HE SAID
I have to say that I went into this movie very skeptically. Of course, I knew it was considered a cult classic, and a childhood favorite of many of my friends…and of course I remember the famous line: "Wolfman's got nards!" But I really expected a campy, silly kid's movie. That was not to be the case...well, actually maybe it was, but in a good way.
Monster Squad is one of those great 1980s "coming of age" films, like The Goonies, where you can really relate to the characters. I don't know what it was about 80s movies, but for whatever reason they nailed the reality of growing up in middle-class suburban America! I mean, these kids are vulgar, and funny, and smart, and eccentric, and, above all else, remind me of my friends and me when we were that age.
The plot, of course, was a bit silly, but also brilliant. Putting all the famous movie monsters together in one film to do battle with a gang of pre-teens…I mean, how can you go wrong?
Needless to say, I loved this movie, and am disappointed only in that it took me this long to watch it. Perhaps it is my age but I can really relate to the characters, thus giving Monster Squad a bit of a nostalgic edge in my opinion, but I think that anyone who loves to lose themselves in the bliss of a fast-paced, funny movie can find something to like about this film.
He Said: A must see! If you haven't seen Monster Squad, run to the video store. If you have, watch it again. The perfect family film for Halloween.
SHE SAID
Plot summary: The Goonies + Back to the Future + Stand By Me + All the great monster movies of the '50s = Monster Squad
I had not read much about this film when I chose it for my Halloween movie pick. It was chosen simply because it had ALL the great scary monsters in it and we were nearing dangerously close to October 31. But it was a great pick (even though serendipitously).
The movie is not shooting for high drama and it never takes itself too seriously, which is what makes it so much fun. It's a B-movie done right - with kids turning it all around on monsters even. The Monster Squad, led by Sean (Andre Gower), holds regular meetings at their clubhouse, where they recount a multitude of ways to kill a miscellany of monsters. "Scary German guy," an old man who lives in the neighborhood, gets brought into the action when the Squad needs help translating Abraham von Helsing's diary. He helps the boys (and Phoebe, Sean's younger sister) figure out how to ensure monsterless world peace for another 100 years.
Special effects have come a long way since 1987. The time warp scene is almost laughable today. And the Wolfman was strange looking to me. But Dracula, Frankenstein, and The Mummy could walk right into a movie playing this weekend and look right at home. (It's one of the best looking Mummies I've ever seen.)
She Said: It's a great family film for Halloween. The monsters are not too scary. There is some bad language in the film, but nothing more than you hear in songs on the radio these days. A fun watch! (And I really, really want a "Stephen King Rules" t-shirt now too.)
THEY SAID
After reading each other's reviews, The Eskimo and Shawn always discuss the reviews (and the film, too, of course). Listen to the Monster Squad audio commentary here or in the player below. (And find out which film Shawn picked to review next.)
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