I wouldn’t exactly call this a sketch movie since the movie parodies, mock commercials and various skits tie in so well to the overall story. Special cred to Michael “Kramer” Richards in this as Stanley Spadowski, the kinda tarded janitor with a bitchin mop and a big puppy dog heart. I don’t think I’ve really seen him in much else outside of Seinfeld, but he really does give this one an extra comedic core overall.
Modern (1980s) version of Walter Mitty, daydreamer George who just can’t hold down a job to everybody around him’s chagrin. But when his uncle wins the deed in a card game to a local UHF television station that’s in the pits and gives him the Manager position, George Newman (Weird Al) eventually finds a new way to put his crazy ideas into reality. Amusing Dramas ensue as the local Big Affiliate first sneers at then finds the newly popular channel a threat. I guess Spatula City ads pay pretty good!
This is a perfected 80s “Quest” kind of movie to close out the decade. Shot surprisingly well, with all the bits and parodies being pitch-perfect in humor and execution. Is it cheezy? Fuck yeah. And I rarely use this as a descriptor because I’m a guy, but is it delightfully so. A fun take on a bunch of the 80s things that made that decade actually enjoyable, it’s a decent comedy that relies on wit instead of raunch. I love my raunchy comedies too, don’t get me wrong. Pleasantly surprised how well this plays out over 35 years after the fact. “Weird Al” Yankovic, known as a rather goofy (and talented) parody musician of the time period, does a commendable job in the lead here. And honestly, some good messages presented, with the lowly citizens banding together trying to fight the system. Ugh. Thats some nostalgic crap there. Maybe edit that out. Or not. Don’t really care, this is a great screwball comedy of the times.
