MovieChat Forums > Loverboy (1989) Discussion > 80's version of 40's style screwball com...

80's version of 40's style screwball comedy?

posted 13 years ago by tdl797
3 replies | jump to latest

This came on today. I missed the first 30 mins or so. I've seen it over the years on cable. Maybe more than I realize, because I would see scenes and how Dempsey had these very unique, spastic movements and remember those. They are the kind of movements I would associate more with screwball comedies.

So that got me to thinking - think of this in black and white with a young Cary Grant (like he was around Bringing Up Baby). I don't think it's too farfetched. The way they tie up the ending is a little more complicated than your typical comedy, so that also gives it a screwball feel.

As far as making it fit the era, I'm trying to think of a similar profession that delivered to homes then. Did they still deliver ice for refrigerators? Radio repairman? Milkman? Doctor home visit? Mailman?

[–] annieapplez 11 years ago

totally agree about the 40's style screwball - probably that is why i love this movie :)

[–] DavidStHubbinsUSA 10 years ago

I never thought about it that way but kinda does. This is one of the true 80's movie's for me. I remember seeing on cable a lot not long after it came out and I'm maybe just a year or so younger than PD so saw it today for the first time in forever..... The styles, the attitudes the different cliques we fit in.... The 80's always reminded me more of an extreme 50's though more than 40's...

[–] ItsEddieHaskellBeyotch 10 years ago

Another reason why it feels that way has got to be because of the way Patrick Dempsey seems to move and hop around as though he were a dancer in one of those 1930s-40s musicals.

'When there's no more room in Hollywood, remakes shall walk the Earth.'