Film Vault Tuesday (Week 7)

Well after my Thankless Saturday, I had a depressing Sunday... I ended up being the only one home, which was the first time I'd had the house all to myslef in a long time. I was very excited.

I planned on taking a long bath, finishing a book I had been reading, and eating all the left over Ham and Macaroni and Cheese. This isn't just any Mac and Cheese though, it's my mom's famous Mac and Cheese casserole which I'll put up against any Mac and Cheese dish out there.

Since I was going to be home alone, with no women to keep me from acting like the pig I am, I decided to eat the leftover while taking my bath.

I heated up the food, tossed on some salt and pepper, poured a large glass of lemonade and headed to the bathroom.

I was talking on the phone to Moe Green during this whole process, so that made the situation a little complicated... I was carrying 2 books, the plate of food, a glass of lemonade, and talking on the phone.

Everything was fine until I got the bathroom and went to set the books down. Somehow I ended up dropping everything but the phone.

The plate crashed down onto the corner of the bathtub and Macaroni and Chesse went everywhere.

The ham ended up covered in lemonade, and sharp little pieces of plate were all over the floor.

It was an ugly site.

For a fat guy like me, seeing a great meal ruined like that was the equivalant of discovering a gruesome murder scene. I may never get over it.

I would have cried had I not been on the phone with Moe Green.

It took me over a half hour to clean it all up. My day was never the same after that.

But enough about my pathetic weekend, it's time for FILM VAULT TUESDAY (insert fake applause)

Title: Doc Hollywood (1991)

Credits: Michael J. Fox, Julie Warner, Woody Harrelson

Why: My High School dating life was pretty awful... I mean, I had girlfriends and did okay I guess, but there was a lot of rejection as well. I would have done much better had I just lowered my standards a bit.

But the problem I had is, every now and then I would land a girl who was way out of my league, and that would skew my self image and make me think I could get hot girls on a regular basis... which it turned out I couldn't do.

But I didn't figure that out until like 2 years after High School.

As a result I was always depressed over some girl or another, and I watched a lot of sappy Romantic Comedies... which probably didn't help the situation either because I was always waiting for/expecting some fantasy land happy ending... So now I'm kind of an expert on Romantic Comedies and what make them good, or bad, or whatever...

So it is with that expert opinion that I submit Doc Hollywood as one of the most underrated RC's of the 90's...

One of the main ingridiants to making a really good RC is with the leading man... You're probably thinking, "well no shit..." But what I'm getting at is, the guy should actually be a talented actor. Not just a so-so actor with a pretty face, or a guy who's popular at the moment...

If you look back on it, that's what makes Sleepless in Seattle, or Jerry Maguire, or Groundhog Day great... get someone who can actually act... I loved Fools Rush In, but Matthew Perry can't act!? Chris Farley was funny, but he couldn't act... and there is a reason why Hugh Grant movies suck.

My point is, Michael J. Fox was a really good actor at the time Doc Hollywood was made, and this movie should have been bigger than it was.

In addition to Fox, Julie Warner does a great job playing the romantic interest. She takes the stereotype "cute girl with spunk" RC role and makes it her own.

And the supporting cast is remarkable... Woody Harrelson and Bridget Fonda?! Can't beat that.

Plus the guy who plays the Angry Old Doctor, and the guy who plays the Town Mayor are great as well.

Remote Stopper Scene: Any of the Woody Harrelson scenes are great... Put him in a movie as a supporting role and he's amazing... Ask him to be the lead and it's a train wreck (with the notable exception of White Men Can't Jump).

Also I love the scene towards the end when Michael J. is in his LA penthouse apartment and he misses the small town so he calls their county weather hotline and he's using a portable phone the size of a cynderblock... that always gets me.

Goosebump/Tear Factor: I don't know that I get Goosebumps at any point in the movie, but I love the Dance scene at the Squash Festival when they play that "Crazy" song... I hate country music, but I love that song.

Overall Rating: I'm giving it a 7.5 out of 10, but you could make the arguement for an 8... It's got everything you ask for in a Romantic Comedy and then some. The humor is quick, sarcastic and witty which is maybe why it wasn't a bigger hit.

Actually, I don't know why it wasn't a bigger hit. If you haven't seen it, give it a try, and if you have- watch it again... It's a good date movie by the way... Cook a halfway decent meal, put this movie on, add a little alcohol- and let nature take it's course.