Turk 182!
I remember this movie vividly from my childhood. It was one of those movies where as a kid, I didn't know what the hell was going on but I liked it. It is the story of a two bit criminal named Jimmy and his plan to take down the Mayor of New York City. The story really isn't that simple. Timothy Hutton plays Jimmy and loves his brother Terry "Turk" Lynch. One night when Terry is off duty, the apartment building across from the bar Terry is drinking in catches fire. As a fireman, Terry rushes headlong into the fire and saves a little girl. Unfortunately he is blasted by a fire hose out a second story window and injures himself. The insurance company refuses to pay out because Terry was drunk at the time. It is one of those ridiculous moments when common sense should override the "rules" but Terry is denied and unable to work, he loses most everything. Jimmy is incensed and takes it downtown to plead with the Mayor for assistance in his brother's case. When he is turned down and the mayor calls Terry a "drunk", Jimmy vandalizes the mayor's office with all the rejection letters. Mayor Tyler believes that Terry did it so he sends over a his heavy handed police thug (Peter Doyle or Raymond's Dad) to get him to confess. Soon Terry is in the hospital after a suicide attempt fails.
So Jimmy goes on a campaign of vandalism against the "anti-vandalism" Mayor through major public displays. At a new subway that claims to be Anti-graffitti and then the scoreboard of a New York Giants Football game. All bearing the message Turk - 182 which is a combination of his brother's nickname and the number on his fire helmet. Timothy Dutton, who has gone on to be in some great movies and TV (like the criminally underrated Leverage) is still relatively young here and the performance is not his best. Robert Urich, Peter Doyle and Kim Cattrall (as a social worker looking into Terry's case who takes a shine to Jimmy) all perform admirably but the story and acting is not why you go to this movie. It is the high shenanigans that Jimmy gets into. The last scene on the Brooklyn Bridge is perhaps one of the most ridiculous and fun scenes I've seen. They play for drama but it hits as a comedy. There is not a great reason to love this movie but do you need one? I love Star Wars but it isn't just for one reason. The same here. It is just a fun movie that you would like to watch. Don't think too deeply on it. It just is.
Mr. Unhappy Sez: Turk 182! is not great and not a story that leaves you with profound theories on life and why we live it. It is a movie and an entertaining one. Just for the nostalgia.
The Monster Squad
Kids...we have no sense. I remember this movie as being one of my favorites. Watching it now I am reminded of the nostalgia and my impassioned love of it but for the life of me, I can't see why. The Monster Squad is one of those what if movies. What if the movie monsters from our parents youth (Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Wolfman and The creature from the Black Lagoon) are all real and working together to take over the world and plunge it into darkness. The only hope for humanity (because no parents believe in this garbage anymore) are a ragtag Goonies -lite group of kids calling themselves The Monster Squad. The movie spends most of it's time setting up the Squad and Frankenstein as a soft headed cuddly nice guy who likes to drink tea with little girls. This is not a great movie but it is fun and enjoyable and "Goonies"ish in it's storytelling. These kids are on an adventure and they end up saving the world. Sorry...spoilers. And it has perhaps the best exchange in movie history.
"Kick him in the nards!"
"Wolfman don't have nards!"
Boy kicks Wolfman in nards...wolfman falls.
In pure childlike amazement... "Wolfmans gots nards!"
OK maybe not in movie history but it's close.
Mr. Unhappy sez: It's a joy to watch and something to enjoy with your children... or by yourself...no judgement...
Some Unhappy Fun Facts about The Monster Squad:
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