Romantic Films/Comedies
- New DVD Releases for July
- Marathon Movie Watching
- AFI Picks Top 10 Romantic Comedies
- New DVD Releases for June
- The Chemistry of Comedy Triangles
- The Chemistry of Love Triangles
- Movie Magic Marketing
- Oliver Stone Directs the Film W
- New DVD Releases for May
- The Princess Bride
Posted by
Leslie Halpern
Leslie Halpern
With July’s new DVD releases, good punch lines and convincing love stories are in short supply, but you won’t have trouble finding mummies and vampires.
If you’re looking for a romantic comedy, there’s Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns (released July 1) another installment in Perry’s consistent franchise. This one includes drama, comedy, and romance surrounding a poor, single mother (Angela Bassett) trying to raise her children in a healthy environment.
For comedy titles, you have a choice of Drillbit Taylor (July 1), Superhero Movie (July 8), and Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (July 29), although none of the three come highly recommended.
Best Bet for July DVD
This month’s best bet for romance and comedy on DVD also includes special effects, action-adventure, and a little horror (all great for inspiring hand-holding during the movie): The Mummy: 2-Disc Deluxe Edition (July 8).
For comedy titles, you have a choice of Drillbit Taylor (July 1), Superhero Movie (July 8), and Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (July 29), although none of the three come highly recommended.
Best Bet for July DVD
This month’s best bet for romance and comedy on DVD also includes special effects, action-adventure, and a little horror (all great for inspiring hand-holding during the movie): The Mummy: 2-Disc Deluxe Edition (July 8).
- The Mummy (2-Disc Deluxe Edition)
- This revamped horror classic from 1999 contains enough comedy and romance to keep you going until August. Starring Brendan Fraser as a goofy adventurer who falls in love with a quirky librarian (Rachel Weisz), this version of The Mummy includes plenty of fun extras. The sequel, The Mummy Returns, also comes out on DVD this month, but the romantic elements are downplayed here as the story takes place years later when the couple has married and raised a precocious adolescent son.
- Director: Stephen Sommers
- Run Time: 124 minutes
- Rating: PG-13 (for adventure violence and partial nudity)
Posted by
Leslie Halpern
Leslie Halpern
For marathon movie viewing, I choose comedy films.
Striving to earn his place in the Guinness Book of World Records by beating the previous record of 117 hours of non-stop movie watching, Ashish Sharma of Mathura, India, recently spent 120 hours watching 48 Bollywood films. Rules stipulate that each movie must be at least 90 minutes long and that participants can rest only 10 minutes between movies.
That’s five days of non-stop Hindi cinema, and although Sharma claims to love the movies, any genre would get tiresome after awhile.
So what kind of movies would you watch during a marathon, assuming you were limited to just one genre?
As much as I love romantic dramas, the last thing I want to do is get burned out on love. What about five straight days of suspense, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, action/adventure, or animation? Although Guinness requires that a doctor be present the entire time, I’m not sure my heart could take all that excitement. Maybe try 120 hours of foreign films with subtitles, eye-opening documentaries, or highbrow art films? I’m not sure my mind could take it.
So whether old silent black-and-white comedies or silly spoofs from the 1960s through the 1980s or gross-out comedies from the 1990s and today, my marathon movie genre pick would be comedies. Mixing in a little romance, action, or mystery is fine, as long as the overall effect is comedic.
Although other genres rely on formulas that become predictable after you’ve seen a few, comedies have no such restrictions. Running gags, jokes, physical humor, irony, puns, hyperbole, satire, sarcasm – the list of ways to bring on laughs is nearly endless. Even though many comedic ploys fall short of belly laughs, 120 hours of a few intermittent chuckles sounds like a good deal to me.
That’s five days of non-stop Hindi cinema, and although Sharma claims to love the movies, any genre would get tiresome after awhile.
So what kind of movies would you watch during a marathon, assuming you were limited to just one genre?
As much as I love romantic dramas, the last thing I want to do is get burned out on love. What about five straight days of suspense, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, action/adventure, or animation? Although Guinness requires that a doctor be present the entire time, I’m not sure my heart could take all that excitement. Maybe try 120 hours of foreign films with subtitles, eye-opening documentaries, or highbrow art films? I’m not sure my mind could take it.
So whether old silent black-and-white comedies or silly spoofs from the 1960s through the 1980s or gross-out comedies from the 1990s and today, my marathon movie genre pick would be comedies. Mixing in a little romance, action, or mystery is fine, as long as the overall effect is comedic.
Although other genres rely on formulas that become predictable after you’ve seen a few, comedies have no such restrictions. Running gags, jokes, physical humor, irony, puns, hyperbole, satire, sarcasm – the list of ways to bring on laughs is nearly endless. Even though many comedic ploys fall short of belly laughs, 120 hours of a few intermittent chuckles sounds like a good deal to me.
AFI Picks Top 10 Romantic Comedies
Posted by
Leslie Halpern
Leslie Halpern
This week, the American Film Institute (AFI) announced its top 10 picks in 10 genre film categories during a CBS special.
Actors, filmmakers, critics, and others voted on movies that included 50 nominees per genre. Previous years have awarded “Top 10” status to comedies and love stories, but this year “romantic comedies” took up the slack. The 2008 AFI romantic comedy winners:
1. City Lights (1931) Charles Chaplin as a little tramp who falls in love with a blind flower girl (Virginia Cherrill).
2. Annie Hall (1977) Diane Keaton as a goofy singer who falls for a neurotic comedy writer (Woody Allen).
3. The Philadelphia Story (1940) Cary Grant and James Stewart plot to ruin Katharine Hepburn’s wedding plans.
4. It Happened One Night (1934) Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable in the story of a runaway heiress who meets a reporter hungry for a story.
5. Roman Holiday (1953) Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in the story of runaway princess who meets a reporter hungry for a story (in Rome).
6. When Harry Met Sally (1989) Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal as two opposites who keep attracting each other over many years.
7. Adam’s Rib (1949) Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn star as husband and wife lawyers who oppose each other in a court case.
8. Moonstruck (1987) Cher and Nicolas Cage in the story of a superstitious widow and a wolf-like man who fall in love.
9. Harold and Maude (1971) An aging Ruth Gordon meets the adolescent Bud Cort at a funeral and romantic sparks ignite.
10. Sleepless in Seattle (1993) Meg Ryan hears lonely widower Tom Hanks on a radio call-in show.
Do you have better choices for the Top 10 Romantic Comedies? Let us know.
1. City Lights (1931) Charles Chaplin as a little tramp who falls in love with a blind flower girl (Virginia Cherrill).
2. Annie Hall (1977) Diane Keaton as a goofy singer who falls for a neurotic comedy writer (Woody Allen).
3. The Philadelphia Story (1940) Cary Grant and James Stewart plot to ruin Katharine Hepburn’s wedding plans.
4. It Happened One Night (1934) Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable in the story of a runaway heiress who meets a reporter hungry for a story.
5. Roman Holiday (1953) Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in the story of runaway princess who meets a reporter hungry for a story (in Rome).
6. When Harry Met Sally (1989) Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal as two opposites who keep attracting each other over many years.
7. Adam’s Rib (1949) Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn star as husband and wife lawyers who oppose each other in a court case.
8. Moonstruck (1987) Cher and Nicolas Cage in the story of a superstitious widow and a wolf-like man who fall in love.
9. Harold and Maude (1971) An aging Ruth Gordon meets the adolescent Bud Cort at a funeral and romantic sparks ignite.
10. Sleepless in Seattle (1993) Meg Ryan hears lonely widower Tom Hanks on a radio call-in show.
Do you have better choices for the Top 10 Romantic Comedies? Let us know.
Posted by
Leslie Halpern
Leslie Halpern
June 2008 is a big month for DVD comedy releases, ranging from the clever and unusual to the silly and mundane.
These DVDs (especially collector’s editions of older films) usually contain special features such as director commentary, deleted scenes, and featurettes on the making of the film.
The following are my top three comedy picks for this month.
Comedies
City Slickers (Collector’s Edition)
More new comedies: Mama’s Boy (Jon Heder as a son who refuses to grow up and move out); Semi-Pro (Will Ferrell as a semi-professional basketball team owner in 1970s Flint, Michigan); Witless Protection (Larry the Cable Guy as a goofy small-town deputy who dreams of being an FBI agent).
Romantic comedies: Fool’s Gold (Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey in a silly romantic comedy adventure); Definitely, Maybe (Ryan Reynolds tells his 10-year-old daughter about his past loves in this romantic comedy); and Bonneville (Jessica Lange, Joan Allen, and Kathy Bates embark on an eye-opening road trip).
The following are my top three comedy picks for this month.
Comedies
City Slickers (Collector’s Edition)
- From 1991, this insightful comedy stars Billy Crystal, Bruno Kirby, and Daniel Stern as three friends in the throes of mid-life crises trying to solve their problems through a fantasy vacation herding cattle.
- Director: Ron Underwood
- Run Time: 114 minutes
- Rating: PG-13
- Release Date: June 3, 2008
- This year’s fun documentary of Vaughn and show biz friends Justin Long and Jon Favreau following the blossoming careers of four relatively unknown comedians on a month-long bus tour.
- Run Time: 100 minutes
- Rating: R
- Release Date: June 3, 2008
- Jack Black and Mos Def star as two men who try to recreate the contents in a video store after all the movies are accidentally erased.
- Director: Michel Gondry
- Run Time: 102 minutes
- Rating: PG-13
- Release Date: June 17, 2008
More new comedies: Mama’s Boy (Jon Heder as a son who refuses to grow up and move out); Semi-Pro (Will Ferrell as a semi-professional basketball team owner in 1970s Flint, Michigan); Witless Protection (Larry the Cable Guy as a goofy small-town deputy who dreams of being an FBI agent).
Romantic comedies: Fool’s Gold (Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey in a silly romantic comedy adventure); Definitely, Maybe (Ryan Reynolds tells his 10-year-old daughter about his past loves in this romantic comedy); and Bonneville (Jessica Lange, Joan Allen, and Kathy Bates embark on an eye-opening road trip).
The Chemistry of Comedy Triangles
Posted by
Leslie Halpern
Leslie Halpern
The added interplay from a third person spices up the comedy bits between two actors.
The Three Stooges. Three Amigos. Three Men and a Baby. Kirk, Spock, and McCoy. Even the four Marx Brothers reduced their comedy team to three.
Three seems to be the magic number for comedy teams. In the classic movie Airplane! (1980), Captain Oveur and co-pilots Roger Murdock and Victor Basta sit around the cockpit misunderstanding directions from the control tower. Confusion about the words “over,” “roger,” and “vector” wouldn’t have been as funny with just two crew members, and might have lost its humor had the cockpit been filled with four or more pilots.
Take note that the directors of Airplane! come in a set of three: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker.
One of my favorite movies, the romantic comedy The Princess Bride successfully incorporates the love triangle (Westley, Princess Buttercup, and Prince Humperdinck) and the comedy triangle (Vizzini the schemer, Inigo the swordsman, and Fezzik the giant). These three would-be criminals play off the others’ physical and intellectual attributes for laughs.
Tiny Vizzini pushes around the giant; slow-witted Fezzik sometimes outsmarts Vizzini; physically adept Inigo allows Vizzini to plan his assaults; and despite his aggressiveness, Inigo reveals a gentle sweetness toward Fezzik. These relationships between the three characters provide the perfect balance for relationship dynamics.
Films from every genre take advantage of the chemistry of the comedy triangle: Mad Money (three novice women bank robbers), Superbad (three high school boys on an adventure), and the Harry Potter series (Harry, Hermione, and Ron) are among them.
Of course, many exceptions exist to the rule of three, but the comedy triangle creates a delicate balancing act where no one character stays at the top for long because competing strengths from the other two constantly threaten to upset the triangle.
Three seems to be the magic number for comedy teams. In the classic movie Airplane! (1980), Captain Oveur and co-pilots Roger Murdock and Victor Basta sit around the cockpit misunderstanding directions from the control tower. Confusion about the words “over,” “roger,” and “vector” wouldn’t have been as funny with just two crew members, and might have lost its humor had the cockpit been filled with four or more pilots.
Take note that the directors of Airplane! come in a set of three: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker.
One of my favorite movies, the romantic comedy The Princess Bride successfully incorporates the love triangle (Westley, Princess Buttercup, and Prince Humperdinck) and the comedy triangle (Vizzini the schemer, Inigo the swordsman, and Fezzik the giant). These three would-be criminals play off the others’ physical and intellectual attributes for laughs.
Tiny Vizzini pushes around the giant; slow-witted Fezzik sometimes outsmarts Vizzini; physically adept Inigo allows Vizzini to plan his assaults; and despite his aggressiveness, Inigo reveals a gentle sweetness toward Fezzik. These relationships between the three characters provide the perfect balance for relationship dynamics.
Films from every genre take advantage of the chemistry of the comedy triangle: Mad Money (three novice women bank robbers), Superbad (three high school boys on an adventure), and the Harry Potter series (Harry, Hermione, and Ron) are among them.
Of course, many exceptions exist to the rule of three, but the comedy triangle creates a delicate balancing act where no one character stays at the top for long because competing strengths from the other two constantly threaten to upset the triangle.
The Chemistry of Love Triangles
Posted by
Leslie Halpern
Leslie Halpern
The added tension from a third person involved with the romantic leads increases the excitement in a comedy or drama.
Mary loves Steve, who also loves her but is engaged to marry Fran, who loves Steve and highly respects her wedding planner Mary, who feels a similar loyalty to Fran. This plot from The Wedding Planner reveals a tangled relationship that is typical in a romantic comedy.
Two people falling in love with no obstacles lacks the essential drama and sexual tension needed to fully engage an audience. By including a third person in a love triangle, romantic dramas and comedies increase the excitement without overly complicating the plot.
On the other hand, adding four or more characters may work great in screwball comedies that play for laughs rather than romance, but complicate situations to the point of taking away from the romantic elements. Did you find it “romantic” or “comic” when Mary had four would-be suitors in There’s Something About Mary? For me, three’s the limit for romantic tension and four is the inevitable introduction of comedy.
Countless romantic movies from recent years have employed the love triangle: Made of Honor, Across the Universe, Blades of Glory, Dan in Real Life, Juno, License to Wed, The Ex, and The Princess Bride to name a few.
Unless one romantic lead has an obstacle to overcome (such as commitment phobia, different socioeconomic status, bad reputation, etc.) and the other has an ardent admirer (a fiancé, ex-lover, close friend, or other threatening love interest), the romantic relationship becomes too easy to achieve and too easy for audiences to dismiss.
Next week: The Chemistry of Comedy Triangles
Two people falling in love with no obstacles lacks the essential drama and sexual tension needed to fully engage an audience. By including a third person in a love triangle, romantic dramas and comedies increase the excitement without overly complicating the plot.
On the other hand, adding four or more characters may work great in screwball comedies that play for laughs rather than romance, but complicate situations to the point of taking away from the romantic elements. Did you find it “romantic” or “comic” when Mary had four would-be suitors in There’s Something About Mary? For me, three’s the limit for romantic tension and four is the inevitable introduction of comedy.
Countless romantic movies from recent years have employed the love triangle: Made of Honor, Across the Universe, Blades of Glory, Dan in Real Life, Juno, License to Wed, The Ex, and The Princess Bride to name a few.
Unless one romantic lead has an obstacle to overcome (such as commitment phobia, different socioeconomic status, bad reputation, etc.) and the other has an ardent admirer (a fiancé, ex-lover, close friend, or other threatening love interest), the romantic relationship becomes too easy to achieve and too easy for audiences to dismiss.
Next week: The Chemistry of Comedy Triangles
Posted by
Leslie Halpern
Leslie Halpern
How movie spin-offs use emotions to produce an unlimited amount of merchandising opportunities.
Last week I attended a media preview at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort. I experienced the theme park’s newest movie/TV-related attractions, including Toy Story Mania (a midway game ride), Disney’s Block Party Bash (a street parade), Disney's Amercian Idol Attraction, and Journey Into Narnia: Prince Caspian (an upcoming soundstage attraction).
What’s the allure of adapting movies into other forms? Why do so many films wind up as theme park attractions (Terminator 2: 3D), clothing lines (Napoleon Dynamite), Broadway shows (The Lion King), collectible toys (Star Wars), and thousands of other marketable products?
Take Disney’s Block Party Bash. This parade showcases characters from Toy Story, Monsters, Inc., A Bug’s Life, and The Incredibles. Dance and music segments highlight the characters, yet impart none of the story. With more than 114 energetic performers, a medley of upbeat songs, and vibrant costumes and floats, the experience feels like saturating yourself in the bold colors and frenetic energy of an animated cartoon.
The romantic comedy film The Wedding Singer (starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore) recently became a Broadway musical. The stage show uses original songs to convey much of the plot (to compensate for the condensed story). The film adapts well to the stage because through music, characters, and costumes, audiences experience this love story in a 1980’s frame of mind regardless of stylistic changes.
Even as I write this, a cardboard standee of Johnny Depp (as Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean [ironically, a movie based on a Disney theme park ride]) glares at me. When I see him, I’m instantly transported to a different time and place filled with magic and romance.
Whatever form a movie takes – from multi-million dollar attractions to $5.00 lunch boxes – its true magic is the ability to evoke emotions.
What’s the allure of adapting movies into other forms? Why do so many films wind up as theme park attractions (Terminator 2: 3D), clothing lines (Napoleon Dynamite), Broadway shows (The Lion King), collectible toys (Star Wars), and thousands of other marketable products?
Take Disney’s Block Party Bash. This parade showcases characters from Toy Story, Monsters, Inc., A Bug’s Life, and The Incredibles. Dance and music segments highlight the characters, yet impart none of the story. With more than 114 energetic performers, a medley of upbeat songs, and vibrant costumes and floats, the experience feels like saturating yourself in the bold colors and frenetic energy of an animated cartoon.
The romantic comedy film The Wedding Singer (starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore) recently became a Broadway musical. The stage show uses original songs to convey much of the plot (to compensate for the condensed story). The film adapts well to the stage because through music, characters, and costumes, audiences experience this love story in a 1980’s frame of mind regardless of stylistic changes.
Even as I write this, a cardboard standee of Johnny Depp (as Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean [ironically, a movie based on a Disney theme park ride]) glares at me. When I see him, I’m instantly transported to a different time and place filled with magic and romance.
Whatever form a movie takes – from multi-million dollar attractions to $5.00 lunch boxes – its true magic is the ability to evoke emotions.
Oliver Stone Directs the Film W
Posted by
Leslie Halpern
Leslie Halpern
Under Stone's direction, the romance and comedy of "W" likely will be overshadowed by political intrigue and conspiracy theories about George W. Bush.
In a deal between Lionsgate, Omnilab Media, and QED International, filming begins today in Louisiana on the biopic W, based on the love, faith, and politics of America’s 43rd president. Set for theatrical release on October 17, 2008 to coincide with fall elections, W stars Josh Brolin as George W. Bush and Elizabeth Banks as Laura Bush.
Oliver Stone (World Trade Center, Wall Street) said in a statement: “The impact of George W. Bush’s presidency will be felt for many years to come. Despite a meteoric, almost illogical rise to power, and a tremendous influence on the world, we don’t really know much about Mr. Bush beyond the controlled images we’ve been allowed to see on TV.”
But I wonder what W would be like with a different director?
Oliver Stone (World Trade Center, Wall Street) said in a statement: “The impact of George W. Bush’s presidency will be felt for many years to come. Despite a meteoric, almost illogical rise to power, and a tremendous influence on the world, we don’t really know much about Mr. Bush beyond the controlled images we’ve been allowed to see on TV.”
But I wonder what W would be like with a different director?
- With Judd Apatow: Starring Seth Rogen as George and Leslie Mann as Laura, W is an outrageous romantic comedy told through a series of humorous adventures with a strange mix of grossness and sweetness.
- With Tim Burton: Starring Johnny Depp as George and Helena Bonham Carter as Laura, W is a dark supernatural love story in which mysterious forces bring the couple together and then lead them to positions of international power.
- With Woody Allen: Starring Alan Alda as George and Diane Keaton as Laura, W is a cerebral fish-out-of-water comedy in which displaced Texans George and Laura fall in love at a bar in New York.
- With John Waters: Starring John Waters (in a cameo appearance) as George and Ricki Lake as Laura, W is the raunchy tale of how two young lovers from a trailer park in Baltimore find their way into The White House.
Posted by
Leslie Halpern
Leslie Halpern
May 2008 is not a big month for romantic comedy releases on DVD, but you can find romantic films and comedy films to enjoy.
Three of my top four picks are re-releases of much earlier films, with only P.S. I Love You having recently played at the theaters. So if you missed them the first time around, here’s your second chance.
Romantic Dramas
The Bridges of Madison County: Deluxe Edition
If It’s Tuesday, It Must Be Belgium
Romantic Dramas
The Bridges of Madison County: Deluxe Edition
- A story (from 1995) of an enduring and forbidden love, this drama stars Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood as two people who embark on a short-term love affair in rural Iowa. The performances sizzle despite the middle-aged leads.
- Director: Clint Eastwood
- Run Time: 137 minutes
- Rating: PG-13
- This drama stars Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler in a tear-jerking romance about how everlasting love continues after one’s physical life ends. Supporting cast includes Lisa Kudrow and Gina Gershon.
- Director: Richard LaGravenese
- Run time: 126 minutes
- Rating: PG-13
If It’s Tuesday, It Must Be Belgium
- This 1969 farce stars Sandy Baron, Senta Berger, and Suzanne Pleshette in a comedy (with some added romance) about a group of American tourists who take a whirlwind tour with a young British tour guide (Ian McShane).
- Director: Mel Stuart
- Run Time: 98 minutes
- Rating: G
- From 1994, this dark comedy stars Kathleen Turner as a suburban mom who resorts to serial killing to get her point across to people who create obstacles in her perfect little world. Sam Waterston, Ricki Lake, and Matthew Lillard co-star as her cookie-cutter family.
- Director: John Waters
- Run Time: 94 minutes
- Rating: R
Posted by
Leslie Halpern
Leslie Halpern
An achingly beautiful romance and laugh-out-loud comedy, "The Princess Bride" (1987) is the ultimate romantic comedy film because it succeeds on both counts.
Directed by Rob Reiner, written by William Goldman, and starring Cary Elwes (Westley), Robin Wright (Buttercup), and Mandy Patinkin (Inigo), this fairy tale portrays a beautiful maiden (Wright) and handsome servant (Elwes) who love each other, but are kept apart by seemingly insurmountable obstacles, including societal class, physical distance, villains, and even death. The delicious writing, perfect direction, and inspired acting have made this cult classic endure for more than 20 years.
How curious that some of today’s comedies fail to be funny and some romances fail to have chemistry between the leads when The Princess Bride manages to do both so well? There’s also the sweet nature of The Princess Bride to consider. Few PG-rated love stories or comedy films get made anymore. Yet without blatant sexuality or course language, this film expresses the passionate nature of the couple’s relationship and humorous dialogue/situations.
Compare The Princess Bride to today’s romantic comedy films, many of which have been quite successful at the box office and on subsequent DVD sales (indicating a huge market for gross-out humor). Take away the raunch factor in movies such as Superbad, Good Luck Chuck, Mr. Woodcock, Blades of Glory, and The Heartbreak Kid, and then ask yourself “Would they still be funny?”
After many dozens of viewings, I still get goose bumps when Westley whispers, “As you wish.” I still feel sick when The Albino tortures Westley in The Pit of Despair. I still thrill to the beauty of Goldman’s dialogue. I still laugh at Inigo’s sword-fighting antics. And after all this time, I still feel disappointed that a sequel to this film never made it to the screen.
How curious that some of today’s comedies fail to be funny and some romances fail to have chemistry between the leads when The Princess Bride manages to do both so well? There’s also the sweet nature of The Princess Bride to consider. Few PG-rated love stories or comedy films get made anymore. Yet without blatant sexuality or course language, this film expresses the passionate nature of the couple’s relationship and humorous dialogue/situations.
Compare The Princess Bride to today’s romantic comedy films, many of which have been quite successful at the box office and on subsequent DVD sales (indicating a huge market for gross-out humor). Take away the raunch factor in movies such as Superbad, Good Luck Chuck, Mr. Woodcock, Blades of Glory, and The Heartbreak Kid, and then ask yourself “Would they still be funny?”
After many dozens of viewings, I still get goose bumps when Westley whispers, “As you wish.” I still feel sick when The Albino tortures Westley in The Pit of Despair. I still thrill to the beauty of Goldman’s dialogue. I still laugh at Inigo’s sword-fighting antics. And after all this time, I still feel disappointed that a sequel to this film never made it to the screen.