Welcome back to my blog. Here’s my recommendation of a movie to check out today and hope you punch your “Ticket to the Movies!” OK, let’s go with a “real” summer flick today by watching “Meatballs,” which is a Bill Murray-led comedy from 1979 that was directed by Ivan Reitman, who also directed the wonderful films “Dave,” “Stripes” with Murray, “Ghostbusters” and “Twins” with Arnold Schwarznegger and Danny DeVito.
Further, you get Harold Ramis, who was a co-writer on “National Lampoon’s Animal House,” with his next writing credit for being a co-writer of “Meatballs.” From my full review: “In the wake of the comedy nuclear blast from 1978 called ‘National Lampoon’s Animal House’ and the ongoing cool of TV’s ‘Saturday Night Live,’ Hollywood was experiencing an ongoing conniption fit in a rush to cash in on the youth market.”
“Meatballs” has a mostly youthful supporting cast and that makes sense because it is a film about a kids’ summer camp. “Heading” the supporting cast of “Meatballs” is Kate Lynch and former adult-film-star-turned-mainstream actor Kristine DeBell, who I’ve also mentioned from “TAG: The Assassination Game.”
Still, fans wanted to see Murray in 1979 and “Meatballs” is his vehicle from beginning to end. He plays “Tripper Harrison” and he’s the cool, funny and oft-sarcastic lead counselor at “Camp North Star.” While the female counselors have conventional names, among the guys you’ll find “Hardware,” “Crockett,” “Spaz,” “Fink” and “Wheels.” As for campers, you get Chris Makepeace as the moody, loner camper who becomes Murray’s protégé.
Basically, all you need to know about “Meatballs” is that it culminates in the “big” competition with a nearby camp for rich kids (the hoity-toity versus the hoi polloi). Everything else is just “antics” by Murray and the counselors. The event is punctuated by Murray’s chant of “It just doesn’t matter!”
So, I say punch your “Ticket to the Movies!” and watch “Meatballs.” It is via a variety of streaming services. Without any doubt, you will thank me later when you watch “Meatballs” today for the umpteenth time!
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