Sometimes in life, a piece of art can be so bad, it transcends the boundaries of all rational taste to win over even the most jaded of hearts. One of those times happened this week for the Riley family.
Like their parents, my daughters are big movie fans. They're very interested in older movies, so my plan this summer is to show them a bunch of movies from that golden era of film, the 80s. I searched Netflix for something I could stream, but the girls had seen most of the movies available. One movie did catch their eye though, Mac and Me. I had never seen M & M, but I did remember hearing it was outrageously bad. I was intrigued.
Mac and Me is the touching story of a young boy befriending an alien. Did I mention this movie came out after E.T.? I'm pretty used to product placement in movies nowadays, but man, I've never seen a movie with so much blatant advertising. It's like the advertising arms of McDonald's and Coke decided to make a movie. I could probably go on and on, but simply put, Mac and Me is quite possibly the worst movie ever made.
Here's the thing. I loved it.
My daughters were initially confused. How could I love a movie that I thought was one of the worst movies ever made? It is indeed complicated. With time, I know they will come to understand the beauty of a movie that is so bad, it's awesome.
Hollywood has given us any number of bad movies over the years. Not all of these bad movies are able to break the barrier of good taste to become classics. Today I present five films that are so bad, they just might be brilliant.
5) Weekend at Bernie's: You have to love a movie where everyone is too dumb to notice a couple of guys lugging a dead body around. Don't even get me started on Andrew McCarthy.
4) Howard the Duck: This movie was thoroughly trashed when it came out in 1986. Of course, on the heels of Back to the Future, Lea Thompson could do no wrong in my eyes.
3) Breakin: This movie capitalized on the burgeoning breakdancing craze. I couldn't dance to save my life, but a buddy of mine could do a passable moonwalk. I still have fond memories of riding our bikes downtown to see this one multiple times.
2) Mac and Me: I think I've said enough.
1) Roadhouse: This is the awesomely bad movie by which all others are judged. To this day, if I come across Roadhouse on TV, and it happens quite a bit, I can't turn the channel.
Please feel free to comment on any of these fine films. For all of you who love truly bad movies, make sure you tell us what they are so we can watch them too.
Roadhouse, I agree. I'm that way about Joe vs. the Volcana. I think it's terrible, yet, I can't look away.
ReplyDeleteVolcano. (fingers still sleeping)
ReplyDeleteBreakin' was a class movie. Class!
ReplyDeleteI usually don't go for "dumb" movies, but there's something about Weekend at Bernie's. And Roadhouse. We don't have cable and I come across Roadhouse once a week or so. I've finally stopped watching it every time...
ReplyDeleteMary: I've never watched Joe and the Volcano-good to know.
ReplyDeletemooderino: Which did you like better, the original or the sequel?
Laura: It really is amazing how often Roadhouse is on TV, somewhere. Must be a lot of people who can't resist.
Oh the things I would do to Lea Thompson back in the 80's.
ReplyDeleteTim, Now I probably am going to feel the need to get this Mac and Me movie as I haven't even ever heard of it. My worst movies that I sat thru (why remains a mystery) is Waterworld and Showgirls. I have since learned that Showgirls is the highest grossing NC-17 movie ever made. There must be some really awful crud with that rating. Last years big winner at the Golden Raspberry award was Sex and the City II. That, also was painfully bad and I was a fan of the HBO series.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen any of these movies. I ought to look them up in the library. Thank you for the tip. I absolutely agree that sometimes there are outrageously bad movies that are good precisely for that reason.
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This is my facepalm because it is all I can think of to do in response to this post.
OT: She certainly had her share of admirers.
ReplyDeleteCheryl: I often wondered if fans of Sex in the City secretly loved it because was so bad. That's the only way I was able to wrap my head around its success.
Olga: Start with Roadhouse, it is truly a cult classic.
Michael: The facepalm is brilliant! This one goes in the comment hall of fame.
So bad it's good? Um, Tremors comes to mind. And pretty much anything with Ben Stiller in it.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure I'm going to get raked over the coals for this one, but I think Rocky Horror Picture Show would make my list. And Speed 2.
ReplyDeleteSeeing Breakin on this list makes me think of Breakin 2: Electric Boogaloo.
ReplyDeleteI am having a difficult time with this post. I understand the whole so bad it is good again thing, but then it is good, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteOh and while I am there... LG! What!? Tremors never went bad to good... it started way-good and stayed there...
To illuminate my point, I submit the following, Burt Gummer, quote:
"Broke into the wrong God-damn rec room, didn't ya... you bastard."
Tremors is a classic, but it's also giant worm monsters smothered in cheeeeeze. Which is why it's so bad it's good.
ReplyDeleteLG: Tremors-nice one. I think I'm more in line with Munk on that one, but I totally understand what you're saying. I think it's a great addition to the discussion.
ReplyDeleteSquilla: I would agree with you about Rocky Horror. Now Speed 2 is another issue altogether. That one goes in the category of movies that should never be watched.
Carrie: I almost put both of the Breakin movies on the list, but I figured one was enough. Like they say, the sequel is never a good as the original?
Munk: I hear what you're saying. It is a fine line. I love the passion for Tremors. Great movie. I think the difference for me with Tremors is that the audience is on the joke, we're laughing WITH the movie, not AT it. Maybe?
Tremors is all good things smothered in cheese... plus I am still nursing a mid-eighties crush on Reba McEntire.
ReplyDeleteThe truly regrettable and cheesy "Cocktail," should be on this list
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen any of the five movies you listed. All I can say is that Adam Sandler irks me, so I'm going to have to add Going Overboard to this list (having seen only part of it).
ReplyDeleteDefinitely intrigued by Mac and Me... but I wouldn't want to pay for it.
Oh, and my kids like the old movies, too! We've been pushing the musicals, lately, and I think we reached their limits with Damn Yankees. ;)
Idiocracy. And dammit, Laoch, I had forgotten about Cocktail until you reminded me. Argh! I need a mental shower of a good classic film now.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun thing to do together as a family! Do you get out the popcorn and snuggle up on the sofa?
ReplyDeleteI remember Howard the Duck, but did not see it.
Tryin' to change my life a little - more relaxation; I'm inspired to try movie night by your post, for the umpteenth time. We'll see. :)
I was going to comment, but...Wow...that facepalm is freaking awesome.
ReplyDelete