|
|
Meatballs (Special Edition)
RRP: $14.94Our Price: $6.49 (subject to change)Editorial
Product Description
Set at a low-end summer camp and aimed squarely at a teen audience, Meatballs is a light screwball comedy that turned its low-budget Canadian roots into a very profitable box-office run. The biggest reason for the film's success is Bill Murray who stars as Tripper, the head counselor who runs things at Camp Northstar with the help of his love interest Roxanne (Kate Lynch) and the camp's director Morty (Harvey Atkins), who is affectionately known as Mickey. Camp opens with Tripper and Morty preparing the misfit counselors-in-training — Spaz, Fink, Crockett, A.L., Candace, Wendy, and Wheels among them — for the arrival of their hyperactive little charges. After settling in, kids and counselors begin their activities with a soccer game in which depressed 11-year-old Rudy (Chris Makepeace) accidentally loses the game. Cast out by the other children, Rudy runs away only to come across Tripper, who befriends the boy and makes him his running partner. Romance, sexy fun, and comic hijinx — usually with the heavy-sleeping Morty as their target — lead up to an annual Olympiad in which Camp Northstar battles the wealthier and athletically superior residents of Camp Mohawk. The challenging events include cup stacking, potato-sack racing, and a nauseating hot dog-eating contest in which the portly Fink devours his way to victory. With the two-day event tied up, it comes down to the cross-country run, in which Tripper enters Rudy. Meatballs was the first major directorial effort by multi-talented filmmaker Ivan Reitman, whose name has since become synonymous with the comedy genre.
Editorial
Amazon.com
Decades before he was winning accolades for his work in Lost in Translation and Rushmore, Bill Murray was making moviegoers snicker with his breakthrough comedy Meatballs. This film--which was released theatrically in 1979--stars a 29-year-old Murray as a horny camp counselor named Tripper Harrison, who is just barely more mature than the kids he's looking after. Tripper seems like a screw up because he is, but the audience sees soon enough that he has that proverbial heart of gold, which is offset by an acerbic tongue. Looking over one of the unhappy children in his charge, Tripper says, "You must be the short, depressed kid we ordered." Camp North Star isn't the type of destination kids dream about during the school year. As envisioned by director Ivan Reitman (who would again collaborate with Murray in Ghostbusters), it's a place where kids do their time until their parents let them return home. But in his own way, Tripper makes it a fun place for the kids to learn about the opposite sex and get a feeing for competition. Unlike Little Darlings, the coming-of-age camping film starring Kristy McNichol and Tatum O'Neal that was released a year later, there really isn't a strong moral to this film. But there is a sense that thanks to Tripper's unorthodox madness, he makes Camp North Star a place that kids want to return to the following year. While not as self-assured as he would be in a smaller role in 1980's Caddyshack, Murray is highly likeable here as an overgrown doof. On the DVD
In the special edition version of this DVD, the extra features include some insight into Murray, who is somewhat elusive about committing to film projects. Reitman reveals that he actually wasn't sure Murray (who wasn't a big name back then) was on board for Meatballs until he showed up for filming the first week. Interestingly enough, this comedy originally was supposed to focus its attention on several camp counselors, but Murray was so good in his role that the plot was adjusted to focus primarily on Tripper. Also included is a three-part "making of" featurette that includes insight into casting, the use of real campers because they didn't have enough money to pay for extras, and interviews with some of the cast members. --Jae-Ha Kim Stills from Meatballs (click for larger image) Beyond Meatballs at Amazon.com 
More Films by Bill Murray | 
Get Ready for Camp | 
Comedies about Underdogs |
Exccellent ServiceReview date: 2010-08-20 Rating: 10 out of 10The service for this site was excellent; the used item was in new condition and product arrived earlier than planned. I would recommend t his site and defienltely use it again.
ReviewsInfectious NostalgiaReview date: 2010-05-28 Rating: 8 out of 10Ah the wonderful days of a childhood summer, stretching endlessly with memories to spare. When watching "Meatballs," the warm-hearted and enjoyable 1979 comedy that was the beginning spark of the storied careers of actor Bill Murray (Lost in Translation) and director Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters (Widescreen Edition)), not to mention supporting actor Matt Craven (Indian Summer) and writer Harold Ramis (Stripes), I am reminded of those afternoons camping with my family, playing soccer with friends and, most importantly, trying to fit in.
This film was a financial success at the box office, inspiring multiple sequels of poor quality (Meatballs, Part II [VHS], Meatballs 3 [VHS]) unable to capture even a glimmer of charm of the original. The key to "Meatballs'" success, in addition to great campfire ghost stories, Murray's near-brilliant improvised speech ("It just doesn't matter!") and the enjoyable use of fun pop music of the era (Mary MacGregor, Rick Dees, Meatballs), is the relationship between Murray's Tripper and camp misfit Rudy (Chris Makepeace). It's the heart of this story, perhaps softening the sharper comedic edges about nerds and fat kids. Who among us cannot remember our teenage years when trying to fit in, ostracized by others because we could not play a sport or wore tennis shoes not hip enough? Murray's Tripper takes Rudy under his wing during a touching scene at the local bus station. Their camaraderie is likable and genuine.
"Meatballs," filmed on location at a Canadian summer camp still in business to this day, is an enjoyable escape about a ragtag group of counselors doing their best to keep order over the course of a busy season. They prank the camp supervisor Morty (Harvey Atkin), flirt with the good-natured female counselors (Kristin DeBell, Sarah Torgov), sing around crackling campfires and, most importantly, set an example for the children attempting to learn life's lessons. It's terrific fun, culminating with an epic athletic contest with neighboring rich kids at Camp Mohawk.
Quite simply, Murray is spectacular in the lead role. He is such a gifted comedian, so physically instinctive that even when he arches an eyebrow, it causes laughter. Reitman had the good sense to give young Bill a long leash. His scenes at the camp dance (gyrating to David Naughton's "Makin' It," no less Super Hits of the '70s: Have a Nice Day, Vol. 24), wrestling with female supervisor Roxanne (Kate Lynch) or attempting to inspire Fink (Keith Knight) to defeat "The Stomach" in a hot dog-eating contest, are brilliant moments of improvisation and energy.
We see so many films of this type, catering to base, sophomoric snickers, as disposable as a hamburger wrapper. Reitman intentionally recreated the summer camp experience with infectious nostalgia. There's an earnest attempt at documenting the frustrations and glories of youth. Who among us did not thrill at our first kiss, akin to Spaz's (Jack Blum) exhilaration? And even Rudy, who Tripper nurtures and protects, eventually has a chance to save the day.
I love "Meatballs," one of my favorite films of childhood. Every year, usually around May, I pop in the worn video and watch it with my family. "Summer does not officially begin until we watch 'Meatballs,'" I tell them. They usually groan and text away on a cell phone. No matter. There's a reason why "Meatballs," three decades down the road, is still fondly remembered when so many films from the same era were forgotten long, long ago. It's magic, kind of like those endless summers of youth.Great movie!Review date: 2010-02-07 Rating: 10 out of 10This movie reminds me of the 70s. What a fun time it was. Funny movie and Bill Murray is hilarious.funny!!Review date: 2009-08-25 Rating: 10 out of 10i've seen this movie when it first came out. i enjoyed it and thought it was funny with bill murray. its a real good summer time movie. it'll make you laugh
a different kind of reviewReview date: 2009-03-11 Rating: 10 out of 10i was 10 in 1979 when meatballs was released. i was a young snl fan of the 75 to 80 gang a poster of them to this day hangs on my wall in a far corner to remind me how much the late 70's mid 80's meant to me
i first saw this movie like 1941 animal house blues brothers caddyshack the jerk foul play vacation stripes of the era and reminds me of how i lived the era these people and my time as a kid
i saw meatballs in the theater and really a few times on tv and on the ol vhs copy the 80's version not the 90's nor the 97 dvd.
I saw this 30 th anniversary and Im sorry to say this...well I cried.
I saw this film when it was in mono and the picture was grainy.
This print and sound was so intense I felt like I was there when it was being done, the film print beautiful the sound totally redone
and the movie is actually like i remembered ...excellent
I think its been over 20 years since i saw it
This was I think my favorite of all Bill Murray works
he was peaking in sat night live and all that greatness of him followed him to this role
I feel like Chris Makepeace quiet kid hard to make friends and frankly I needed a Bill Murray in my life
I cant put my foot on it but somehow this film now goes by so fast it just whizzes by you...it freaked me out...it seemed slower more paced...
it is a short movie but very well done. each scene. The music I remember as well which fit the movie. Just a warm hearted funny tender movie
but like I said watching the redo is like watching the same movie but in a different way. Like I said it was made in 1979 and in those days they didnt have the technology to bring the print out like they did with this version...just had that essence mono grainy transfer look to it
Im dedicated this to the people who understand this review.
Kids of the 70's and understand the feeling of that era.
Older people and younger people may not understand what Im writing
if you 8 or 10 around 1978 1980 there was a very sensitive warm moment that was there. Im sorry but it will never happen again.
The 60 70's for life music art movies (maybe not politics but who cares)
was so special organic analog and just joyful I weep for the era and my fellow friends of the era who understand this review
MH
Product Details/SpecificationsActor(s):
Bill Murray
Harvey Atkin
Russ Banham
Kristine DeBell
Kate Lynch
Creators:
André Link (Producer)
Daniel Goldberg (Producer)
Daniel Goldberg (Writer)
John Dunning (Producer)
Harold Ramis (Writer)
Janis Allen (Writer)
Len Blum (Writer)
Director(s):
Recording label: Sony Pictures Manufacturer: Sony PicturesEAN: 0043396143623Binding: DVDFormat: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC, Release date: 2007-06-05Universal product code (UPC): 043396143623Number of discs: 1Aspect ratio: 1.85:1Audience rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)Region code: 99Running time: 99 minutesTheatrical release date: 1979-06-29Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: Spanish (Subtitled)
Language: French (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)
Brand: Sony
The Score - Blu-ray - $9.99 @ ... More
Stream Meatballs Online... More
Best Buy Media Prices (Septemb... More
'Close Encounters' gli... More
Warner to lower catalog MSRP t... More
Meatballs - Special ... More
Home Alone Complete Caper 4-Fi... More
Home Cinema @ The Digital Fix ... More
Just how incredibly expensive ... More
Best Buy Media Prices (Septemb... More
|
