umassjsp Reviews

Get Smart: Viva Smart (1967) Season 3, Episode 2

Classic Get Smart episode

[9/10 · 17 December 2013]

Me TV has been re-airing the Get Smart shows in 2013. This episode was hilarious. But the main reason to watch it is Agent 99 does a dance that should have automatically given her an Emmy. She is wearing a Spanish dancing outfit that had to be the inspiration for yoga pants. Very well done by Barbara Feldon. It is amazing to see the amount of gun play in these episodes that would now be politically incorrect. I read that the Chief was not in this stretch of episodes due to a back problem that kept him out of work. There is a cameo by a guy who I thought was comedian Jack Carter but was actually Joey Bishop. When these episodes originally aired I was about 7 years old. To watch them again about 45 years later brings back great memories. Make sure you DVR them and enjoy all over again.

Mean Dog Blues (1978)

Lets Get This On DVD!!!!

[8/10 · 9 June 2007]

I remember seeing this on a Summer night when we first got HBO circa 1981. The lead actor resembled my basketball idol Larry Bird who had just came to town to save my Boston Celtics. I am a runner and there is a lot of distance running in this movie as the prisoners are hunted by the guard dogs. Kay Lenz was smoking hot in this picture and the scene where a guard tries to force himself on her made me want to kick the guys butt thru the TV. For some reason this film has always been in my memory and I would love to have a DVD. George Kennedy and the other guards were mean SOBs. This is a poor mans Shawshank Redemption but should be viewed by all!

You, Me and Dupree (2006)

Ending Fell Off Faster Than Hans Gruber Plunging off Nokotomi Towers

[6/10 · 29 May 2007]

After Wedding Crashers and Starsky & Hutch I have trouble imagining Owen Wilson coming out with better movies. The bar is set too high for me personally since I love those 2 films. You, Me and Dupree was like a horse running a race and then braking down at the 3/4 pole. After the dinner scene where Dillon attacks Wilson the movie just lost me. The "reality level" completely changed from that point and the ending was weaker than a Kahlua Sombrero. I gave the movie a 6 because half of the film was excellent but the ending just left me scratching my head that they could have screwed it up so bad. I feel bad for anyone who buys the DVD as this is not a movie that is "rewatchable". On the other hand I have watched Owen Wilson in the 2 movies I mentioned previously many times and they keep on delivering the goods.

Beerfest (2006)

Beerfest - A Modern Day Animal House

[7/10 · 1 January 2007]

I don't put Beerfest in the same stratosphere as Animal House but it had the same "take me back to my college days" effect. There was so much in the movie that made me think about my days at the University of Massachusetts. The drinking games and trying to show people how much you could drink are what we did all of the time. The laughs were non stop and make sure you check your "reality meter" at the door for this one. You can tell the BL guys are having a good time making this movie and it comes out in the performance. I know myself and my 40 something year old buddies will be getting a few 6 packs and watching this one many times over. Great work guys!!!!

The Break-Up (2006)

Good movie...will watch mucho times...

[8/10 · 23 November 2006]

I bought Break Up DVD at Best Buy for $19.99. I would probably buy a leaky toilet if Vince Vaughn's name was on it as I have become a fan of this guy and the "Frat Pack" genre. Break Up was thoroughly enjoyable. The music was good, the characters real and the plot easy to follow. A perfect movie to pass the time as my Thanksgiving turkey was cooking in the oven. Jennifer Aniston brings back painful memories of that movie she did when she was pregnant living with a gay guy. That had to be the most tedious film ever created and should be shown non stop to the prisoners in Guantanomo Bay. I guess I would prefer a "Rocky" style ending in this movie where everything is right in the world but kudos to Vince and his team on this piece of work. Budweiser and Pepsi were the two products plugged throughout the movie and as a Coca Cola stockholder I was a little upset. My advice to anyone who has not see Break Up is to get of your ample butt and buy a copy. It is a keeper!!!

School of Rock (2003)

Might put Sominex out of business

[3/10 · 12 November 2004]

I heard good things but was a real letdown. Maybe Jack Black should spend less time trying to get Democrats elected and more time in the gym. His prodigious gut is really distracting to the viewer. Movie was contrived and never got off the ground. I fell asleep twice. If you have Showtime on Demand it is free but I would not invest time or money in this one. The whole plot was so unbelievable and the premise that a school would let a guy that looks like he slept in the gutter teach a class is ridiculous. What does AC/DC think of the blatant rip offs in this movie of their schtick? Jack Black was spectacular in Shallow Hal but he went straight down the porcelain in this effort. Thank you for listening.

Gigli (2003)

GIGLI RHYMES WITH REALLY...REALLY AVERAGE

[5/10 · 7 March 2004]

My wife is a JLo fan (I bought her the JLo perfume last year and scored big points) and she rented this DVD. My genre is more from the Animal House and Old School section of the store but I had to watch this. Movie was not real bad and was strictly average (5 rating) compared to the other drivel coming out of Hollywood, Mexico. If you are into "star gazing" you will like watching JLo and Pacino. Affleck is a native of my home state but in this film he obviously watched every Sopranos DVD and tried without success to be James Gandolfini. Scenes with the mentally challenged kid are tedious and uncomfortable but the reading of the Tabasco sauce bottle was pretty clever. Some of the movies critics love like As Good As It Gets are much worse than this. Again I reiterate a solid 5.

Old School (2003)

GREAT GUY MOVIE....AWESOME!!

[9/10 · 14 February 2004]

I have been watching this over and over again on HBO. One of the great guy movies of all time. Characters are great and story is well done. Good guy gets the girl is always what us men want to see (especially a hottie like Ms Pompeo YES!!!). Basically it relates to men because we all want to be part of something like an Army platoon, sports team, Elks Club or other male bonding fraternity. Like most guys over 30 we don't have that anymore as we are wrapped up in jobs and family but these guys were able to create a place where men could be men. It appeals to that place that exists in all guys who want to forget all the trappings of suburbia and go back to college and drink beer and chase skirt. I gave this a SOLID 9!!!!!

The Transporter (2002)

Good Guy Movie...

[7/10 · 14 February 2004]

I saw this on HBO and went in with no expectations. I thought it was a great film to watch. Scenery in France was spectacular and the lead man was a likeable, strong, loner which is what we want in our heros on film. Only thing I wished to see was some more shots of the female lead. Preferably she should have worn a T shirt in the swimming scene a la that movie Nick Nolte was in with Jackie Bisset. I gave this movie a straight 7. good.

National Security (2003)

Bombs Away !!!!

[4/10 · 14 February 2004]

Caught this on HBO last night. Martin Lawrence made me a fan when I saw Blue Streak. That was great. Since then I have only seen him in Black Night (turned off) and this National Security (gave this one a 4). Great California scenery but it doesn't work. The white guy co-star looks like a guy from a local bowling alley not a guy that is going to take down an international ring of thieves. Unless you are a die hard Lawrence fan I would wait to see this one on TBS or Comedy Channel and not lay out a rental fee. Like Martin says "Believe That!"

The Verdict (1982)

Boston's Greatest Movie

[8/10 · 14 February 2004]

I caught this on one of the HBO type channels the other night but had seen it before. Has lots of good views of Boston but why it was filmed in the dead of winter I do not know. Makes Boston look like Siberia. Everything is covered with road salt and the sky is gray. Great story, great characters and great view of what people looked like back in the late 70's. I gave it a STRONG 8!!!

Collateral Damage (2002)

Try it...you'll like it

[7/10 · 27 December 2003]

Good story and anyone who is a parent can relate to what Arnold goes through in the plot. I enjoyed this movie from pillar to post. While America is at war against terrorism this makes you feel good in that America (the good) wins out over foreign terrorists (the evil). Unusual that I don not think Arnold picks up a gun throughout movie but uses a variety of "McGyver" type weapons. Enjoy it...Solid 7!

Black Cat Run (1998 TV Movie)

Goal of Entertainment Acheived

[6/10 · 24 December 2003]

Caught this on HBO. Thoroughly enjoyed it but not one for the kiddies to watch. Gratuitous violence wasn't necessary but more shots of female lead would have been appreciated. For someone living up here in the Northeast it was very interesting seeing the landscape down in the Southwest. Bottom line was that I was entertained and this could be a cult film staple. Catch this one if you can.

Screen Two: Deadly Voyage (1996) Season 14, Episode 2

Awesome Movie

[8/10 · 21 December 2003]

I was watching an NFL game and started surfing during a break and found this on one of the HBO type channels. I missed the beginning but when I started watching Deadly Voyage the clicker was put down and not even thought of until the credits rolled. You will find yourself rooting against the villans and on the edge of your La-Z-Boy throughout this one. If you get the chance take the time to watch it. Every once in a while I think about having the cable company take off my Movie channels but when you stumble across great ones like this you know why it is worth paying extra for them. Happy Holidays to all from Cape Cod !!!

Summer Catch (2001)

Biel and Summer Catch are Hot....

[7/10 · 11 May 2003]

I grew up on Cape Cod. First of all Summer Catch was filmed in North Carolina not the Cape. One Crazy Summer (John Cusack/Demi Moore) was filmed in my hometown on the Cape but I hear the unions make it near impossible to film in Massachusetts now. Some of the pictures of fields and buildings were really from Chatham however. Much of Summer Catch rings true. Very few Cape kids actually have ever played in the Cape League. It is elite baseball. The summer on the Cape is full of babes and booze just like the film shows. The rich of the rich have summer homes on Cape Cod (like Rand in the film)and I was a "lawn boy" just like Freddie Prinz back in the 80s but not good enough to make the Cape League baseball. I could relate to this film and enjoyed it thoroughly. It brought me back to the parties and warm summer nights on the Cape that have a feeling like no where else on Earth. Rent it or catch it on HBO like I did. As for Ms Biel I am a fan for life and I hope she has a great career and maybe comes down to the Cape and parties with us sometime. She burns up the screen. I saw Scooby Doo before this film so seeing Shaggy catching and Fred pitch it made movie a little funny and I ws waiting for Scooby to run on field. Final Analysis...Summer Catch is a Grand Slam!!!

Forbidden (2001)

Good skin flick

[5/10 · 26 April 2003]

The leading man was a splitting image of Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciapara. Gals were hot and did not appear to have much plastic surgery. Had a plot that was interesting and setting/scenery made it very watchable. If the guys in this film got paid for wrestling with the 2 hot blonds they should be thanking God every minute. Well done and worth a late nite viewing on Cable.