My weekly movie reviews. You can also read these on letterboxd.
This week focuses on three films starring Robin Williams that I’d never seen before.
BEING HUMAN (1994)
Rating: 2 out of 5 Stars
BEING HUMAN should be shown to every filmmaker as an example of how to not use narration. With the obvious, often obnoxious voiceover removed, this movie would automatically be ten times better. Sadly, that “creative” decision (most likely made by the studio instead of the film’s director) is not the only problem in this ambitious but flawed Robin Williams film.
I see what Bill Forsyth is trying to do here but the movie lacks all of the subtle wit and insightful human observations that his masterwork LOCAL HERO has in abundance. The attempt to dig deep into the human condition ends up being quite repetitive and shallow, only exploring a couple elements of “being human”. The episodes both seem redundant and at the same time don’t connect to each other in any kind of cohesive way. The strongest of the chapters is the Roman one with John Turturro but even it feels heavy-handed at times.
Once we finally get to the present day Robin Williams, when the story is supposed to all come together, I found myself asking, “What the hell is this all about?” It really leads to nothing.
Watched on Tubi.
SEIZE THE DAY (1986)
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 Stars
I haven’t read the Saul Bellow source material but I suspect this adaptation is too faithful to the author. SEIZE THE DAY feels it was taken straight from the pages, with every idea and line of dialog packed into a screenplay that never lets itself breathe. It tries to do too much and to pack in a lot of literary themes that can be absorbed from the page but don’t easily translate to the screen.
The movie is also loud, packed with one bombastic performance after another. It needed to either be built around an energetic Robin Williams and surrounded by subtle supporting characters or a much more subdued leading man who could react to a host of wild characters. As is, the film verges on being obnoxious and it honestly wore me out to watch it.
Watched on Tubi.
CLUB PARADISE (1986)
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
Though I can’t say CLUB PARADISE made me laugh out loud, it had me smiling a lot from beginning to end. It’s one of those amusing films that goes along with such ease, I can’t help but settle into it and enjoy.
All of the participants on screen seem to be having a great time (for all I know they hated each other and the production) and that vibe effected me on this Sunday viewing in the best way. Robin Williams is surprisingly relaxed and fun to watch but it’s the cast of characters around him who bring the most amusement. Rick Moranis and Eugene Levy are a good pairing. Andrea Martin is a hoot and Joanna Cassidy is never hard to look at. Even Peter O’Toole seems to be genuinely enjoying himself instead of just collecting a paycheck.
It isn’t hilarious and I wouldn’t call it clever but I would say that its charming and the easy-going movie that I love to watch now and then.
Watched on Tubi.
