Quick Change (1990) and Welcome to Collinwood (2002) - Comparing Cinematic Comedy Capers

I wish we pronounced cinema with a hard ‘c’, so I could have won the [Pick 4] alliteration lottery.

“Quick Change” (1990) and “Welcome to Collinwood” (2002) - two examples of the same genre. Each less than 90 minutes. Both filled with brilliant cast. “Quick Change” is a four person show, while “Welcome to Collinwood” is what I would call an ensemble. Similar budgets. Director / Cinematography / Editing / Music are all good in both. For what they are - efficient & effective use of their budgets.

So - what sets them apart? 

“QC” has a story that is efficiently entertaining > “QC” is brisk - the main and supporting characters have enough room to shine. It is based on a book, and the screenwriter knew what to do with the source material. I would not call it brilliant or inspired, but it is fun from top to bottom.

“WtC” falls well short of that > How can you take W.H.Macy, Isaiah Washington, Sam Rockwell, Michael Jeter (in his final role), Luis Guzman, Patricia Clarkson, Jennifer Esposito, and a small part by George Clooney - put them on sets directed by the Russo Brothers - and still make me check my watch 6 times in eighty+ minutes? You give them a terrible script.

“WtC” is leaden - it is a remake of a very popular/successful Italian comedy (that I have not seen yet) - and the screenwriters (Tony + Joe Russo again) made it into a slog. They are not the only ones - another movie dud was made from this original. Alternatively, Bob Fosse produced a stage musical version that received multiple Tony nominations - I wish I could watch that to compare.

If you are looking for a fun heist film - with one more chance to watch Tony Shalhoub, THE Tucci, Phil Hartman, and a really great performance by Philip Bosco - you can find “Quick Change” on TUBI. I forgot about Kurtwood Smith's character - he is his guy from "Dead Poets Society" as a mafioso buffoon.

If you want to see everything the Russo Brothers made (and Steve Soderbergh produced) - watch the trailer for “Welcome to Collinwood”. If you are from Cleveland, you might watch the whole thing - but I doubt the tourism board recommends it.

John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)

John Wick: Chapter 4 is a master class in pacing and storytelling - especially for a movie which I am sure is put together as “OK - so here is a list of action scenes we want to create, here is a list of stunts we want to do - lets wrap a plot around that”. It rides the action in waves and gives you just the right amount of time to unclinch yourself from the theater seat. Story wise, there was just one loose end - a setup I thought would pay off but ultimately doesn’t go anywhere. For that character, I hope they grow and can get on with their life.

As for the action & stunts themselves (which is why you go see a JW movie), they were really well done. The cinematography was fantastic. They were a nice blend of CGI and practical. The CGI was only obvious in a few places. In this movie world of absurdity, the CGI was appropriately absurd.

I didn’t look ahead of time to know any of the supporting cast, and so I called out “Oh cool - Clancy Brown!” when he showed up. He didn’t have enough to do, but what he got was cool. Bill Skarsgård is the main bad guy, but the real star of the show in terms of antagonists is Scott Adkins. His makeup is such that I did not recognize him during the film - I kept thinking it was Max Greenfield from “New Girl”.  I would rewatch Scott’s scenes again - he was captivating.

I think John Wick is such a compelling series because of Keanu Reeves. He somehow manages to blend "Ted" Theodore Logan, Captain America, and a somewhat worn out middle aged man into a believable hero. Ian Shane and Donnie Yen were outstanding. If I could edit out 45 seconds, I would have chopped the scene where Larry Fishburne is explaining the merits of the Keanu’s pistol. If you aren’t going to bring back Peter Serafinowicz as “The Sommelier”, don’t bother. Made me wonder if some gun manufacturer paid for product placement.

In my ranking of the Wick-a-verse, I would say #4, #2, #1, and #3 is the order from best to worst.

Oh - and I forgot to mention - John Wick uses nunchucks without once hitting himself in the head or between the legs. I guess that is another reason I knew this was movie magic.

Crimewave (1986) - For the Bruce Campbell / Sam Raimi completests

"Crimewave" is a zany comedy-¿horror? movie by Sam Raimi. It is told as a flashback from the a guy who you might think you recognize from that thing, but it turns out you have never watched anything he has been in. It is about a murder for hire scheme that he ends up being framed for. Bruce Campbell plays one of his best characters as The Heel ("You get the cab baby - I don't want to break a $100" or "I've never seen you here before. I like that in a woman."). Brion James and Paul Smith play the hit men. You will recognized Smith as Beast Rabban from "Dune" (1984). Those guys are gonzo. A young Frances McDormand is in it for a couple minutes. Sheree Wilson (from Walker Texas Ranger) plays the heroine.

It was written by the Raimi + Coen Bros (which explains why Frances is in it). It is like watching an 80 minute Three Stooges film. Lots of sound effects and a jazzy score. It is PG13, so I think the 'horror' aspects comes from the the violent premise, but it is really a lot of slapstick. A bunch of car chase sequences too.

 

It is well shot with very high production value. Cast / director / sets / stunts ... all really well done. As far as 'bad movies' go, this one's issue is a convoluted story telling - I think this is a byproduct of editing which is probably a by product of budget issues during production. It is always the editor

​ 

If you LOVE Raimi or LOVE Campbell - watch it.

If you really enjoy MADTV sketches - watch it (probably in 22 minute chunks until you have had your fill)

If you are a fan of the Three Stooges - watch "Soup to Nuts" ... it is a much better movie.

A review of 90 minute knock off (90KO) movies

What if we remade JAWS, except on a mountain side with a bear? Then we get “Grizzly” (1976). This thing has a groovy orchestral score, a well-acted cast, and a live Grizzly. Christopher George (from Rat Patrol) plays the Brody, a guy I didn’t recognize plays Hooper, and Richard Jaeckel (who means The Dirty Dozen to me) is the Quint. Teddy is the bear playing Bruce the shark.

There is a Mrs Brody, but after playing a prominent role for Act 1 she just sort of evaporates somewhere in Act 2 - I have no idea where she went.

 

All in, this is a VERY true JAWS knock off - almost beat for beat. It was fun.

 

If you prefer knock offs that Die Hard, I suggest “Assault on Dome 4” (1996). This is Die Hard on Mars. Joe Culp (Robert’s son) plays McLean, a former soap opera star plays Ms Genero, and Bruce “the chin” Campbell plays Hans Gruber. James Lew plays the long haired vindictive guy. They make a mess of the Al character - but Ray Baker does what he can with that role. They manage to squeeze in Jack Nance as a Marvin from DH2 - seeing “Eraserhead” in a tie dye shirt, emoting the scenery off was a treat.

 

Ms Genero is way too much Guiding Light and not nearly enough Bonnie Bedelia - Joe Culp is practically cardboard. The most insanely unbelievable part is when he gets into a kung fu fight with James Lew and wins. James Lew is built like a brick outhouse - Culp looks like your uncle coming off a bad bout of the flu.

 

The saving grace of this movie is Bruce Campbell. He has all of his typical charm - and really makes the whole movie. Brion James is in it too, but he didn’t have enough to do.

 

Remember, I watch these so you don't have to … but let me know if you do.

Crazy Samurai: 400 vs 1 (2021) - Spend this time reading a book

"Crazy Samurai: 400 vs 1" - plot summary: umm yeah [eyes roll askance] like, there isn't really a plot.

 

Some dude killed some other dude and his clan arranged a duel to avenge the death. Instead of a duel, they intend to ambush him with 400 samurai - before the movie started. So we sit around with 400 guys waiting on the one guy and dribble that exposition for about 8 minutes and then the title card (and there is a nice cgi butterfly which gets a call back in the last 5 minutes) - then we begin a 70+ minute long one-shot of a one-on-many sword battle through a landscape that reminded me of central Texas and a conveniently staged Japanese ghost town.

 

The 1-guy hacks the 400. He boinks a lot of them on the top of the head - I found this technique surprisingly effective. For variety, there is a very short exchange with a shirtless guy with a chain, some crude dialogue between two of the 400 about cowardice, and a young woman with a bundle of firewood walks through. Those interludes take up about 3 minutes total. It seems that 1-guy hid water and a cookie in the ghost town before the battle. On again off again moody music and a lot of grunting. Occasionally we zoom into his eyes (presumably so the extras can get reset). I didn't keep track, but it probably was at least 400 unique demonstrations of dramatic falling down. With cgi blood there is really no gore, and since they did not actually have 400 paid extras there are no bodies laying around.

 

This is a 90 minute movie - minutes 8 to 83 are a test of endurance (for the main character and the audience). Feel free to get up and get some water, popcorn or go the bathroom without pausing. You will not miss anything. I wish my video editing skills were decent - I could make a watchable 20 minute version. There are much better examples of this genre of you want recommendations