Thank you to all who recommended this one. I had never heard of it before I started this channel which is half the fun of doing this! I believe I'm the 3rd person to react to this on RU-vid, for better or worse. 😂 Oh, there's a part where I misspoke saying this was Amanda Wyss' 2nd movie, I meant 2nd movie after NOES but it doesn't come off that way. It happens. haha
This is so full of nostalgia. A lot of it was filmed where I grew up. Clark Jr. High was the school. McCambridge Park in Burbank for a lot of the driving scenes. Definitely follow this up with the "sequel" (not really, but similar feel), One Crazy Summer.
For another 80s teen comedy that is very much off-the-wall and daring, you should react to Three O'Clock High. It is different from Better Off Dead, but both are uniquely fun in their own special way. I don't think anyone has reacted to it yet.
@@JayBondReacts I'M STILL doing it... either you get it OR you don't get it. I'll be in the store and I'm be on the phone telling my friend oh she's aggravating me and then say you know I just want to yell at her I want my $2!!! THEN whoever is in that aisle starts laughing cuz they get the insinuation of the aggravation level! Other people just walk past thinking I'm cheap and give me a dirty look. It's fine, the FUN & IMPORTANT ppl get it and I find my tribe. #NYerGenXBIKERLady
Better Off Dead is such a great dark comedy. So many weird little bits (the Japanese brothers, the burger scene, the little brother, the paperboy) all come together for such a fantastic movie. And I love that EG Daily song. Be sure not to miss Savage Steve Holland, John Cusack and Curtis Armstrong together again in One Crazy Summer.
Awesome, yeah, this has so many strange scenes. It's like not completely out there, but just enough to make you go "wtf" every few minutes. I'll add One Crazy Summer if I haven't already. Appreciate it.
I grew up watching these kinda movies and there’s another one with John Cusack One crazy summer where he that same art from better off dead Demi Moore is in this one too.
Oh, this takes me back... Loved this movie and its companion piece "One Crazy Summer." My understanding is that Savage Steve Holland actually based this story off his own experience being dumped in HS. Apparently, when the lady learned this after seeing the movie, she was horrified to realize how badly she had hurt him at the time.
There's a third movie in the Savage Steve Holland series, How I Got Into College. It doesn't have John Cusacke so that already is a mark against it and the story isn't as good as Better Off Dead or One Crazy Summer, but it's still a cute movie with Holland's comedic style and characters. It's definitely worth watching.
HAHAHAHA! Be 14 year old me. Go to see this with my mom. My mom was a serial vaccuumer and a terrible cook. The whole "I put raisens in it, you like raisens..." scene absolutely killed me! She turned to me, and in a rare state of absolute lucidity, asked me, "You're laughing at me right now, aren't you?". Yes mom. Yes I am. She's 72 now and I still tease her about this.
"Now that's a real shame when folks be throwin' away a perfectly good white boy like that." This movie is insane, outrageous, and I love it. Fun Fact: Al Myer is David Ogden Stiers, best known for his role as Major Charles Winchester on M*A*S*H (1972). Location Location Fact: "Savage" Steve Holland made this film under schedule and under budget. Most was shot in Los Angeles, except for the various ski scenes, which were filmed in Snowbird, Utah. Nightmare Connection Fact: When Beth (Amanda Wyss) shows up at the high school dance, the person standing behind her is wearing a sweater extremely similar to Freddy Krueger's. As you might know, Amanda Wyss played Krueger's first victim in A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984). Based Off True Events Fact: According to Savage Steve Holland, the film is mostly autobiographical. Holland really was suicidal when his high school girlfriend left him for captain of the ski team. Also, he really did have a paperboy named Johnny Gasparini who would harass him for two dollars. According to Holland, when the film came out, the ex-girlfriend contacted him to apologize.
There is a very similar line in Men at Work when Charlie Sheen, Emilio Estevez and Keith David find a dead body in a trash can. David says, "Damn. Looks like somebody threw away a perfectly good white boy." I've always wondered if that might have been a homage to this movie.
John Cusack leads in Grosse Pointe Blank in the mid-90's. It's not a coming of age theme, but instead a coming back to the 10 year reunion type movie with a heavy dose of surreal action. If you haven't seen it, give it a shot. Great cast and a killer music soundtrack.
Grosse Pointe Blank is one of my obsession movies. I have watched that so many times that I have truly lost count. Easily my favorite movie of John’s and Joan is amazing in it as well.
Another movie I thought was pretty good from that Cusack movie era was High Fidelity, where he goes through some similar relationship traumas and also owned his own record store.
A little trivia: According to Savage Steve Holland (director of this film), the film is mostly autobiographical. Holland really was suicidal when his high school girlfriend left him for the captain of the ski team. Also, he really did have a paperboy named Johnny Gasparini who would harass him for two dollars. According to Holland, when the film came out, the ex-girlfriend contacted him to apologize. Also, John Cusack apparently saw the film while working on another Savage Steve Holland movie, One Crazy Summer, and wasn't pleased. He was reportedly furious with Holland, although other cast and crew members showed him the movie was getting favorable reviews. He appears to have mellowed on the subject somewhat in recent years.
Somehow this popped up in my feed. Don't know why, but glad it did. Every time my buddies and i go skiing we quote this movie: "Have you any idea what the street value of this mountain is?" and "Go that way real fast. If something gets in your way. Turn." The 1st time my son went skiing my daughter, 6yo at the time, told her brother "Go that way, real fast. If something gets in the way... turn."
That’s my friend’s parent’s house in Glendale, CA. They still live there, but the house has been remodeled inside. My friend’s little sister’s bedroom was Cusack’s bedroom.
Diane Franklin also co-stars in “The Last American Virgin,” which is a pretty ordinary “losin’ it”-type 80s teen comedy, except for the ending, which is AMAZING.
This movie has always been a guilty pleasure of mine, glad someone did a reaction for it. If you enjoyed it, consider watching One Crazy Summer which has a very similar tone. Made the following year with the same writer, same director, also starring John Cusack with Curtis Armstrong again. Demi Moore co-stars along with a great supporting cast.
Revenge of the Nerds holds a special place in my heart. I was (and still am) a horror nerd, a computer nerd, AND I like me some wonder joints. Please react to this!
This is one of my favorite, under-appreciated 80's movies. The way I describe it to people who haven't seen it is that it's a John Hughes film, done as a live-action cartoon. "Savage" Steve Holland would go on to create Eek! The Cat with Bill Kopp in the 90's-- also an under-appreciated masterpiece. Edit: 24:55 - The minivan was still a couple years from being introduced, or at least accepted as mainstream when this came out, and if you had a typical nuclear family, you needed something that could comfortably seat 4 and hold lots of luggage for trips to Grandma's for Christmas. And they WERE practically indestructible-- a friend of mine and I went out in the snow one year with his family's gigantic Chevy Impala wagon, and just did donuts and tore ass around empty parking lots until we ended up in a ditch. We were able to get it out ourselves, and in spite of losing all 4 hubcaps, the car was completely fine for years afterward.
Dan Schneider plays Ricky in this movie. He later would create, write, and/or produce the comedy series All That, Drake & Josh, Game Shakers, Henry Danger, Kenan & Kel, Sam & Cat, The Adventures of Kid Danger, The Amanda Show, Victorious, What I Like About You, Zoey 101 and iCarly on Nickelodeon. He has been called out for being a sexual predator while producing those shows
Man, you watch all the great classics! All the movies that I watched and loved growing up as a teenager. They rarely make movies like these anymore. "I want my two dollars!"
All the actors he recognized in this movie, but he didn't notice Chozen from The Karate Kid part 2. Also, everytime someone asks Lane if he minds if they take Beth out, he is imagining it, including seeing her in the teacher's car
I miss the 80’s. I was 10 years old in 1985, and I remember my first time seeing this in 1985, just like it was yesterday. I really miss the 80’s. We so took for granted the wonderful world and time it was back then, we sorta just assumed it would always be. Ahhh well….
Another underrated John Cusack movie Hot Pursuit (1987) teen/ comedy Back then Daine Franklin was one of many 80's crushes along with phoebe cates and Betsy Russell
My favorite 80’s comedy. I’ve owned it on VHS, DVD and now streaming. I’ve seen it hundreds of times. I saw this in the theater when it first came out and had to go see it a couple of times soon after to hear the lines I missed due to the uproarious laughter. I’m glad you liked this crazy movie.
I had a pretty cool boss years ago who loved this movie like I did. When she was having a bad day, I would walk by and yell softly "2dollars!" Never failed to get a grin! 😆
I really like that you know all the names of the bit players and character actors in the cast. You're my people! Taylor Negron is the name of the mailman, who was also the pizza delivery guy in Fast Times. He passed away recently.
I loved this reaction and thank you for going away from the same old same old that most reactors are doing. If you want another fun and obscure movie, I would recommend "Greedy" from 1994. It has a hell of a cast including (Michael J. Fox, Kirk Douglass, Nancy Travis, Olivia d'Abo, Phil Hartman, and Ed Begley Jr.).
Thanks for doing this reaction. Been waiting to see someone do it. 1st watched this on a black and white tv and loved it ever since. Great music. And that Camaro. Always wanted one like it. One Crazy Summer is just as fun. Glad to see you did a reaction to it, too.
Jay, I am 56 yo and definitely grew up in the 1980's. You are a very smart and observant guy. You are by far my favorite movie reactor. This movie was directed by the cult legend, Savage Steve Holland. John Cusack is on record saying he is embarrassed by this movie. I love it! Now you need to react to the second John Cusack, Curtis Armstrong, Savage Steve Holland & young Demi Moore movie, " One Crazy Summer".
Thank you so much! I think I'll do One Crazy Summer soon. Had fun with this one and seems a bunch of people recommend that as well. Appreciate the recommendation and the support.
Yeah station wagons were very common in the 80s, my family had one and at least one of my friends did. They pretty much started dying when the first minivan came out in 1984.
For John Cusack I recommend "The Sure Thing" and "Grosse Point Blank".. love to see some very very under the radar reactions on this channel.. two faves from the 90s "The Cowboy Way" (with Woody Harrison) and "Flashback" (with Dennis Hopper) both with Kiefer Sutherland..
I used to watch this movie back when HBO stood for "Hey, Beatmaster's On." I just put 1+1 together realized that the reason the mom is giving out TV dinners for Christmas is because everyone is stocking up on TV dinners after seeing her food. She just figured they really liked them, rather than nobody wants to eat her cooking, and that's why they haven't starved to death.
When this came out, you could get a laugh anytime you saw a little kid on a bike, because everyone knew the joke when you'd yell at them, "TWO DOLLARS! I want my TWO DOLLARS!"
Hey you finally got around to watching Better Off Dead, how cool. I've seen this movie so many times and you still managed to notice two things on your first watching that I'd never noticed. 1. that the mailman is also the pizza delivery boy in Fast Times at Richmont High. 2. that the guy behind Amanda Wyss at the school dance is wearing a Freddy Krueger shirt. This movie has an "inofficial" sequel, that being One Crazy Summer. Unfortunately it isn't as structured (some serious arguments took place between director "Savage" Steve Holland and John Cusack while filming, with Cusack accusing him of destroying his acting career due to the sheer amount of silliness) as Better Off Dead and some montages carry on too long BUT to me personally, it has two of the funniest scenes in all of movie history.
How fun was this!! I love this movie, it's hilarious. If you haven't seen Heathers (1988) with Winona Ryder and Christian Slater I highly recommend it. It's funny, dark, and different. Happy New Year!! ✨ Two dollars!
80s movies always had station wagons -- they were the minivans of the era; any family with 3 or more kids had one, and then it almost always ended up being the first teen driver in the family's first car. I had one myself that I drove into the ground, and I am as uncool as you imagine.
Curtis Armstrong was also in risky business, the teacher guy was in fast times, ghost and many others. The girl singing at the dance was in Valley girl with Nicolas Cage
Love being able to see clips of these fun movies again. The humor in this one was at times ridiculous but always fun! Another 80s sleeper favorite of mine growing up was The Last Dragon.
This was an incredible film to see as a young kid. I loved to draw and the animation captured my imagination. Savage Steve Holland included many stories from his own adolescence. He said his mother was always trying out new recipes she'd find in magazines, and they never quite worked out. That running gag about Lane's mother's food always kills me. Holland and Cusack's follow up "One Crazy Summer" is also hilarious, despite what John Cusack thinks of it. Bobcat Goldthwaite in his manic prime, running around in a Godzilla suit sold that movie for me. Thanks for reacting to this one, it deserves attention.
FANTASTIC selection, as per usual. You're gonna start to be known as 'that guy' with the cool reaction vids. 1985, what a year(!) to be a kid in high school... this 'keep you on yer toes' flick, Real Genius, Breakfast Club, Explorer's, Brazil, Legend, Back to the Future, Lifeforce, Pale Rider, Silverado, Fletch, LadyHawke...
Enjoyed your reaction to a classic for those who grew up in the 80s. Wonderful movie. I totally laugh all through the movie whenever I watch it. That chalk screech reminds me of the fact that since the advent of those white dry-erase boards, kids will never know the power of chalk screeching on the blackboard or finger nails being dragged down the metal/slate. Station wagons were very popular during the 1970s and early 80s, especially for families with more than just two children. Alas, the station wagon was replaced by the minivan. Although personally I would prefer a station wagon vs the minivan. Although if you look at many of the SUVs, they really are just modified station wagons with big wheels. The comment about Lane removing the pictures with Beth is key, because Monique will have to live with the Meyers after the fight with Ricky.
Dude, you have a good eye lol. I'm 6 minutes in and you've recognized some familiar faces. I have seen both this and Porky's way too often, and I never realized that's who that was.
Another interesting fact: the singer at the high school dance is none other than "Dotti", the bicycle repair woman and love interest from Pee Wee's Big Adventure and also an accomplished voice actress (-> Rug Rats)
This is an amazing movie. I love my 80's movies. Curtis Armstrong is amazing in this movie and I love the paper boys in it. I can't believe you have never watched Revenge Of The Nerds. It's my favorite movie. I even have the Revenge Of The Nerds title tattooed on my arm. Great work on this watch.
Steven Williams (Creighton Drake) was also the captain on the original 21 Jump Street show, as well as appearing in The Blues Brothers and Cooley High!
John Cusack started off in a minor role in 16 Candles, and grow into a big star. He's one of my favorite actors. His role in Martian Child with his sister Joan was amazing, but I really loved him in Edgar Allen Poe in The Raven.
That's what it was! At the beginning of this video I mentioned people talking about it during Weird Science, but it was actually Sixteen Candles. I haven't seen either of the latter movies. I'll look into those, thank you.
I haven't seen many reactors do this one, but they should! One of my favorite comedies. I recommend "One Crazy Summer" which is by the same director and also starring John Cusack.
Classic John Cusack movie. Other John Cusack movies you might enjoy besides "Say Anything": "High Fidelity", "Gross Point Blank", "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil". Also the teacher in this movie is in "Ghost", the postal carrier is in "The Last Boy Scout", and Monique is in an incredible movie called "The Last American Virgin". Enjoy
I saw One Crazy Summer by the same director and also starring John Cusack in the theaters and then a friend showed me this and i fell over laughing at many parts particularly the horror two dollars trope.
I was a paper boy in the 80's and it wasn't far off lol People hiding in their houses when I came to collect and had to trap them when they got home from work.
My favorite movie of all time! lol I love it, thx edit: yep, a Black Camaro w/ red interior ...one of the reasons I love this movie! ...that 67 RS/SS is HOT (except for the one wheel peel and the powerglide 🤣)
I just discovered your channel and had a chance to browse through your movie lineup before I watched your reaction to one of my top 10 childhood movies....I must say you have reacted to many of my childhood movies and with that you have a new subscriber, last but not least loved your reaction to this underrated gem. Can't wait for the next reaction