Deb’s Cine-Meh House: After Hours
After Hours (1985) tells the darkly madcap story of a sad sack who won’t accept that he can just walk home, from downtown Manhattan to uptown Manhattan. Antics, high jinks, and escapades ensue. ...continue reading
Deb’s Cine-Meh House: Into the Night
In Into the Night (1985) colossal drip Jeff Goldblum takes 110 minutes to drive Michelle Pfeiffer around LA, while she plays the least believeable jewel thief since Charles Grodin’s team of runway models in The Great Muppet Caper. Then he takes a stand that saves Pfeiffer and cures his insomnia. The audience’s insomnia was cured ...continue reading
Deb’s Cine-meh House: Runaway
It’s the future! Bulky, slow-moving robots make spaghetti for humans! And Gene Simmons has left the Kiss Army to command a murderous swarm of spider machines! Can Tom Selleck save us? Find out in…Runaway (1984). ...continue reading
Deb’s Cine-meh House: The Couch Trip
Another entry in the “feel good comedies involving the mentally ill” genre, The Couch Trip (1988) was later followed by Dream Team (1989—both involve a curative outing to a baseball game), Crazy People (1990), and What About Bob? (1991). I’m in agreement with Siskel & Ebert, The Couch Trip needs 100% more Charles Grodin—but that’s ...continue reading
Deb’s Cine-Meh House: The Incredible Shrinking Woman
Joel Schumacher’s directorial debut, The Incredible Shrinking Woman (1981), was the science-fiction blockbuster of the decade…or it was a silly comedy take on the dangers of consumer-product chemicals and the advertising industry. It really doesn’t matter, because CHARLES GRODIN is in it. And there ain’t nothin’ wrong with Charles Grodin! Incidentally, Mr. Grodin will be ...continue reading
Responding to The Responsive Eye
In this short  film, director Brian De Palma approaches the 1965 Museum of Modern Art exhibit The Responsive Eye, through the observations of experts—a psychologist, a ophthalmologist, and the exhibition curator—and the varied reactions of the opening night attendees, ranging from artist David Hockney to anonymous New York Society types, like the woman in the ...continue reading
Deb’s Cine-Meh House: NightForce
In NightForce (1987) Linda Blair is an action hero who gives a damn! She and four other college students enlist B-movie mascot Richard Lynch as they head to “South America” to rescue some girl who is hilariously kidnapped in a parking lot by some guys in a slow-moving van. ...continue reading
Deb’s Cine-Meh House: Cobra
Don’t be suckered into Cobra (1986) just because Stallone’s special section of the police department is called the “Zombie Squad.” Not only is it zombieless, it features no cobras or snakes of any kind in a major or supporting role. ...continue reading
Deb’s Cine-Meh House: The Nude Bomb
The title for the 1980 “Get Smart” feature film was probably a toss up between The Nude Bomb and Naked Failure. Agent 99, aka the lovely Barbara Feldon, had the good sense to go deep undercover and avoid this stinker, which features a super villain costumed with pantyhose over his face. No expense was spared. ...continue reading
Deb’s Cine-Meh House: The Philadelphia Experiment
Some noodlehead heard the urban legend of The Philadelphia Experiment (1984) and saw it as a film, which is why Michael Pare wanders the 1980s in 1940s sweater vests muttering and marveling about things like that actor Ronald Regan being on TV…as the president! ...continue reading
Deb’s Cine-Meh House: Making Mr. Right
In 1986′s Making Mr. Right (another This-Robot-Is-More-Human-Than-Humans! movie) Ann Magnuson is charmed by the childlike innocence of a bewigged John Malkovich walking into walls and massaging her feet with his chin. ...continue reading
Deb’s Cine-Meh House: 976-EVIL
976-EVIL (1989): alternate titles included “The Devil’s Batphone,” “Mephistopheles, Your Life is Calling,” and “Hotline to Hell.” ...continue reading