20 |
Weekend at Bernie’s |
The second-greatest Andrew McCarthy film, and that is high praise.
19 |
Little Shop of Horrors |
Rick Moranis singing! Of course you want to see this.
18 |
The Blues Brothers |
You probably haven’t seen this for a while. You should rectify that.
17 |
Spaceballs |
Lone Star, Dark Helmet, Pizza the Hut—it’s a rare day that I don’t make some reference to Spaceballs, and it’s an even rarer day that someone recognizes it.
16 |
Gremlins |
Classic eighties setting (suburbs, Christmastime) set against surprisingly black humor. Obviously, it’s not a competitionII but the gremlins > the ewoks.
15 |
Desperately Seeking Susan |
Feminism, fashion, and Madonna.
14 |
Three Amigos! |
The Singing Bush! The Invisible Horseman! This film has what its director, John Landis, rightly calls “a real commitment to silliness,” and songs by Randy Newman to boot.
13 |
A Christmas Story |
A Christmas classic, up there with It’s a Wonderful Life. Like Radio Days, but without the sentiment.
12 |
Parenthood |
Cheesy? Off the charts. But it’s also really funny, really sweet, and it’s got Jason Robards, Tom Hulce, Dianne Wiest, Martha Plimpton, Keanu Reeves, Rick Moranis, Steve Martin, Mary Steenburgen, and Joaquin (then Leaf) Phoenix all being brilliant in it. Come on. PS: Can someone please cast Tom Hulce in something soon? I miss that guy.
11 |
Young Sherlock Holmes |
A truly great teen adventure film and that it isn’t better known is definitive proof there is no God.
10 |
The Flamingo Kid |
A too-little-known Matt Dillon film, featuring Hector Elizondo as his father, and a truly classic 1960s soundtrack.
9 |
The Goonies |
A seminal film for so many people I know. Man, remember when Corey Feldman was one of the most awesome child actors as opposed to the reality TV casualty he is now?
8 |
The ’Burbs |
Crazy and dark, in a great way. I miss funny Tom Hanks.
7 |
Stand by Me |
It would be too sad to watch poor River Phoenix as a sweet little boy if this film weren’t as great as it is.
6 |
Bull Durham |
Yeah, I love eighties Costner, but he is acted off the screen here by a young Tim Robbins. A great funny and sexy sports film.
5 |
Troop Beverly Hills |
A movie about Girl Scouts, shopping, and the importance of shoulder pads. Shelley Long at her best.
4 |
Planes, Trains and Automobiles |
After Molly Ringwald, John Candy became John Hughes’s film muse, and this is the pair at their finest. John Candy’s speech about liking himself will never not be heartbreaking.
3 |
Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure |
Still hilarious, still adorable. Just thinking about Napoleon going to the water park, called Waterloo, makes me laugh out loud on my own.
2 |
Field of Dreams |
Best film ever about dead people playing baseball in a cornfield, and the filmmakers are welcome to put that quote on the DVD.
1 |
Lucas |
One of my favorite films of all time, albeit starring one of the most cursed casts ever. Go watch it now, it’s wonderful.
II. Everything’s a competition.