| Meatballs | | Cast : | Bill Murray | | Director : | Ivan Reitman | | Studio : | Hbo Studios | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen | | Released Date : | June 29, 1979 | | DVD Released Date : | November 23, 1999 | | Language : | French (Subtitled), Spanish (Dubbed), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language), French (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | July 25, 2005 | | Summary | Funny Movie | Content
 | "Meatballs" is Bill Murray's movie. He makes it work. From beginning to end he gives us a non-stop stream of funny lines and crazy antics.
I believe we're seeing him (Murray) at his peak here. He's not funny at all these days, but back in the 70s he was the funniest person in the entertainment industry, and in "Meatballs" he is at the top of his game. I would pick Bill Murray (at his peak) over Tom Hanks, Eddie Murphy, or Robin Williams.
The story ... your basic summer camp situation ... is brought to life and made hilarious. Bill leads the way, but he does get some help. The supporting cast is actually pretty good. They were well chosen for their respective roles, and are believable and likable. Chris Makepeace,the "short depressed kid we ordered" is very effective as the sensative camper who is shunned by the other campers. Jack Blum, as Spaz, is excellent. I think the creation of the Spaz character is a stroke of movie genius, and Jack makes the part work ... making me wonder if maybe he is that way in real life. Kristine DeBell is very nice as the counselor A.L. ... very likable.
Bill Murray handles the funny guy role (who is actually a caring guy) with ease. His scenes with Chris Makepeace are very real, very touching ... and, whether he wanted to or not, Bill gave quite a bit of depth to the Tripper character.
The humor does, at times, cross over the line into questionable taste. For some reason though, when Bill Murray makes a dirty joke, we are not offended. It's as if we know he's only bluffing and is not really that way. Personally, I think his clean material is better than that stuff, but if we want Bill Murray, I guess we have to take the whole package ... and we get a wide variety of humor here.
But the movie is funny and entertaining ... beginning to end. And it holds up well under repeated viewing.
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| Rating | | | Date | July 10, 2005 | | Summary | Master OF The Rare LASERDISCs Movies. | Content
| I have MeatBalls And MeatBalls II on LASERDISCs,Waitin''em on dvds too :P |
| Rating | | | Date | May 04, 2005 | | Summary | Where's Chris Makepeace now??? | Content
| I love this movie, and did when I first saw it as a kid. Upon repeated viewings, I miss actors like Chris Makepeace, along with the humanity that Bill Murray's character displays. Though this movie is funny, and fun to watch, what gets to me now is the vibe or the undercurrent of the film. It has a gentle quality (human) that you practically never see in movies of the last 20 years or so. Along with 'My Bodyguard', I think Chris Makepeace (nearly) created a type of character that came and went very quickly, just like his acting career, and yet, to those of us who remember him, left an indelible impression. Although it might sound stupid, nostalgic, and sentimental, I'm glad he (and 'Meatballs') did what he did, the way that he did it. As someone who got picked on a lot as kid, I KNOW just what his characters were feeling, and what it's like to have a Tripper-like father figure to watch out and protect you. For these reasons, this is my favorite Bill Murray movie, and definitely worth owning. |
| Rating | | | Date | April 18, 2005 | | Summary | Humor and compassion | Content
| Murray's interactions with the boy are so good that I used excerpts from the film for a final exam on basic counseling I taught at a graduate school - the students had to identify the techniques used by Tripper and suggest alternatives. This may be a far more educational portrayal of counseling than any of the wierd therapist-involved movies Hollywood has produced over the past decade.
Beyond all that, this is a film of good-natured humor that has sympathy for its characters. Among the very best things that Bill Murray ever did.
And where is Tripper today when we need him? |
| Rating | | | Date | February 14, 2005 | | Summary | The Strength of this movie is in the Characters. | Content
| The combination of Bill Murray, Ivan Reitman, and Harold Ramis is well known among movie fans. "Ghostbusters", "Ghostbusters II", and "Stripes" are three well known movies among this combination that featured Murray's acting, Reitman's Directing, and Ramis' writing (as well as acting). However the movie that started it all for them was a low budget, but highly successful Canadian filmed comedy called "Meatballs". This movie basically tells the story of an Sleep-away Camp named Camp North Star and all of the hijinks involving both the Campers and the Counselors.
There are two main plots involving the story of Camp North Star. The first involves the Head Counselor Tripper Harrison's (played by Bill Murray) relationship with a Camper by the name of Rudy Gerner (played by Chris Makepeace). Rudy is ostracized by several of the other campers and finds a friend in Tripper. The two will grow and learn from each other as the summer progresses. The other main plot involves Camp North Star's rivalry with a High Class Elite Camp named Camp Mohawk. These two plots will actually converge when the two Camps meet in a two day Olympiad Competition at the end of the movie.
Revolving around the two main plots are several subplots, hijinks, pranks, and one liners. There are subplots that explore some of the romantic entanglements of the Counselors. The most interesting ones are: Tripper trying to rekindle a relationship with the Head Girls Counselor, Roxanne (played by Kate Lynch); A nerdy Camp Counselor named Spaz (played by Jack Blum) and a Female Jock named Jackie (played by Margot Pinvidic); Two blonde haired Counselors - Crockett (Played by Russ Banham and Candace (played by Sarah Torgov). There are also some interesting events that take place at the camp such as The Olympiad, An Overnight Campout by the Counselors, a Counselors Social a Basketball Camp with Camp Mohawk, and Parents Day. These events do a great job at helping to shape the movie.
However the real strength of this movie is in the characters. These are characters that you can easily relate to. The Counselors almost seem like people you'd hang out with when you were in your late teens. I also think the theme of the "underdog" that is prevalent throughout the movie helps in the audience being able to relate to these characters. Bill Murray is really the only name movie star in this film. Another character who has been seen is Harvey Atkin. Atkin plays Morty, the beleaguered Camp Director, who is victim to multiple pranks and hijinks throughout the movie - providing for some of the funniest moments in "Meatballs". Most people will probably remember Atkin from the TV Series "Cagney and Lacey" in which he played Desk Sergeant Ronald Coleman. Besides Tripper and Morty, the other stars (who aren't well known names do a tremendous job at building their characters throughout the movie. The characters that stand out include:
- Roxanne - the Headstrong Head Girls Counselor who is a great balance to the goofy Tripper
- Spaz - a complete geek, but as he gets a chance with a relationship with Jackie - you can't help but root for him to succeed.
- Larry a.k.a. "Fink" (played by Keith Knight) - the chubby Counselor who has some hilarious moments when his pants are run up the flagpole and when he beats "The Stomach" in the Olympiad Hot Dog Eating Contest;
- Hardware (played by Matt Craven) - the Counselor who is a whiz at "handyman" stuff - who when hooking up an air conditioner knocks all of the electricity out of Camp North Star.
- Rudy - The Kid who we all can relate to as. When Rudy runs the marathon in the last event of the big Olympiad, you can't help but root for him.
Also worh mentioning are Crockett, Candace, Jackie, Phil, A.L., Wendy, and Wheels.
The one liners are also a key to this film. There are plenty of times where you are going to want to stop the film and listen to the line again. Some of these highlights include:
- "Hi Mickey!" - what everyone says to Morty whenever Morty introduces himself.
- "An Air Conditioner just doesn't pick itself up and walk away" - Morty to Jackie and Tripper when he learns his air conditioner is missing.
- "I thought you said you had it Meat Ball" - Fink to Spaz while they are playing doubles tennis against Jackie and another girl
- "Spaz, You're on your Way" - Fink to Spaz after Spaz tells him he held Jackie's hand.
- "It just doesn't matter!" - Tripper's rally cry at Morty's Olympiad rally.
- "Spaz! Spaz! Spaz!" - What the North Star teams says to Spaz as he is in the Olympiad Stacking Contest.
- "Come on Morty! Make up your Mind" - Tripper to Morty when they are trying to decide whether Rudy should run the marathon.
The music is fun in this movie. Three great songs include David Naughton's "Makin' It", the Opening Song "Are You Ready for the Summer?", and Rick Dees' title song "Meatballs". They all fit in perfectly to the film.
Finally, the hijinks are also key to this movie. Some of these highlights include:
- "Operation Late Night Excitement" - on Morty!
- The hijaking of Morty's Air Conditioner
- The final play at the Camp Mohawk Basketball game
- Spaz and Fink eavesdropping under the Female Counselor's Cabin
I do think all of these factors added up to a real enjoyable film. Even 25 years later, I still enjoy this film as much as when it was in the theaters. There were several sequels that were made to this movie. I would call these sequels "loose sequels" at best. None capture any of the charm that made this movie up. One should note is there is some foul language and sexual references. But ultimately this is a very funny movie - highly recommended. |
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