Tuesday, March 15, 2005

I'd like to take a moment to talk about one of the greatest films of our time, Son in Law, starring Pauly Shore. There is only one way to describe this film: fantastic. Mr. Shore weaves an intricate plot like no other can, and the language he speaks is as rich with culture and imagery as the Bard.
Here's the plot summary from IMDb:
"Country girl Rebecca begins college in Los Angeles. There she meets Crawl [Pauly Shore], a student who is crazy, unpredictable and wild. During the holidays she brings him with her home. Her parents have never seen anything like him and are shocked when Rebecca tells them that they are engaged to be married. Two different worlds collide..."
I like how they leave it open-ended. Like, "You'll have to see the movie, bro! Just wait, it's so awesome I don't wanna ruin anything for you!"
There are almost too many poignant scenes to mention here, like the scene where Crawl gives Rebecca's mother a funky makeover and alludes to Rebecca's father having a boner for his newly hot wife, or when he heroically rescues Grandpa from the clammy hands of death by performing CPR during the fishing trip scene.
But the one moment that stands out, that is sure to stay with you and haunt you, is the final climatic scene which takes place during Thanksgiving dinner. After Rebecca's ex-boyfriend Travis sets in motion a plot which echoes Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" to frame Crawl, the truth is revealed. Much to everyone's surprise (and delight!) Grandpa (who has spent the entire film rolling his eyes at Crawl's non-traditional ways) suddenly rises out of his seat and, adopting Crawl's colorful and beautiful language, expresses his anger at seeing a cool dude like Crawl "get wheezed on by a greasy scumbaaaaaag like you! It really tweaks my melon!". Well said, Grandfather. Well said.
Sadly, Mr. Shore has been painfully overlooked by the Academy during his long and distinguished career. Unfortunately for him, much like Picasso, this is one artist who may only truly be appreciated posthumously.
Pauly Shore, you have the soul of a poet, the mind of a clown and the spirit of an Eagle. (Insert eagle sreech here.)

Disclaimer: you should be totally drunk when you watch this movie.

1 comment:

Paul said...

I just had a great idea for a movie. It's called -

"Slapping Pauly Shore"

I'd try to get Brad Pitt to play Pauly Shore, so you could kill 2 birds with one stone.