Blind Date (1987)
I’m kicking this collection of ten films off with humor when a workaholic is set-up with a date for an important dinner with potential clientele. This woman is smart, stunning, and put together there’s just one rule that can be broken and Bruce Willis breaks that rule leading to a night from hell in 1987s Blind Date also starring Kim Basinger and John Larroquette from director Blake Edwards.
The year before Willis would become John McClane, he was Walter Davis, a normal guy who thought he was going out on a common blind date and the result was a wild night where one thing after another goes wrong in hilarious fashion. Blind Date is a lighthearted, feel-good flick that just hits with one comedic scenario after the other. From Larroquette as the raging ex-boyfriend stalking them through the night, to crashing a fancy party, to causing a scene at a restaurant, the hilarity in this movie is nonstop. And it’s all driven by the charm and charisma of Willis, Basinger, their chemistry together, and Larroquette who sort of steals this movie. It’s absurd and over-the-top but there’s an element of love at the core that tugs on the heartstrings more than enough to make this rom com a timeless hit that’s been a little forgotten.
10 to Midnight (1983)
We’re hitting the dark, mean streets of Los Angeles for my next movie. A gritty cop thriller centering on a veteran detective and his rookie partner who are on the trail of a maniacal serial killer taking out innocent young women in J. Lee Thompson’s 10 to Midnight from 1983 starring action legend Charles Bronson, Lisa Eilbacher, Andrew Stevens, Wilford Brimley, and Geoffrey Lewis.
Now admittedly this isn’t a film I would recommend to everyone. It’s a bit graphic, it also has a hefty amount of gratuitous nudity, and relatively gory violence, for the time. However, it’s also a compelling relic of the early 80s cop thriller and the gritty tone, the stiff performances, and the on-the-nose dialogue are more nostalgic after all these years rather than being more critical issues. Charles Bronson fits the veteran detective role with ease, and he feels at home in this character paired with a prototypical rookie. The pacing does have its issues but it’s just methodical enough with its progression to be considered a slow burn as a demented killer goes to work with the cops hot on his trail. 10 to Midnight is far from a perfect film but it’s also a moody thriller that feels like a product of its time in more positive ways than negative.
The Best of Times (1986)
Next up I have a charming little sports comedy about a couple of guys who attempt to recreate the championship game from their senior year in high school that resulted in a tie so they can finally get redemption in Roger Spottiswood’s The Best of Times from 1986 starring comedic legend Robin Williams, Kurt Russell, Pamela Reed, and Holly Palance.
This movie gets forgotten when discussing entertaining football comedies but there’s plenty of effective humor throughout as this group of guys get back together to relive their high school football dreams. The Best of Times is a perfect blend of silliness and heartwarming, and you have to love the combination of Williams and Russell. Williams is hilarious throughout as his determination to right the wrongs of his dropped pass during the championship game never wavers. Russell brings plenty of small-town charm to his role and that’s what this movie delivers best, a lighthearted small-town vibe where you can get the band back together for one last ride with the whole town watching. The pace is slightly sluggish in the middle, but the action and humor delivered from the big game finale is a perfect closing to this feel-good flick led by a couple stars.
Extreme Prejudice (1987)
I have a hugely underrated action thriller for my next film. A story about a Texas Ranger and a drug kingpin that were best friends as kids but now find themselves on the opposite sides of the law in 1987s Extreme Prejudice from director Walter Hill starring Nick Nolte, Powers Boothe, Michael Ironside, Maria Conchita Alonso, and William Forsythe.
Now Extreme Prejudice came out during a busy time in the action genre, and it certainly got overlooked despite in my opinion being a traditional yet extremely well-structured action flick. It isn’t overly flashy and with its western vibe it maybe came out a few years too late, but it delivers everything you want in a great 80s action movie. It has a commanding performance from Nolte, a more than formidable villain in Boothe, it has a confrontation infused plot that can easily string violent action together and it has capable and pleasantly gritty direction from Hill. This movie has developed a cult-following over the years and it’s a superior film to something like Eye of the Tiger from the last volume in this series. It’s filled with tough guy bravado from all angles and when the gunplay and violence kicks in Extreme Prejudice is a blast.
Gleaming the Cube (1989)
Skateboarding meets government conspiracy when a young skateboarder begins searching for answers after his adopted brother is murdered and finds something much larger at play in 1989s Gleaming the Cube from director Graeme Clifford. Starring Christian Slater, Steven Bauer, Richard Herd, and a collection of professional skaters led by Tony Hawk.
Certain films just reek of 80s awesomeness and Gleaming the Cube is certainly one of them as it takes corruption inside an anti-communist relief fund and fuses it with the world of skateboarding and teen coming-of-age. It’s all a bit silly with a serious lens but if you let yourself sit back and have fun with this movie it will deliver a nostalgic ride as Christian Slater investigates the death of his adopted brother while also growing up in the process. It’s a relatively formulaic unfolding of a mystery but the charm and energy from Slater’s undeniable and the pace is swift. But the film also takes itself seriously, so there’s just enough meat to chew on with the performances, vibrant music, and surface level plot. But where this movie shines is in the skateboarding action. The final act of this movie kicks ass and the stunt work gives all the crosstown skating a thrilling energy to make this film a lasting cult classic.
The Dream Team (1989)
This next movie delivers plenty of high energy laughs when four mental patients in NYC must save their chaperon who witnessed a murder and landed in the hospital in a coma, before the killers can find him and eliminate the witness in 1989s The Dream Team starring Michael Keaton, Christopher Lloyd, Everybody Loves Raymond’s Peter Boyle, and Stephen Furst. Directed by Howard Zieff.
I always enjoy watching this adventurous little comedy. I think it’s certainly driven by the charismatic performances from Keaton, Doyle, and Lloyd. They all bring their own comedic charms and personalities to their oddball characters. And placing them in New York and throwing endless comical hijinks and mishaps at them is a great time. This movie was considered relatively average upon its release and there’s no doubt it’s a comedic riff on One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, but I think it works. The Dream Team is loaded with humorous performances, and its silly plot is just right for the absurdist tone of the humor. You can feel this cast is having fun in these roles and it translates on screen to a film you can sit back and escape into with little brain power needed.
Extremities (1986)
Things are getting a lot darker for my next pick, a moody thriller about a woman who escapes an attempted sexual attack only to get no help from the police and left to be a victim to a second attack, but this woman will take control when he returns in 1986s Extremities from director Robert M. Young. Starring Farrah Fawcett, James Russo, Alfre Woodard, and Diana Scarwid.
This is a forgotten little gem that thrives on its emotional intensity. It covers heavily sensitive material, but it doesn’t push the boundaries to make it a difficult watch in my opinion. Extremities is a film that doesn’t rely on graphic visuals to unnerve the viewer but instead it crafts a scenario very well and maneuvers situational suspense from there that can keep you on edge as this character goes through it with this violent attacker. Most of the film centers on Farrah Fawcett and James Russo who I think both kill it in their roles. Russo feels slimy and conniving, and Fawcett lands the full gamut of emotions throughout this swift runtime. This movie doesn’t stick around too long, it keeps the pace swift, and it results in a film that can unnerve you and have you feeling like you’re in this film forced to make decisions with these characters.
Repo Man (1984)
I’m lightening things up for my next movie a blend of action, comedy, thriller and fantasy when a young punk gets into the car repo business and sets out to find a mysterious Chevy Malibu with a huge bounty and something from another world in the trunk in 1984s Repo Man starring Emilio Estevez, Harry Dean Stanton, Tracey Walter, and Olivia Barash. Written and directed by Alex Cox.
Now I’ll admit this one may not be forgotten by everyone. It is a cult classic but the common movie fan or some of you younger cats out there may have never heard of this little flick that throws a bit of everything together and results in a quick moving, highly engaging, and completely unique story with enough twists, turns, and mystery to capture your imagination. There’s a bit of action, enough violence, plenty of dark humor and really Repo Man is like an homage to the sort of film they just don’t make anymore. Estevez is great as the rebellious punk with a take no shit attitude and Stanton shines as the veteran repo man that’s seen a bit of it all. So, when you sit back for this movie you get a blend of truly ambitious storytelling, interesting characters and an inventive plot set inside a delightfully mysterious atmosphere that just gels together perfectly.
Modern Girls (1986)
We’re exploring the 80s club scene for my next pick, a romantic comedy about a couple of girls who hitch a ride with a guy their roommate stood up on a blind date and over the course of the night they explore the wild L.A. night scene and develop a friendship in Modern Girls from 1986 starring Daphne Zuniga, Virginia Madsen, Cynthia Gibb, and Clayton Rohner, from director Jerry Kramer.
This is a movie that does have its issues and even at the time it wasn’t considered a critical or financial hit. It’s far from a commentary on young social life, even for the 80s. It’s a bit blatant with his 80s excess yet with all that said, and with the passing of time, Modern Girls is able to provide a stylistic and somewhat hyper realistic depiction of club-hopping in the LA night scene. The performances are all fine for the needs of these characters, they’re likable in their naivete and they keep it relatively light. The emotional undercurrent of this movie doesn’t run deep but it’s still a vibrant film that feels like traveling back in history to a time where feelings were superficial, sex appeal was the focus, and planning for the future didn’t stretch past breakfast the next morning. This movie also has plenty of nostalgic montages, and just enough heart to be an easily consumable lighthearted 80s dramedy.
License to Drive (1988)
We’re stepping into pure 80s comedy territory for my next movie a wildly lighthearted film about a kid who fails his driver’s test but lies about it so he can go out on a date with the girl of his dream on a night that will turn into a disaster of errors in 1988 License to Drive starring Corey Haim and Corey Feldman, Heather Graham, Carol Kane, and Richard Masur from director Greg Beeman.
This is easily one of my favorite high school comedies from the 80s and I think it still holds up as an adventurous comedy filled with laughs, amusing side characters, and a surprising amount of action. As Les steals his grandpa’s car to go on a date and ends up on a night filled with crashes, chases, and way too many close calls for a kid with no license. Overall, the humor in this one still hits, the supporting cast is fantastic with names like Carol Kane and Richard Masur and with its blend of music and ridiculousness it’s a nostalgic 80s ride. With Haim and Feldman front and center with their charm and youthful energy to sell the adventures and comical scenarios the plot takes you on. And sure, it fits inside the high school movie formula, but there’s more than enough uniqueness in License to Drive to make it a hit!
Anthony J. Digioia II © 2024 SilverScreen Analysis & Movies Never Say Die
