Thanks for checking out our Forgotten Fridays feature. This is a feature to review some older films that maybe you have forgotten about or maybe never got around to seeing that we just want to share. They may not be old, maybe not forgotten, but they are not new. Just fun to share.
Today’s review is Oscar
THE GENERAL IDEA
Angelo “Snaps” Provolone made his dying father a promise on his deathbed: he would leave the world of crime and become an honest businessman. Despite having no experience in making money in a legal fashion, Snaps sets about to keep his promise. He is faced with numerous problems: henchmen who know nothing but crime, the police who are convinced he is hatching a master plan, and Oscar, who has just got his daughter pregnant.
THE GOOD
EVERYTHING. Seriously.
The characters are all a joy. Masterfully played out stereotypes that are fun to see dance about in this ballet of laughs. At the time this came out, the closest anyone thought of Stallone in a comedy was Tango and Cash, so like many people I was hesitant.
Everyone plays their part so well that I can’t tell you who my favourite is. Every time a new scene comes on with another character – that’s my new favourite. Marisa Tomei is beautiful as always, and Ornella Muti is so beautiful. As is their other daughter (Elizabeth Barondes). The one that isn’t Lisa. (that line is so funny – you will thank me later) And Tim Curry is so good I have run out of adjectives.
Dear God this is a funny movie, and Stallone is brilliant in it. But the REAL comedy masters were the writers. Each scene steps so perfectly into the next scene, and there is SO much going on and all of it is funny. The amazing part is that you can keep up. Its not hard. Unless you missed a scene cleaning up the soda that just came out of your nose.
THE BAD
Don’t go pee. If you do, make everyone suffer your absence on pause. Don’t miss a scene. Catching up on this whole intricate mess is so finely woven that if one thread is out of place its all you will see. You will miss out on the awesome interaction of characters trying to figure out what happened.
OVERALL
This is the kind of movie that makes you want to clap in the theater when its over. You might forget to exhale as it goes along so remind yourself every now and then that laughing does require oxygen.
I am going to introduce a new rating system for my Forgotten Fridays picks.
Since all of these Forgotten Friday reviews are going to be what I would already give a high rating to, I had a Tv, Rent or Buy scale going on, but it would seem that an overwhelming majority of my picks get a BUY rating.
So with every Forgotten Friday you see from now on, you get to rate your anticipation for yourself!
TV – If you are at least a little curious, catch it if it comes on TV.
Rent – If it is something you have heard of and forgotten, or just remember enjoying this as much as I did once upon a time, go rent it.
Buy – But if you are like me, and you agree with my review you should go buy it. If its featured here, I already have.
OMG I love Oscar. It was one of those films we used to own and watched constantly as a kid. I had forgotten about it. I’m actually in the process of buying it from amazon right now!
Nice to see watching Oscar get some encouragement. I think it’s a great comedy! So much fun to watch.
Rodney, I just watched it last night after begging my friend to borrow it from me. I really love it!
everything flows so effortlessly in this movie and just sucks you right in. true, it is not a movie for everyone, but man! it is the one for me!!!!
thank you for recommending this Forgotten Friday jewel to us here.
hmmm….I feel like craving to watch it again tonight!
I didn’t give this one a chance when it came out, but will rent it ASAP.
Thanks Rodney!
I just watched this movie this weekend!!!
did you check the rotten tomato rating of this movie?
And here I thought I was the only one who liked this movie!!
It has a 13% on rottentomatoes.com
Point is? RT has no credibility anymore…at least not for me.
GREAT choice, Rodney! Friggin’ awesome comedy, very well acted, and as you stated, written as well. Such a smooth flow to it, that you forget your not in it and start yelling at the TV!!! LOL.
It works so well, that it’s one of the ones I bought. I generally watch it once a year, just to brighten my day… I say BUY.
Thank you so much for doing these Forgotten Fridays, they are a good reminder of the gems of the past. “Oscar” is freakin’ hilarious…I have yet to update my VHS copy of it to DVD though…man, gotta get around to that!
So I take it that this is better than Stop Or My Mom Will Shoot?
Much better! Think 1000 times better – and its true–once you start the movie DON’T LEAVE OR PAUSE FOR EVERYONE TO YELL AT YOU because if you miss just one milisecond of the sight gags, quips that you think aren’t important YOU WILL GET LOST ( but then again- it gives you a chance to watch it all over again (not that you won’t anyway lol)).
I have never considered to watch this film, I’ll give it a try if I can find it.
I really must say, I am surprised by the change in the rating system. Pleasantly surprised. Without really being that much different than before, it seems more intelligent. It treats the reader with a bit of respect because it doesn’t feel the need to spell out your opinion to us. Shows you know we are smart enough to assume you like these older movies, because why else would you bring them up. Instead, it let’s us recognize the obvious on our own, and then invites the community into the discussion on it’s merits.
Also, I haven’t actually seen this movie (first one you’ve done on a Forgotten Friday that I hadn’t already seen), and based on the recommendations of yourself and the commenters, I will rent this soon to see with my wife.
Thanks.
Great film. Already have it.
Sometimes folks say the best part of a movie is the last scene, usually because it’s a bad movie. This is an overlooked movie when it was first released- partially due to Stallone not being great in past attempts at comedy- but far from a bad one.
One of the film’s BEST BEST scenes, it fact, it’s bear classic status **is** the last scene. It involves one character who finally returns home- and his name is—-
Near. Not bear. Wanted to make the correction before the Orwellian Thought Police come to get me!
****
Anyway, Rodney…Stallone didn’t do more comedies (aside perhaps, from the action-comedy Tango & Cash) because the comedies he did do, didn’t do as great as the action films.
As great as it is, Oscar bombed. Sure, it’s gotten its due and most folks have caught up to the picture, but on its theatrical release it sunk.
I always enjoyed this movie. I think we watched it so many time as kids that we practically memorized it.
“Figaro not yours, Figaro belongs to the Milky-Man!”
I love this movie. As a kid, I would repeatedly rent this movie so much, tha the clerks had a copy on the side just for me. (true story). I can’t find it on dvd anywhere. This movie still holds up and is better than most comedies out in the past 15 years.
Netflix has it to rent!! I know I’ve gotten my teen and his friends hooked on it–we have to get it every couple of months. Not a big Stallone fan unless its this one!!! Tim Curry is just hilarious- especially trying to rid Marisa of her ‘delightful accent’.
This is not just a great Stallone movie but a great Tim Curry film as well. Between this and Stephen King’s IT you get some idea of Tim’s range. Too bad he didn’t find more work. I guess the Rocky Horror thing only worked for Susan Sarandon.
Tim Curry’s range also includes Legend, Hunt For Red October, Kinsey…
and lots of theatre, having been nominated for some Tony’s a few years ago in fact.
I’m with Darren. Sure Curry has never been a superstar, but he’s consistently worked over the years. He was also in Home Alone 2, The Three Musketeers, and Congo (worthy of a Forgotten Friday itself).
Clue, though, was his crown jewel.
Clue is indeed Curry’s crown jewel…probably the funniest and most clever adaptation of anything ever!
I’m getting a feeling you sort of like this movie a little. Just a hunch.
I always loved this movie. It reminds me alot of Clue which was equally funny in its craziness. For me I want to buy it. For others rent it because this movie is an aquired taste.
Oscar was a great farce. Doubly worth it for the plasticine opera singer singing along to Figaro (marriage of?)
This is one of my family’s favorites. I must have watched this movie over 100 times growing up. They are so many quotable lines (“It’s like disarming Germany.” — “A leopard never changes it stripes. “You mean spots.” “I mean Snaps!” — “Oh look. Here’s mooore money.”) The list goes on and on.
It’s awesome!
That one is dope, love the Fusalinie twins
i love this flick its one of those films where if its on tv on tuesday and a different channel shows it on wednesday i’ll probably watch it both times. like heartbreak ridge
Huh thought I had seen every Stallone movie but guess not I’ll think I’ll rent this it’s sounds funny n I trust your picks Rodney incidentally I just watched cobra today lol it’s a pretty good action flick if u can deal with some of the cheesy lines n parts tho but you kno wut would make a good forgetten Friday flick less than zero with Downey jr Andrew mcarthy Demi moore to name a fee ivthinks it a absloutely wonderful movie with a deep story n the ending is sad let’s just say Downey ain’t so iron after all but I leave it at that I recommend to everyone here if u haven’t seen go rent it I think it’s worth a buy even IMO