The 'Burbs Review

The 'Burbs


Release Date: 22nd June 1989 - Australia


Production Companies
Universal Pictures
Imagine Entertainment


Genre: Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 97 minutes


Budget: $18,000,000

Box Office Gross: $49,101,993
(Worldwide)

Plot Summary (Retrieved from DVD Cover of Release)
To the disappointment of
his wife Carol, Ray
decides to spend a
relaxing week at home,
and soon gets into trouble
with his neighbors - a
hefty busybody, a freaked-
out ex-solider, and a
spacey teenager - as
they observe the strange
happenings next door at
the Klopek's bizarre
residence. When the
neighborhood grouch
suddenly disappears, the
men are convinced the
ramshackle house hides
some hideous clues. Armed
with assault rifles, high-
powered binoculars and
a shovel, they decide to
see for themselves exactly
what is going on in the
Klopek place.


Cast
Tom Hanks - Ray Peterson
Carrie Fisher - Carol Peterson
Bruce Dern - Lt. Mark Rumsfield
Rick Ducommun - Art Weingarter
Corey Feldman - Ricky Butler
Henry Gibson - Dr. Werner Klopek
Brother Theodore - Uncle
Reuben Klopek
Courtney Gain - Hans Klopek
Wendy Schaal - Bonnie Rumsfield
Gale Gordon - Walter Seznick

Crew
Director - Joe Dante
Producers - Larry Brezner and Michael Finnell
Co-Producer/Writer - Dana Olsen
Production Designer - James H. Spencer
Director of Photography - Robert Stevens
Music - Jerry Goldsmith


Review
Before Tom Hanks was an exclusive A-list actor portraying complex characters in unforgettable hits like 'Forrest Gump', 'Apollo 13', and 'Philadelphia'; he was well-known in the early years of the 1980s as a goofy comedian and relatable guy who audiences couldn't help but grow fond of. I hand-picked one of his more obscure early films, 'The 'Burbs', a suburbia-mystery comedy. This film occasionally does have some old-fashioned observational humour to amuse people who have experienced dysfunctional neighbourhoods and nosy neighbours.
  
'The 'Burbs' is an underrated nostalgic comedy that almost views like an extended episode of a TV program. The overblown and cheesy plot is veiled by some top-notch acting performances. Notably Hanks as well as the supporting actors Carrie Fisher, Bruce Dern and Corey Feldman. The bottom line is that this film is very entertaining and draws the viewers into seeing it.

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

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