89 replies to this topic

[The Triple Lindy]

BeezulVonDude, on 05 January 2018 - 10:10 AM, said:

The exposition in this movie drove me nuts. Every character conveniently forgets things they should know for purposes of informing the audience or for a lame joke. Wills, despite having been with Bobby and Preston for some time, still needs to be told what's happening most of the time Bobby starts acting weird. Likewise, when Wills gets back from hitting on the redhead at the diner, Bobby asks him if he was successful and then IMMEDIATELY starts talking for Wills afterward since he can read his mind. Why'd he have to ask the first question. This goes on and on throughout the film and it doesn't help that the characters' histories and relationships are sloppily defined.

I'll take this a step further and say that Preston doesn't need to exist in this movie, at all. His part is 100% expository. Just about every line he has is explaining why Bobby is acting nuts and twitching around -- all other lines were "Hey this is amazing" and he takes a picture.

When they said that the problem with the film was that they couldn't rewrite it because of the writer's strike, that made total sense -- this movie's script was clearly a rough draft, and Preston was probably just a character that existed on the page so that the writer could keep himself straight. I doubt his character would have made it through in a re-write.

[grudlian.]

BeezulVonDude, on 05 January 2018 - 10:12 AM, said:

Also, when I looked at the cover/poster for this, I thought Bronson Pinchot was Richard Lewis, so imagine my disappointment at seeing Balki in that cold open. I would 1000% be on board for a movie with Richard Lewis as a neurotic psychic. Someone get on that.

On the poster, that's a flying saucer right? Could there possibly have been an alien subplot that was cut? It seems unlikely given the writer strike but its such a dumb thing to put in the promotions for a movie with nothing about aliens in it.

[The Triple Lindy]

A couple of notes about what is, in my opinion, almost a flawless film:

1. In the first scene after the credits, when Bobby is trying to identify the thief in the room full of busts, he goes up to Manoogian and says "she's not pregnant" and Manoogian grins ...



... the implication being, I guess, that he's having an affair and had a pregnancy scare?

2. At the end, "Murray" comes around and says that he's going "back behind the bright light" and that he won't be around that much anymore. But what does this mean about Bobby's powers? Does Bobby have powers other than those based upon his association with Murray? How long from the moment he was struck by lightning did Bobby become attached to Murray? Because they call Murray his "spirit guide" but that makes it seem that some of his powers are just Murray acting in the spirit world ... what powers would remain with Bobby after Murray leaves?

3. "NIT: Nun in Training" seems like the perfect title for a Nundercover sequel.

[BeezulVonDude]

The_Triple_Lindy, on 05 January 2018 - 10:36 AM, said:

I'll take this a step further and say that Preston doesn't need to exist in this movie, at all. His part is 100% expository. Just about every line he has is explaining why Bobby is acting nuts and twitching around -- all other lines were "Hey this is amazing" and he takes a picture.

When they said that the problem with the film was that they couldn't rewrite it because of the writer's strike, that made total sense -- this movie's script was clearly a rough draft, and Preston was probably just a character that existed on the page so that the writer could keep himself straight. I doubt his character would have made it through in a re-write.

I had this thought too. In addition to his character being dull, his only purpose is to explain or handle Bobby, but, really it's a much funnier concept to have someone like Wills try to deal with the lunacy without any context. Story is defined by conflict and Preston does nothing but lessen the opportunity for conflict, other than when he's annoyed with ol' Highpants Larroquet trolling for booty.

[BeezulVonDude]

grudlian., on 05 January 2018 - 10:48 AM, said:

On the poster, that's a flying saucer right? Could there possibly have been an alien subplot that was cut? It seems unlikely given the writer strike but its such a dumb thing to put in the promotions for a movie with nothing about aliens in it.

I like to think there was an alternate ending where Balki gets taken onto the ship with Jon Lovitz from "My Stepmother is an Alien"

[The Triple Lindy]

Just a quick open question to the board, because I wondered about this while I watched:

So, this guy ...


... sex symbol, yes or no?

The movie exists in a world where nuns will leave The Calling for him, and single, alone women are not completely freaked out when he approaches them in a diner declaring intimate details about their identities and lives. Not to mention, Dan Fielding on Night Court is a total womanizer who meets and sleeps with a different woman every episode.

I feel unqualified to opine on this because 1) I find nearly everything about fashion and sexuality in the 80s totally repugnant and 2) I know we're dealing with pre-Bechdel movie-making sensibilities here, and so EVERY man in EVERY movie is attractive to ALL women.

How 'bout it? Who out there longs for Larroquette's long-waisted love?

[The Triple Lindy]

grudlian., on 05 January 2018 - 10:48 AM, said:

On the poster, that's a flying saucer right? Could there possibly have been an alien subplot that was cut? It seems unlikely given the writer strike but its such a dumb thing to put in the promotions for a movie with nothing about aliens in it.

WOW, you're right!

Plus, there's a dog on the poster ... was there ever a dog in the film?

[tomspanks]

grudlian., on 05 January 2018 - 10:48 AM, said:

On the poster, that's a flying saucer right? Could there possibly have been an alien subplot that was cut? It seems unlikely given the writer strike but its such a dumb thing to put in the promotions for a movie with nothing about aliens in it.

I seriously thought it was a lampshade at first. But it looks more like a floating black hole?

The_Triple_Lindy, on 05 January 2018 - 11:04 AM, said:

Just a quick open question to the board, because I wondered about this while I watched: So, this guy ...
... sex symbol, yes or no?
The movie exists in a world where nuns will leave The Calling for him, and single, alone women are not completely freaked out when he approaches them in a diner declaring intimate details about their identities and lives. Not to mention, Dan Fielding on Night Court is a total womanizer who meets and sleeps with a different woman every episode. I feel unqualified to opine on this because 1) I find nearly everything about fashion and sexuality in the 80s totally repugnant and 2) I know we're dealing with pre-Bechdel movie-making sensibilities here, and so EVERY man in EVERY movie is attractive to ALL women. How 'bout it? Who out there longs for Larroquette's long-waisted love?

Sorry, no.

[grudlian.]

The_Triple_Lindy, on 05 January 2018 - 11:04 AM, said:

Just a quick open question to the board, because I wondered about this while I watched:

So, this guy ...


... sex symbol, yes or no?

The movie exists in a world where nuns will leave The Calling for him, and single, alone women are not completely freaked out when he approaches them in a diner declaring intimate details about their identities and lives. Not to mention, Dan Fielding on Night Court is a total womanizer who meets and sleeps with a different woman every episode.

I feel unqualified to opine on this because 1) I find nearly everything about fashion and sexuality in the 80s totally repugnant and 2) I know we're dealing with pre-Bechdel movie-making sensibilities here, and so EVERY man in EVERY movie is attractive to ALL women.

How 'bout it? Who out there longs for Larroquette's long-waisted love?

I've sen a friend of a friend say they thought John Larroquette was really hot. She is the only person I've ever actually heard say that.

Im curious about that because the lecherous scumbag want Dan's original personality. He was originally just conservative and mildly horny. It wasn't untilI season 2 or 3 that he really took off as as sleaze bag.

[taylor anne photo]

The_Triple_Lindy, on 05 January 2018 - 11:04 AM, said:

Just a quick open question to the board, because I wondered about this while I watched:

So, this guy ...

... sex symbol, yes or no?

The movie exists in a world where nuns will leave The Calling for him, and single, alone women are not completely freaked out when he approaches them in a diner declaring intimate details about their identities and lives. Not to mention, Dan Fielding on Night Court is a total womanizer who meets and sleeps with a different woman every episode.

I feel unqualified to opine on this because 1) I find nearly everything about fashion and sexuality in the 80s totally repugnant and 2) I know we're dealing with pre-Bechdel movie-making sensibilities here, and so EVERY man in EVERY movie is attractive to ALL women.

How 'bout it? Who out there longs for Larroquette's long-waisted love?

According to Janet Varney, yes

I was just thinking about how she would've been a fantastic guest just cause of her love for John Larroquette lmao

[Cameron H.]

(FORUM FAUX PAS: I haven't had a chance to listen to the episode yet, but since y’all are talking about the poster already...Anyway, I apologize if anything I'm about to say was covered in the episode.)

Something I found bizarre about the movie poster is the need for Wills to be carrying TWO guns! He's got one in his hand and one holstered at his belt.



I suspect the original image the gun was in his belt and the artist was told to make the gun more "obvious," and then forgot to fix the original image. As it stands - I don't know - it just seems sort of...excessive. Yes, he carries a gun in the movie, but it's not like he's "the gun guy" or anything.

Also, was anyone else as dumbfounded as me that when they were in the strip club and the kidnappers told WIlls to "drop his weapon," instead of actually dropping it on the ground they allow him to just re-holster it? What the fuck? When you have your opponent dead to rights, maybe you don't let them remain armed... Was anyone in this movie not a Grade-A fuck-up?

[JonathanVik]

Anyone else thought that Bobby was a girl at first? That long hair really threw me off.

[Cameron H.]

JonathanVik, on 05 January 2018 - 01:36 PM, said:

Anyone else thought that Bobby was a girl at first?

[PollyDarton]

grudlian., on 05 January 2018 - 10:48 AM, said:

On the poster, that's a flying saucer right? Could there possibly have been an alien subplot that was cut? It seems unlikely given the writer strike but its such a dumb thing to put in the promotions for a movie with nothing about aliens in it.

I would be totes into an alien side story... but I think that's the giant manhole from the cold open.

The_Triple_Lindy, on 05 January 2018 - 11:04 AM, said:

So, this guy ...


... sex symbol, yes or no?

I could get there.

[Elektra Boogaloo]

What's Its Mission?, on 05 January 2018 - 04:51 AM, said:

What really confused me, is how the film portrays the Catholic Church (in a very religious town) as totally being cool with hiring psychics. I'm not at all religious, but even I knew that believing in anything other than God, is a big No No.

A quick google search lead me to this POV:
"To try to discover the future through palm reading, tarot cards, or some other form of fortunetelling, or to try to control the future through black magic, witchcraft, or sorcery violates the first commandment."

I don't care what you believe in, but anything that violates the 1st thing you are expected to follow or preach... is some shit you shouldn't be messing with. Ha!



source: http://catholicstrai...rs-and-witches/

Yeah that is all devil stuff so it is weird that the Church is involved with this detective agency.

The other Catholic correction I have is they kept calling her a "nun in training" and I believe the word for that is novice.

Oh and here's another nun related c&o that I worry will blow a hole in "Nundercover." When I was at Catholic school they told us to call habited individuals we saw outside "sisters" (such as the teachers). I was told that only the cloistered women were to be called "nuns." So I am not sure you could go undercover if you were a nun, unless you never left the convent.

I looked it up on Wikipedia and it says, "The 1917 Code of Canon Law reserved the term "nun" for religious women who took solemn vows or who, while being allowed in some places to take simple vows, belonged to institutes whose vows were normally solemn." And those words are English but they make no sense to me. Even after I looked up a "Solemn Vow" (a religious vow concerned with an action or abstaining from an action???).


ETA: I am from NY so I don't want to be stereotypical and start a beef with Boston, but only one second opinion song? When I was at the Jazz Singer ep we had like six and all but the guy with the guitar was cut out. Get it together, Boston.

[tomspanks]

PollyDarton, on 05 January 2018 - 02:52 PM, said:

I could get there.

You'll have to take me along, bc I seem to have lost the map.

[PollyDarton]

Wow you guys... I mean... Please just watch the the first minute of this if you can. It's when Pinchot hosted fucking Saturday Night Live. The whole thing has to be the worst monologue I have ever seen on this show and that's saying something.
https://www.nbc.com/...monologue/n9536

[ChunkStyle]

In a battle between the last two HDTGM heroes, Superman and Bobby McGee, who wins the contest of on the spot made up powers to serve the plot? It is close but I think Bobby McGee takes it. Having a boring character next to him to name and narrate his actions puts Bobby over the top I think.

[The Triple Lindy]

PollyDarton, on 05 January 2018 - 02:52 PM, said:

I could get there.

Genuine curiosity ... what would it take?

Elektra Boogaloo, on 05 January 2018 - 03:39 PM, said:

Oh and here's another nun related c&o that I worry will blow a hole in "Nundercover." When I was at Catholic school they told us to call habited individuals we saw outside "sisters" (such as the teachers). I was told that only the cloistered women were to be called "nuns." So I am not sure you could go undercover if you were a nun, unless you never left the convent.

I can't decide whether it would be easy or difficult to go incognito as a nun in your own convent. Maybe she went "nundercover" in a different convent?

ChunkStyle, on 05 January 2018 - 05:14 PM, said:

In a battle between the last two HDTGM heroes, Superman and Bobby McGee, who wins the contest of on the spot made up powers to serve the plot? It is close but I think Bobby McGee takes it. Having a boring character next to him to name and narrate his actions puts Bobby over the top I think.

Isn't Bobby basically a god? He is telekinetic, telepathic, empathic, omniscient, and a spiritual medium, plus has the ability to heal. The only biblical powers he seems to lack are the power to create and to transubstantiate. His powers may seem convenient but they don't have any evident limits so I'd say it could be more than just plot needs. Meanwhile, Superman's "masonry breath" power is straight out of the screenwriter's ass.

If Bobby is a god, that means he could be Superman's creator ... can a god create a hero so powerful that he, himself, cannot defeat them?

[The Triple Lindy]

PollyDarton, on 05 January 2018 - 04:37 PM, said:

Wow you guys... I mean... Please just watch the the first minute of this if you can. It's when Pinchot hosted fucking Saturday Night Live. The whole thing has to be the worst monologue I have ever seen on this show and that's saying something.
https://www.nbc.com/...monologue/n9536

Is he trying to do some kind of Kaufman-esque "the joke is on the audience" monologue, where he just gets off on how uncomfortable he makes the audience through how unfunny he's being?

That was ... weird, for sure.