B-Movie Gazette: TOMMY'S 11th ANNUAL PICK-FIVE GREAT SUMMER MOVIES #1 - JOHN CANDY IS IN A ZANY BOAT RACE WITH RICHARD CRENNA TO DEFEND HIS "SUMMER RENTAL" (1985)

B-MOVIE OF THE MONTH - THE DEATH OF RITCHIE (TV 1977)

Looks like a lot of fun to me, I don't know. Seriously and for those that don't know, The Death Of Ritchie is one of the most iconic TV movies of the entire '70's decade. I was roughly 15 when it aired and i can tell you that both Robby Benson and teens taking drugs were very hot topics at the time. The film is based on a true story where a father who couldn't control his teen's behavior from drug abuse was forced to take the law into his own hands. The father here is good ole Ben Gazzara and he is at his Gazzara best with a ferocious intensity, his scenes with Benson as father and son a perfect chemistry. At the time more emphasis was on Benson as a model but his performance here is really amazing. Streams free on Tubi, Freevee, Roku and Plex, if this was being rated on the standard scale I would give it five stars, 'nuff said. 2.75 stars/2.75

Tuesday, June 21, 2022

TOMMY'S 11th ANNUAL PICK-FIVE GREAT SUMMER MOVIES #1 - JOHN CANDY IS IN A ZANY BOAT RACE WITH RICHARD CRENNA TO DEFEND HIS "SUMMER RENTAL" (1985)

OUCH! - Call me a geek, a nerd, whatever, this film has been on the list practically every year. Putting it at number one this year as I continue to be determined to sing it's praises. The key to enjoying this film is to be reminded it's a Carl Reiner (hellooo) flick, not a John Candy flick. One of the reasons Candy is so good in this (besides being at the apex of his success) is he sticks to the script and doesn't get too far out there in Candy-land ha ha. Richard Crenna really gets to flex his comedic chops and he's funny as sh*t as his continual feud with the renter Candy escalates. Lest we forget the late great Rip Torn is also in this as a goofy pirate type. If you haven't seen it, give it a shot! Available on all the major VOD outlets. 3.0 stars/5