Episode 38 : The Burbs

As the 30th anniversary of THE ‘BURBS (1989) descends upon us, it’s astonishing how the film still feels so fresh. By intelligently poking fun at suburban life and the paranoia that can result from boredom, this underseen Joe Dante film continues to be charming and gain an increasingly large cult following.

 

▶️Synopsis: While having a stay-at-home vacation, one uptight suburbanite and his paranoid neighbors become convinced the new family in their quiet community are Satanic murderers.
⏩⏩Discussions include: How a solid, witty script and stylish look create a relatable world where the comedy never wears out. On top of the expertly-curated ensemble cast, we’ll discuss what the actors bring to the film and how ad-libbing came in handy during a Hollywood writer’s strike. We’ll dig into the themes of THE ‘BURBS, go behind the scenes of filming and director Joe Dante’s career and passion for moviemaking. **Starring Tom Hanks, Carrie Fisher, Bruce Dern, Rick Ducommun, Wendy Schaal, Corey Feldman. Directed by Joe Dante.**

 

▶️SCENE BREAKDOWN:
Realism becomes another form of artificial style in THE ‘BURBS. Justin Hayward discusses how Joe Dante is able to create very calculated comedic moments within dramatic situations.

 

▶️**PICKS OF THE WEEK**

—Lindsay’s Pick: THE MAN WITH ONE RED SHOE (1985): In this silly spy thriller, a clueless musician gets caught up in a game of espionage, while also falling for a woman who is spying on him. **Starring Tom Hanks, Carrie Fisher, Jim Belushi, Lori Singer, Dabney Coleman. Directed by Stan Dragoti.**

 

—Justin’s Pick: MATINEE (1993): Harnessing the terror over impending nuclear war, a crafty filmmaker utilizes public fear to churn up excitement for the premiere of his newest, low-budget film, “Mant!” **Starring John Goodman, Cathy Moriarty, Kellie Martin. Directed by Joe Dante.**

 

▶️MURRAYMOMENT:
Diving into Billy’s Carl Spackler character in CADDYSHACK, and why he’d fit in perfectly with neighborhood boys in THE ‘BURBS.

 

▶️FINAL THOUGHTS:
A brief career retrospective of THE ‘BURBS co-star, Darla the Dog.

 

▶️NEXT UP: CANDYMAN (1992)!