Tag: Gerrit Graham

C.H.U.D. II: BUD THE CHUD (1989)

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Directed By: David Irving 

Written By: Ed Naha 

Cinematography: Arnie Sirlin

Editor: Barbara Pokras 

Cast: Gerrit Graham, Brian Robbins, Tricia Leigh Fisher, Robert Vaughn, Norman Fell, Jack Riley, Bill Calvert, Larry Linville, Sandra Kerns, June Lockhart, Rich Hall, Bianca Jagger, Larry Cedar 

A couple of teenagers break into a secret government science lab and steal a frozen corpse for a high school prank and accidentally awaken the corpse which turns out to be a CHUD named Bud, who goes on a killing spree and making his victims also cannibalistic CHUD’s and its up to the teens to stop him.

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The film as strange as it’s rated R, but there is nothing that bad, except for the implied violence in a little blood, but really as it’s so comedic and camp he could easily be more for kids as a starter, horror, film, or at least young teens, as there is nothing really that objectionable in the film

This song is one of those hidden in plain sight as this hits the right spot and happy to discover it late to truly appreciate it rather than just dismiss it as a product of the time which I’m sure many did. Now can watch it as a time capsule as they don’t make them even close to like this anymore.

The film is not scaring the least, as it goes more for comedy, which might have upset many fans of the original Chud film as this is nothing like the original, The film doesn’t even follow in the creature designs of the first  CHUD film instead this is a straight-up undead or zombie film. Should know that it’s an in name sequel. Which should have known by its subtitle of blood the Chad

The only way it’s Really connected to the original Is serving as a monster movie of sorts when an actuality, this was originally written to be a sequel to RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD, and stay in that realm of comedy-Horror.

The film has a cast recognizable character actors in various roles. That feels like they are more guest starring. As The film feels like one of those TV movies from the 1980s at usually start actors on the network shows of the past and of the current shows that they had on and just like them. This is more of a teen film.

actor Garrett Graham is kind of the star of the film here as he plays Bud, the Chad, and truly steals the show and saves the phone. He showcases his talents that people slept on in various other roles in different movies. Here he does it all, though it’s more a physical comedic performance, especially his facial expressions. As the character doesn’t really talk.

Actress, Tricia Leigh Fisher Costars in this film and she’s an actress that one is always a fan of, but seems to have done so few films and television that when you do see her on screen, you can’t help but put a smile on your face as she has the talent and looks to do so much more in the film industry. And she comes across as a bombshell with a middle town, America appeal, and who can actually act

This isn’t a good film, but it’s a fun film of chess for Gerritt Graham’sphysical performance above all else. Especially, How he goes from awkward zombie to a more suave Casanova look.  not to mention seeing the cast of recognizable actors, feels a bit heartwarming. No, it stays comedic throughout.

It ends up feeling So bad it’s good but seems to be designed that way so it’s not bad Chessmore silly plus the film has the creepiest cameo by Robert England.

The humor of the film make it makes it feel like it’s a film full of dad jokes. Which one can appreciate this film for because it seems more and more these days like all her films even if they’re comedic, they’re more focused on exploitation of nudity and violence and can’t just be in the genre of horror and be fun and kind of clean.

Even if not scary, the film does offer good practical effects and make up FX, which seems to be a kind of a lost cause or getting diminishing returns these days

The film was filmed in 1987, but wasn’t released until 1989 the Director even made three cuts one emphasizing her, the other more emphasizing comedy in the third Edited to play on television one wonders if the cut we see now

Is the purely comedic one and the television one has one can only imagine what the scary version looks like. Even though this film seems . more made for television, and the humor seems more for a juvenile crowd.

Grade: C+

LAST RESORT (1986)

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Directed By: Zane Buzby
Written By: Steve Zacharias and Jeff Buhai
Cinematography: Steven Katz and Alex Nepomniaschy
Editor: Gregory Scherick 

Cast: Charles Grodin, Robin Pearson Rose, John Ashton, Megan Mullally, Jon Lovitz, Phil Hartman, Mario Van Peebles, Gerrit Graham, Brenda Bakke, David Mirkin, Scott Nemes, Jacob Vargas

George Lollar takes his family on vacation with “Club Sand”, a shoddy and untrustworthy company. On their tropical island, they find soldiers everywhere, an unhelpful staff, inhospitable accommodation, and undesirable holidaymakers, but everyone except George manages to have fun in the sun.

This is a Film that I have always seen the poster in box art for. I might have even remembered a commercial, or at least a preview of it.

So, after all these years, I finally decided to sit down and watch it, and I can see I was wise to avoid it for all those previous years. the only noteworthy thing about this movie is its casting.

He calls itself a comedy, but while he tries to be funny, they are seldom laughs to be had. It is basically a visual guide of what can go wrong and will go wrong, especially when you are a nuclear family.

And there are a lot of comedic recognizable actors in this film either before or while they were on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, as well as less recognizable actors. It’s a rare early role for Megan Mullally of will and grace for instance 

Though the film seems to beat a dead horse as it just shows a Family on a nightmare vacation in a Third World country in the 1980s where the staff is more interested in partying rather than helping

While Charles Grodin’s character, the father of the family stays unhappy and complains and has to deal with all the shenanigans around him, his family slowly one by one is charmed by the resort and it’s residence so that soon he is the only stick in the mud 

So if you are a fan of watching Charles Grodin, be the street man and get exasperated as the conditions get more and more ridiculous. This is a Film for you. If you thought he yelled a lot in his other films, you ain’t seen anything yet.

They must’ve paid Charles Grodin very well and allowed him to pretty much be his screen. Self knows that seems to be what he does throughout the film and is probably the rare occurrence of him having a lead role. Though supposedly he believed this to be his funniest film. As he also helped rewrite it.

For a film that seems to hint at being a sex comedy and offers plenty of T&A. The film shows a little but prefers to suggest rather than show. If it did show this might have made it into National Lampoon territory. As it seems a bit inspired by the Chevy Chase Starring. National Lampoon’s Vacation movies 

if you want to watch some comedic actors before they were stars, embarrass themselves by doing bad accents this is the film for you 

It’s just shocking how few laughs there are in a film stacked with a great cast. This is truly an example of looks being deceiving.

Grade: F

MY GIRL 2 (1994)

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Directed By: Howard Zieff 
Written By: Janet Kovalcik 
Based On Characters created by: Laurice Ehlewany 
Cinematography By: Paul Elliott 
Editor: Wendy Greene Bricmont 

Cast: Anna Chlumsky, Austin O’Brein, Richard Mausr, Christine Ebsrsole, Dan Ayckroyd, Jamie Lee Curtis, Gerrit Graham, Ben Stein, Keone Young, Devon Gummersall


Vada Sultenfuss has a holiday coming up, and an assignment: to do an essay on someone she admires and has never met. She decides she wants to do an assignment on her mother, but quickly realizes she knows very little about her. She manages to get her father to agree to let her go to LA to stay with her Uncle Phil and do some research on her mother. Once in LA, she finds herself under the protection of Nick, the son of Phil’s girlfriend, who at first is very annoyed at losing his holidays to escort a hick *girl* around town. However, he soon becomes more involved in the difficult search.

This film is just as warm and charming as the first film. Though weaker overall in feel and subject matter

This is the last film that Howard Zieff directed, because he became increasingly debilitated by Parkinson’s disease. Carrie Fisher was also an uncredited script doctor on this film

It’s character from the first film we feel a connection with and want to see what is happening in their lives, but the movie offers less of a reason. So that it feels more like we are dropping by while something is developing . Which might have. Even the movies aim, it just never feels as compelling and things seem to happen more in a leisurely pace.

Which makes it seem like a film that adults might appreciate more then kids. Unless they are just connected to the characters from seeing the first film.

It goes more into the hippie lifestyle that she is around as well as delving more into a friendship than romance

The thing that is missing is that in the first film it was a coming of age story and we were introduced to her making her way through the world and seeing how her family worked while this outsider came in. As well as including a tragedy that you knew was coming

Though this film feels less needed than that film As it feels more like an unnecessary continuation of a story and characters where we leave half of the character from the original who appear more in a cameo. Which also loses some of the charm. As it’s nice to see them but we don’t get to see as much of them as we would Like.

And now she is dealing more with her uncle form the first film who here has a bigger part and we get to see him more humanized in his relationship with her and a romantic one. So we are dealing with the original character in a whole new landscape which seems smart, but isn’t as precious as the character is older and a lot more knowledgeable. It stays clean but she isn’t as naive.

Here the character is doing research more into her deceased mother which is what take up most of the films actions and time. She is also in a strange location for her. So she is exploring new territory. While being around the counter culture she still manages to stay innocent.

Strangely though older she is less boy crazy and fascinated by relationships. Which seems to be why by the end she finds herself in a minor one. Though still not really having any female friends. Which the film starts with her having but losing them to jealousy.

Anna Chlumsky has always been an earnest actress her performances have always felt truthful and soulful full of confidence. She is charming and is energetic in her performance. That feels adventurous and guides each performance she has. Though at least throughout she stay confident. Which leaves a good message and role model for little girls watching it and seeing themselves In the character. Luckily over the years she has come back as a major actress in adulthood and been Emmy nominated quite a few times on the award winning television show VEEP

Maybe it is that I grew up watching and dealing with the first film emotionally so that when the sequel was finally announced. –I looked forward to it and built it up on my head so that when i finally saw it I couldn’t help but find it disappointing. More as me and other might have grown out of it. As it came too little too late.

Now this is not a bad movie at all. If anything it feels heartwarming

Though it works as a continuation of a character like in the films MY AMERICAN COUSIN to AMERICAN BOYFRIENDS, also THE YEAR MY VOICE BROKE to FLIRTING, only skewing younger. Though offers motivation and moving into more adult themes for the characters here it maintains an innocence for everyone

The supporting characters are fun if not too memorable. The investigation is not that interesting or encompassing they seem only there to keep the story moving and the characters moving allowing for some developments.

Not too much of a side story by introducing another suitor for the uncle’s girlfriend.

This was a sequel that I was looking Forward to even though I was old enough to be skeptical and think how were they going to be able to equal the power (at least for me) of the original. As one Wanted to see the further adventures of Vada. 

Which is exactly what this film does. She is a little older abd the film transports her out of her hometown into sprawling San Francisco. Bigger city for bigger adventures. As this film comes off more as episodic.

The seed are planeted early in the film. When her friend who we last saw her playing. With st the end of the original. Is jealous and ditches her for a boy who seems to constantly be flirting by with vada and vada In turn has no interest in nor picks up on it. 

So as she searches for stories about her mother. The movie revolves around relationships. Her uncle and his girlfriends. Her and the girlfriends son who accompanies her everywhere In her fact finding mission and even her relationship with her mother and accepting her stepmother and her soon to be born Sibling.

That is what most films are about relationships. This one offers a bit of romance between her and the girlfriends son but other then a kids that is as deep as it gets.

One of the charms of the original so is that it came out of nowhere and had a more natural sense of character as well as generally good innocent humor for the most part. So that it felt like a gem out of nowhere that was also felt classical in A small town novel way. It felt comfortable.

Where as this film feels like most of the film it is stretching and feels way too planned out. It feels more designed then coming off natural and it kind of spoils it.

The film Still has some off the wall charm but not enough to make this film feel like it is worth the effort.

Though then Again I might be wrong as I was younger when the first film Came out and more cynical when the sequel came out and might have believed I was above it all. Kids might actually like it. So might those who took the first film to heart. Even though I did and still found myself disliking the sequels

Grade: C

TERRORVISION (1986)

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Written & Directed By: Ted Nicolau
Cinematography: Romano Albani
Editor: Thomas Meshelski
Production Design & Art Direction By: Giovanni Natalucci 

Cast: Chad Allen, Diane Franklin, Mary Woronov, Gerrit Graham, Jon Gries, Bert Remsen, Alejandro Rey, Randi Brooks, Jennifer Richards 


Stan installs satellite TV for his family, but, soon, he picks up a signal from another planet and his television system becomes the gateway between the 2. A creature comes to his apartment and only their son Sherman sees it, but his parents don’t believe the boy.

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