So I just got done helping my friends Julia and Michelle move into their new place, in the heat, which was about 105 degrees today. I don’t mind moving or helping to move friends cause that’s what friends do, but I am tired and exhausted and doing today’s post requires a bit of effort on my part. But that won’t stop me from posting today, no sir it won’t. I decided to keep with a theme for today as I did for yesterday which was about baseball. I could have chosen the 1988 Richard Pryor movie called Moving, which would seem appropriate, but it isn’t a good movie and I only post about movies I like. So I classic, funny, 80s and Hanksy. That’s right, today is all about Tom Hanks in The Money Pit. Just for the record, my friends didn’t buy a house so they won’t encounter these sort of problems, but it’s a movie about moving and the joys of living in a new place.
Adapting the themes of the 1948 film Mr. Blandings Builds his Dream House, this comedy stars Tom Hanks as Walter Fielding, who with his love Anna (Shelley Long) decides to buy a suburban New York home for next-to-nothing. Both Anna and Walter are willing to fix what ails the house and since they are both successful professionals, that should not be too difficult. Unfortunately, what ails the house might be terminal as the rest of the film chronicles the battle between the couple and the disintegrating structure. Construction workers come in to make matters either worse or better — or both. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
Is there anything better than classic 80s Tom Hanks? The guy is a stellar comedic actor and his drifted into doing more serious roles, which are good, but I still remember the man child of the 80s and his funny as hell roles. While not the best role of the 80s for him, The Money Pit does have a strong comedic element with the pairing of Tom Hanks with Shelly Long, whom is most known for playing Diane Chambers on Cheers. The two really shine in this film as a couple who try to make this fixer upper house work for them. In true 80s fashion, nothing is ever easy cause that’s how writer rolled in the 80s.
God, I miss solid slapstick and physical comedy as this movie has it all. I don’t own a house, so I can’t say that I feel the pains of having to deal with home repairs or simple construction projects, but I do appreciate chaotic settings that lend to comedic moments. There is no shortage of jokes and running gags throughout the film as the house continually shits on the two home owners. Collapsing stairs, crappy wiring and rickety floors all are just a few of the problems that the couple runs into and Tom Hanks just losing his shit is giggle worthy enough. I love it when a movie just keeps snowballing into a giant avalanche of problems as each moments is met with terrifying resistance and hilarious outcomes.
An appropriate movie for today’s moving festivities, but a funny movie none the less. The Money Pit is hilarious, more so for Hanks in a manic role that has one of the best psychotic laugh scenes in movie history. It’s a great movie for the comedy and sharp comedic acting from Long and Hanks, both of whom are so damn good and likeable. I somehow keep coming back to 80s comedies and movie time and time again, mainly because you won’t find movie like this getting made, unless of course it’s a remake. If you miss Hanks in comedy roles, you got to check this out. He is the standout of the movie with perfect timing and physical comedy abilities.
