I never understood that scene. Did Clark like them, or were they supposed to be dorky shoes? They looked a little used. Was that part of the joke as well, that Eddie would give him used shoes? And did Rusty actually like them, or was he being sarcastic when he said, "those are great, dad"?
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"If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything." -George McFly
Clark did not like the shoes. They were way over the top and no longer in style at that time. Not sure about whether Rusty was being sarcastic or sincere though. (Just rewatched it - sounds like Rusty was being sincere.)
IIRC these shoes were popular during the "disco" era, but they were out of style by the time this was filmed. If you'll notice one particular scene where Eddie is "grilling" outside, the shirt and pants he is wearing are very late 70's looking.
ETA - I am just now rewatching this and got to the part where they are all sitting around in the living room and Eddie is complaining about his money problems. I just noticed Eddie is wearing the same shoes he gives Clark. So, yes, they were used shoes and way out of style.
I'm an automatic steeple for depressed and lonely people. ~ Blue October
Pretty much dead on ^^^^ but I'd like to add that those shoes are CHEAP junk. Back in the 70's, there were mail order companies that sold shoes just like those that looked like leather (at least in the catalog), but were in reality some sort of bonded vinyl over pressed cardboard. Also, check the shape of them; they're actually molded uppers glued to cheap soles. I've been racking my brain trying to remember the name of the company that was very popular back then, but coming up empty.
The joke was not only were they out of style, but they were three pairs for $20..
It is bad to drink Jobu's rum. Very bad.share
this thread is cute. but i don't think the shoes were used. probably had dozens of them lying around the house. & clark wearing them later-roflas someone said- didn't dislike em that much. Rusty really did like them i believe
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i got that Justin Bieber please believe it
Lol, I thought the shoes were kind of nice....and now when I re-watch the movie, I'm going to look out for the scene of Clark sporting the shoe's.LMAO!
shareJust saw this again yesterday. I think that:
- Clark made an off-hand comment at some point in the past like "nice shoes Eddie" to be polite but didn't mean it at all
- Eddie is cheap and poor and give him that exact pair as a "present"; it could be the case that even Eddie realizes they're now out of style and wants to get rid of them
- Rusty is quite young and his enthusiasm was probably genuine; reminds me of how Bart thinks dumb stuff Homer does is cool
Sorry, but you guys are nuts. Rusty was obviously being sarcastic. He wanted to see his dad wearing the goofy shoes. Clark wearing them at the hotel to look hip completes the gag.
shareEddie says something along the lines of "I remember the last time you saw me you were saying how much you loved my pair" so I don't think the shoes are used. The shoes are outdated and supposed to be tacky looking, probably, as others have already said, very cheap. I think that Clark, when seeing the shoes before, said "Nice shoes" to be sarcastic because he can't stand Eddie and Eddie, being dumb, thought he was being serious.
share" "I remember the last time you saw me you were saying how much you loved my pair"
I don't know what movie you were watching, but THIS particular line doesn't exist in THIS movie.
Please watch the actual movie before making these claims about what some character said. Why is it THIS difficult to get a quote right? Almost no one in these boards gets any quote right besides me.
Eddie never says 'you loved my pair' in any case.
Clark: "I love 'em, Eddie."
Eddie: "I knew you did, because the last time I saw you, Clark, your .. you remarked about how much you liked mine."
I even remembered the 'how much you liked mine'-part, so the word 'pair' really hits a nerve when it's never even uttered and you lie about it so blatantly.
TRY to just listen to the ACTUAL line next time you want to quote a movie character, MMMKAY??!
Geezaz, it couldn't be easier and yet you goof it up.
"- Eddie is cheap and poor and "
Oxymoron.
You can't be cheap AND poor. I mean, it's somewhat possible, I suppose, but how do you KNOW someone is cheap, if they're poor? Poor people aren't 'cheap', they just can't afford to appear 'non-cheap', because they don't have the resources.
Only rich people can be cheap, because the very definition of being cheap, is 'being able to pay handsomely, but only paying a tiny amount', or 'being able to buy expensive things, but buying cheap things instead'.
When you remove the ABILITY to buy something expensive, there's no 'cheap'. If you have 10 cents and you buy something that costs 10 cents, you're not being cheap, you don't have any OPTIONS to buy anything more expensive.
If you have 100 bucks and you buy something that costs 10 cents because you want to save money, although you could easily afford the 10-dollar one or the 80-dollar version, only THEN can you ever be cheap.
"Cheap AND poor" is an oxymoron, even if someone poor IS actually cheap, you can never KNOW they're cheap, as long as they remain poor, because they don't have the opportunity to show that they're actually cheap, since they're _FORCED_ to buy cheap stuff because of lack of money and resources.
Eddie could be REALLY generous and non-cheap, and would buy the most expensive and extravagant things, if he HAD MONEY - you don't know! So please refrain from accusing a character of being something you have no way of knowing they are. I mean, it's possible that Eddie is cheap, but considering how generous and well-meaning he really is, I don't think it would fit his character.
Being cheap fits the character of some wealthy miser, not a poor guy with an overly big family.
I can't see how your not getting it Clark must of seen Eddie wearing the shoes at some point and said they looked nice even tho they looked *beep* not to hurt his feelings he (Clark )knows Eddie is a little slow on the uptake like when he says to him in chrismas vac " take you out to the desert leave you for dead " then when they stop off and visit them at there farm Clark is being sarcastic about the real tomato ketcup ect Which Eddie doesn't get . Eddie gave Clark the shoes after Clark helped him out with some money but Eddie has a big heart and even tho Clark takes the Micky out of him he doesn't want to hert his feelings. The thing is Eddie is thick as a bowling ball he swapped his farm for a RV that was falling apart ..... Remember
shareThat goes with the beer gift he gave Clark - (Downs half a beer in one gulp and gives Clark the used beer and opens a new on for himself)
shareThey looked like golfer shoes that old rich clueless business men would wear to be casual/sporty-patent leather i think they called it. God awful
shareI love this scene, Rusty was obviously joking when he said "oh dad those are great" he knew they were ugly, tacky and very out of style. Clark, at some point which we never saw probably made a sarcastic comment to Eddie about his shoes, Eddie being slow and things going over his head assumed he was being serious. I don't believe they were used he probably really went and got a pair thinking Clark would love them. The scene is subtle and hilarious.
shareI like that he slipped them on later in the movie.
He's nothing next to Bart Taylor.
The way I've always understood it was Eddie was thankful for the money he was given and wanted to give Clark something. He didn't have much but he did have shoes he liked. So he gave his favorite shoes which were used to Clark.
Kinda like how a child gives a gift of their favorite stuffed animal. It may be a weird gift to the one receiving it but to the child it's a beloved teddy bear.
Maybe I'm seeing to much into it but that's what I've always seen.