The beard
Didn't it seem like John Ritter's looked very realistic in some scenes, but very fake in others? I wonder if they had to reshoot some scenes after he shaved.
shareWarped,
I've noticed that too.
I assumed, like you, that they either had to reshoot after he shaved, OR that they had started shooting before his beard was fully in :)
It didn't detract from my enjoyment of the film though.
Hello, Abbey! Glad I wasn't the only one who noticed. And no, it didn't detract from my enjoyment of this movie either. I didn't expect to like it at all, but I wound up loving it. John Ritter was a terrific actor (though I was no fan of "Three's Company"), and this was one of his finest roles.
shareWhile i didn't mind 3s Company, i certainly didn't think it was memorable work.
And sadly, Ritter just didn't have much of a Movie Career. This is by FAR my favorite movie of his.
I consider it one of the hidden gems in my Dvd collection.
Dear Abbey (sorry, couldn't resist):
John also had memorable bit parts in the films "Sling Blade," "Panic" and "Bad Santa," but it's unfortunate that he rarely was cast as the lead except in this film. I've always known he was a decent actor and a nice fellow, but "Skin Deep" was a real revelation for me. It's amazing how he balances the comedic and tragic elements of this film. I'm puzzled as to why it has such a low rating here and is largely forgotten, but I will always remember it as John's finest work (that I've seen, at least).
there is NO resistence :)
I agree with you. His part in Sling Blade was very well played and the haircut was something else.
My comment was simply saying, and i think we both clearly agree without reservation, that Skin Deep will always be his shining moment, especially cuz he died so young.
I've heard he was absolutely one of the nicest guys you'd ever want to meet, too.
As for the low rating?
Have you noticed how often on IMDB it's Comedies that are the biggest examples of a variance in opinion? I'm guessing it's because we all have different senses of humor about just what IS funny. I've even had people tell me in absolute terms, that certain things are NEVER funny. I find that position to be ludicrous from the get go.
I recently argued up and down that the Love Guru was NOT the worst movie made last year. Not by a long shot. With other poor movies like Epic Movie or Scary Movie 4, or Meet the Spartans?? But so many people were saying Myers just did the same kind of jokes he did in his other movies??? I was just like, "Yeah? and you were expecting....??"
Hello, Abbey Dear!
I totally agree that "The Love Guru" was not the worst movie made last year. That title belongs to "Meet the Spartans." Actually, I have the feeling that title belongs to "The Hottie and the Nottie," but I have not seen that film, and if I am very lucky, I never will.
I put little stock in IMDb ratings for new films because folks vote either 10 or 1 as soon as a film comes out based on their feeling about the cast, subject matter or previews – and often from multiple accounts. I think about my ratings carefully, and often compare films with each other before deciding. I would never, ever vote on a film I didn't watch through to the credits. I rarely give 10s, and I've only given a handful of 1s – and yes, "Meet the Spartans" was one of them. It was truly torture to sit through, but I made it. As for "The Love Guru," I didn't like it much, but I gave I a 3 for effort. I'm not a big Mike Myers fan, but I love the "Wayne's World" films and wish he'd make a third one. Think of it: Wayne in his 40s, still living in his parents' basement, still rocking out to Aerosmith. Schwing!
As for "Skin Deep," I gave it an 8, though I'm thinking now that it's been a year since I've seen it and it's still on my mind, it may be closer to a 9. These issues drive me nuts, but at least I'm motivated by my conscience – unlike the fanboys who are motivated by a hatred of Hannah Montana or a love of Heath Ledger.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU ! THANK YOU!
Here i thought i was the only person left capable of giving Myer credit for making something better than Meet the Spartans, Epic movie and a few others. Personally, because i was in the right mood going in, i gave it 5.5-6. There were a few things that made me rewind and laugh at over and over.
You're right about the folks on IMDB, at least the apparently "Under21" crowd who seem to think EVERYTHING is the best thing ever.
I too rarely give 10s and what would it take to get a 1? A blank screen for an hour and half followed by the credits? haha
I find whe npeople ask me what is a good movie, i need them to be more specific to what they are looking for...Drama? Romance? Comedy? Action? Sci-Fi? It's very hard to compare different genres to each other.
Wayne's World 3 SHOULD get made! Do you think Garth would have his pubes yet?
I keep saying the same about Austin Powers. There are SO many other James Bond Villains to spoof yet, how could they NOT come up with another spinoff?
When i think of Skin Deep, i think of a lighthearted comedy, that touches on some very real issues, and it is a movie that does not go thru any dry spells without a laugh for more than 5 minutes the entire length of the flick. How many comedies can say that? I'd give it a strong 7. Easily.
and Uuugh, please don't remind me of the Heath Love goin' on lately.
I'll give the guy credit. I've liked a few of his roles. But Dark Knight was a long dry watch and the "Sympathy Vote" for Ledger was never appealing to me.
Hello, Abbey:
Sorry for the delayed reply. It's been a busy couple of days.
I'm SO with you on "Wayne's World 3." I think the second was actually better than the first. I'd love to see Wayne and Garth's take on games like "Guitar Hero," which Aerosmith is big on these days. He'd either be playing them constantly or think they betrayed the spirit of the band. Maybe Wayne could have a niece who's into "American Idol" and he's going ballistic trying to get the tube back from her. There have been some decent Wayne wannabe movies lately like "Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny" and "The Rocker," but they seem to owe so much to Wayne and Garth.
It's very sad that Mike Myers has been dealing with the death of his father, and the bad reception to "The Love Guru" apparently sent him spiraling further into depression. I think he's a gifted comic with the right vehicle, and I'd like to see him back on track again. He also had an interesting role as disco kingpin Steve Rubell in "54"; not a great film, but very entertaining.
And yes, "Skin Deep" is a comedy that touches on some heavy issues. The glow-in-the-dark condom scene was imaginative and unforgettable. Blake Edwards has a lot of touches like that in his films. I like "10" even more, and that's about a man facing a midlife crisis who think he can find salvation in Bo Derek. I assume there's a lot of Blake Edwards in his films.
I also miss adult comedies like this -- also those that Burt Reynolds and Gene Wilder used to make. I've seen most of the Judd Apatow films, and they're usually more juvenile than adult. I wish "Saturday Night Live" alums like Molly Shannon and Norm MacDonald would make more movies. I'm just rattling off names as they pop in my head here, but it seems like there's a great need for smart comedy for the post-"Harold & Kumar" set (though I loved the first one). You know -- smart comedies like Christopher Guest's "mockumentaries," movies that are kind of weird, very funny and poke fun at society's obsessions.
Sorry for the delayed reply. It's been a busy couple of days.
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No prob, Warped.
Maybe Wayne could have a niece who's into "American Idol" and he's going ballistic trying to get the tube back from her. There have been some decent Wayne wannabe movies lately like "Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny" and "The Rocker," but they seem to owe so much to Wayne and Garth.
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Excellent suggestions for plot points.
I thought the PoD was kinda funny, especially Ben Stiller's cameo! :D
and the Rocker was actually alot funnier than i expected it to be. Although, how many movies are we seeing lately that stray from the "Formula" of their predecessors?
It's very sad that Mike Myers has been dealing with the death of his father, and the bad reception to "The Love Guru" apparently sent him spiraling further into depression. I think he's a gifted comic with the right vehicle, and I'd like to see him back on track again. He also had an interesting role as disco kingpin Steve Rubell in "54"; not a great film, but very entertaining.
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54 was really a good look at Mike's abilities.
And anyone that has seen interviews of him ( Especially the Inside teh Actors Studio ) would know how compeltely devastated mike was by his father's death. His divorce can't be helping matters either.
And yes, "Skin Deep" is a comedy that touches on some heavy issues. The glow-in-the-dark condom scene was imaginative and unforgettable. Blake Edwards has a lot of touches like that in his films. I like "10" even more, and that's about a man facing a midlife crisis who think he can find salvation in Bo Derek. I assume there's a lot of Blake Edwards in his films.
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I liked 10 but only for Dudley's part. Whenever it's a female or her character that i can't "Go along" with the entire world being attracted to them, they lose me almost immediately. Start listing supposed beauties like Julia Roberts, Gwyneth Paltrow, or Drew Barrymore's of the world and maybe you understand where i'm coming from?
I also miss adult comedies like this -- also those that Burt Reynolds and Gene Wilder used to make. I've seen most of the Judd Apatow films, and they're usually more juvenile than adult. I wish "Saturday Night Live" alums like Molly Shannon and Norm MacDonald would make more movies. I'm just rattling off names as they pop in my head here, but it seems like there's a great need for smart comedy for the post-"Harold & Kumar" set (though I loved the first one). You know -- smart comedies like Christopher Guest's "mockumentaries," movies that are kind of weird, very funny and poke fun at society's obsessions.
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Burt's best comedies, hmmmmm The Longest Yard, the End, his cameo in Striptease made that movie easier to watch, and if you've never seen it, his part in an episode of the X-Files was very funny.
Gene's best stuff? I loved his take on Willy Wonka, the psychologist in Everything you've always wanted to know about Sex is very memorable, the never to be made again Blazing Saddles is a CLASSIC, Young Frankenstein is awesome, and Stir Crazy was very entertaining.
I tend to prefer differnt types of comedies than most. First i like the dialogue to be witty. British stuff like Monty Python is more my taste than Airplane or Naked Gun.
I also like Darker grittier humor ( meanspirited if you will) to slapstick.
But most of all, the sheer amount of memorable One-liners is what sets my bar as to whether it's a keeper or not.
If you can stand an elongated list, here's what i have in my own collection that are either full blown comedies or have humorous content...
40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN
ABOUT LAST NIGHT
AMADEUS
AMELIE
AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON
ANALYZE THIS
AUSTIN POWERS: INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY
AUSTIN POWERS: THE SPY WHO SHAGGED ME
AUSTIN POWERS: GOLDMEMBER
BABY'S DAY OUT
BACHELOR PARTY
BACK TO THE FUTURE TRILOGY
BASEKETBALL
BELLBOY, THE
BETTER OFF DEAD
BIG
BIG LEBOWSKI, THE
BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA
BILLY CONNOLLY - ERECT FOR 30 YEARS
BILLY CONNOLLY - LIVE 1994
BILLY CONNOLLY - LIVE IN BROOKLYN
BILLY CONNOLLY - LIVE IN DUBLIN
BILLY CONNOLLY - GREATEST HITS
BILL HICKS
BLAZING SADDLES
BRAIN CANDY
BRIAN REGAN - I WALKED ON THE MOON
CABLE GUY, THE
CADDYSHACK
CAN'T BUY ME LOVE
CARBON COPY
CASUAL SEX?
CHEECH AND CHONG NEXT MOVIE
CHEECH AND CHONG NICE DREAMS
CHEECH AND CHONG STILL SMOKIN
CHEECH AND CHONG UP IN SMOKE
CHRISTMAS STORY
CHRISTMAS VACATION
CLERKS
CLERKS II
CLOCKWORK ORANGE
CLUE
COMING TO AMERICA
CREATURE COMFORTS
D.C. CAB
DENNIS LEARY
DODGEBALL
DOGMA
DROP DEAD FRED
DROWNING MONA
DR. STRANGELOVE
EASY MONEY
EDWARD SCISSORHANDS
ELECTRIC DREAMS
EMO PHILLIPS
EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE, THE
EMPIRE RECORDS
FARGO
FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH
FATHER TED
FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF
FIFTH ELEMENT, THE
FISH CALLED WANDA
FORREST GUMP
FOUR ROOMS
FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL
48 HOURS
48 HOURS, ANOTHER
FRESHMAN, THE
FRIDAYS
FRIGHTENERS, THE
FUNNY BONES
GET SHORTY
GHOSTBUSTERS
GOOD FELLAS
GREASE
GREEDY
GROSSE POINT BLANK
GROUNDHOG DAY
GRUMPY OLD MEN
GRUMPIER OLD MEN
HAROLD AND KUMAR GO TO WHITE CASTLE
HER ALIBI
HIGH FIDELITY
HOLLYWOOD KNIGHTS
HOUSE PARTY
INNOCENT BLOOD
KIDS IN THE HALL 1-5
KILL BILL VOLUME 1
KILL BILL VOLUME II
KINGPIN
LADYKILLERS
LEMONY SNICKET
LIFE WITH FATHER
LITTLE BRITAIN SEASONS 1-3
LOCK, STOCK & TWO SMOKING BARRELS
LONGEST YARD, THE
LOONEY TUNES
ME, MYSELF & IRENE
MEET THE PARENTS
MILLER'S CROSSING
MIKE MYERS-INSIDE THE ACTORS STUDIO
MONEY PIT
MONTY PYTHON'S FLYING CIRCUS
MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL
MONTY PYTHON, THE LIFE OF BRIAN
MONTY PYTHON, THE MEANING OF LIFE
MOSCOW ON THE HUDSON
MR. BLANDINGS BUILDS HIS DREAM HOUSE
MR. MOM
MY BLUE HEAVEN
MY COUSIN VINNY
NEAR DARK
NOBODY'S FOOL-Paul Newman
NUTS
O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU?
OCEAN'S ELEVEN
OCEAN'S TWELVE
ONCE BITTEN
ONE CRAZY SUMMER
ORGASMO
OSCAR
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY
OVERBOARD
PENN & TELLER SEASONS 1-5
PIRATES OF THE CARRIBBEAN
PRINCESS BRIDE
PRIVATE PARTS
PROFESSIONAL, THE
PULP FICTION
QUIGLEY DOWN UNDER
RAISING ARIZONA
RISKY BUSINESS
ROCKO'S MODERN LIFE 1-6
RUN-DOWN
RUNNING SCARED
SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK
SCROOGED
SEINFELD
SHE'S HAVING A BABY
SIGNS
SIMPSONS SEASON 1
SIXTEEN CANDLES
SKIN DEEP
SLAP SHOT
SLEEPY HOLLOW
SNATCH
SNEAKERS
SO I MARRIED AN AXE MURDERER
SOUTH PARK SEASONS 1-11
STILL CRAZY
STRIPES
SUPERTROOPERS
THAT THING YOU DO
THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY
THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR, THE
THREE O'CLOCK HIGH
THUNDERHEART
TIMEBANDITS
TOMMY BOY
TOP SECRET
TRADING PLACES
TRANSPORTER 1 & 2
UHF
UNCLE BUCK
USED CARS
V FOR VENDETTA
VALLEY GIRL
WAITING
WALLACE & GROMIT
WALLACE & GROMIT CURSE OF THE WERERABBIT
WATERBOY, THE
WAYNE'S WORLD
WAYNE'S WORLD 2
WEDDING SINGER
WEIRD AL YANKOVICH
WHOLE NINE YARDS, THE
WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
WITH HONORS
WIZARD OF OZ, THE
WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP, THE
X-FILES SEASON 1-7
YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN
ZERO EFFECT
ZOOLANDER
Sorry for the length :) but at least i editd out the rest of my flicks that aren't considered comedies in any way :)
Hello, Abbey:
Apologies again for the delayed response. That is a phenomenal list of comedies, most of which I've seen but a few I haven't even heard of. One that I might suggest if you haven't seen it is "Flirting With Disaster," directed by David O. Russell. His name is mud these days, but I love his films – and this one is hilarious and bizarre. And if you like the British wit, you might check out "Death at a Funeral" and the films of Simon Pegg, particularly "Hot Fuzz."