crew, but it stands for many of the same things Movienight has stood for. Friendship, camaraderie, perseverance, competition, tradition - I see much of our group’s heart reflected in this dear, flawed film.
Thank you for sharing the night with me. My 35th Birthday will stand as one of the best I have known in many, many years and it all started with us sitting down and sharing this piece of shit movie.
“It just doesn’t matter!”
Onwards.
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