Norman Short Reviews

Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969)

Absolutely first rate family fun

[10/10 · 28 March 2001]

One of my favorite western comedies; there isn't a false note in the whole film. No matter how many times I've seen it, I always laugh out loud throughout the film. The cast is simply wonderful: James Garner is playing tongue in cheek as the naive yet witty Sheriff, and Walter Brennan, Bruce Dern and Jack Elam are simply marvelous. Add in the physical comedy of Joan Hackett and it's just a wonderful film. My highest recommendation.

Times Square (1980)

Robin Johnson was incredible

[8/10 · 22 December 2000]

I received a DVD copy of Times Square for review and didn't expect much since I was not much of a fan of the whole punk rock scene when it came about. But I have to say that I really liked this film and Robin Johnson's manic, gutsy, authentic portrayal of Nicky to be best of it. Apparently there was a director's cut that was chopped up for release. Unfortunately the editing is one of the worst aspects of an otherwise good film. Continuity and exposition problems occur in the version I saw and I found from the commentary about the missing scenes that would have filled in the gaps. Despite some poor editing I still have to recommend the film, because of the performances and the gritty feel. Director Allen Moyle would go on to make Pump Up the Volume and I see the roots of that film in this one. I gave it an 8.

Ranma ½: The Movie 2, Nihao My Concubine (1992)

I liked it

[10/10 · 26 April 2000]

I'm not an otaku, so take that as a preface. I'm more a casual fan who got exposed to Ranma years ago and I enjoy it. The romantic dodecohedrans (rather than triangles) and the slapstick humor is always good fun. And call me shallow but for an adult male skimpy bathing suits on the girls is no minus. I write for those who don't follow anime so closely and say this is a fun movie and worth a rental if not a purchase.

Saturday Night Live: The Best of Chris Farley (2000 TV Special)

A nice tribute

[9/10 · 13 April 2000]

Chris Farley (Tommy Boy, Beverly Hills Ninja, Almost Heroes) was a great comic. He had a grasp of physical comedy that he didn't get full credit for. He came to Saturday Night Live during the same time as Adam Sandler, Phil Hartman, and David Spade, and left about the same time to pursue a film career. Adam Sandler is now a guaranteed money maker for studios, and David Spade has made good on television, as did Phil Hartman before his tragic death. So many great comedic actors have died before their time, and Saturday Night Live has had more than their fair share of them, that it's tempting to put Chris Farley as another person on the list and leave it at that. But I think he deserves some special mention. In the skits on this disc, The Best of Chris Farley he often worked alongside these other actors and stole the scenes; and many times you could tell the others couldn't help but laugh at his antics even when they were supposed to be serious.

Chris Farley was not only a big man, who thought that much of his comic appeal came from his size, but he was incredibly athletic and showed the grace and agility of a much thinner dancer. Besides being one of the best at pratfalls and other slapstick humor he often showed that agility in sketches where he would dance, figure skate, or do martial arts. That he had so many gifts makes it all the more sad that he died so young. We can only wonder what might have been.

Saturday Night Live: The Best of Chris Farley is another in the "Best of" line but in this case is also a tribute to one of my favorites from the cast who is no longer with us. In that respect alone I would recommend this disc, but it has its own merits as well.