MovieChat Forums > Leave It to Beaver (1997) Discussion > They Couldn't Decide What they Wanted To...

They Couldn't Decide What they Wanted To Do With This Movie!

posted 14 years ago by SMARTASS8
8 replies | jump to latest

* Parts of this movie seem exactly like the TV show: Beaver & Wally wear clothing styles right out of the 1950's, they are basically good kids who get into mischief, and they have loving parents.

* Parts of this movie seem like they were going for parody: Wally about to say "ass" to his parents, Mrs. Cleaver telling Eddie to "cut the crap", and Wally playing "spin the bottle".

* Parts of this movie seem like they were attempting to modernize "Leave It To Beaver": Mrs. Cleaver exposing her midriff while working in her garden, Beaver getting a computer from Aunt Martha, Ward & June watching "Home Improvement", and Gilbert now a black kid who speaks in ebonics.

Imo, they failed at all three different attempts. The sad thing is Hollywood hasn't gotten any better in the 21st century. God does Hollywood suck!

[–] hillbrian2005 14 years ago

That was pretty interesting the way it turned out.

[–] hillbrian2005 14 years ago

Also, Beaver rents a vhs Balto, and Eddie is looking at a computer in Ward's den, and Eddie calls Beaver Beavis.

[–] bluestrat70 13 years ago

Absolutely agree - just caught some of this on HBO this morning. I was waiting to figure out what tone the director was settling on. Never hit the mark nor stayed with it.

There was a scene with older cars in the background but the new style GT bmx bike the beav had. Ward and June getting busy in the living room, as well.

They should have picked one format and run with it - seems there was plenty to play off of from the old show in a modern setting.

"everything i say, by definition, is a promise." CARMINE SABATINI -(The Freshman)

[–] drystyx 13 years ago

Have to completely disagree. I went into the movie thinking the worst, but was pleasantly surprised by how well put together it was. There didn't look to be a bit of indecision. They went with modernizing it completely. There's nothing about it that looks 1960ish. Nothing at all. Yet they kept the basic charm of the show, and the comraderie that is missing in 99% of movies made since 1970, so perhaps that is what you mean. But that would mean you are brainwashed by modern movies into not accepting "comraderie".

How do we know it's not a fake? It looks like a fake to me.

[–] hillbrian2005 12 years ago

It was surely more of a modern movie than really an old day type one.

[–] bing-57 9 years ago

> They went with modernizing it completely. There's nothing about it that looks 1960ish. Nothing at all.

Well, except that June wears fancy dresses, make-up, and pearls while doing housework, Wally buttons his shirts all the way to the top, and the kids hang out at the malt shop after school where the girls wear hoop skirts.

--
What Would Jesus Do For A Klondike Bar (WWJDFAKB)?

[–] chas437 9 years ago

Well, except that June wears fancy dresses, make-up, and pearls while doing housework, Wally buttons his shirts all the way to the top, and the kids hang out at the malt shop after school where the girls wear hoop skirts.

Yes, Some of the hairstyles, wardrobe, etc., look modern, some look like the 1950s.

OP is right, this movie is a complete disaster. It seems to have a message of eternal wholesomeness. It could be viewed as a retort to the Brady Bunch parody films of the 1990s, which were cleverly done, hilarious, and a tad subversive.

Glad to know this lost a lot of money.

I'll take Punctuality

[–] Navaros 8 years ago

The original post is perfectly-said! All of that is exactly what is wrong with this film. They couldn't decide if they wanted to respect the original material, or crap all over it. So they ended up doing a mix of both (but with much more crapping on than respecting), and the result is a disaster.

I'd also add to the OP that this film is primarily built upon endless sequences of very phony-looking slapstick action. In contrast, the TV version has almost no slapstick action. And instead, the the show focuses on relationship dynamics.

The film's relationships all fall flat.

By the way, Jerry Mathers and Tony Dow turned down offers to appear in this film on the grounds that it is not actually Leave It To Beaver. Here is a link to where Mathers say so, starting at about the 7 minute mark:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTlmbZlVlRI