THE BURBS REVIEW!!!

Initial release date: February 17, 1989

Studios: Universal Pictures/Imagine Entertainment

Plot: Settling in for some time off in his suburban home, Ray Peterson's vacation becomes a horror when the Klopeks, a suspiciously odd family, move in down the block. Enlisting the aid of his paranoid buddy, Art and his militia-man neighbor, Rumsfield, Ray sends his son and wife away on a trip while he investigates the Klopeks. When a neighbor disappears, Ray and his cohorts risk their lives to save their cul-de-sac from the clutches of evil.

Cast

Tom Hanks - Ray Peterson

Bruce Dern - Mark Rumsfield

Carrie Fisher - Carol Peterson

Rick Ducommun - Art Weingartner

Wendy Schaal - Bonnie Rumsfield

Coery Feldman - Ricky Butler

Henry Gibson - Dr. Werner Klopek

Theordore Gottlieb - Reuben Klopek

Courtney Gains - Hans Klopek

Gale Gordon - Walter Seznick

Writer: Dana Olsen (Inspector Gadget; George of the Jungle)

Director: Joe Dante (Looney Tunes: Back in Action; Gremlins; Small Soldiers)

Rated PG (102 minutes)

The Burbs have always been a favorite of mine for years. Even though this 80s favorite is mainly a comedy, there are a few horror/mystery vibes with the mysterious neighbors. So, I figured why the hell not ... I'll do a quick take for this spooky season.

The Burbs is one of those movies that tries to blend a couple genres together and for the most part this movie does blend them just fine. There are quite a few moments that will really make you laugh and still make me laugh after seeing it so many times.

When Tom Hanks, Bruce Dern and Rick Ducommun appear on screen together, hilarity typically follows. There are quite a few scenes that they appear in that will make you laugh, such as when Hanks and Ducommun sneak onto the neighbors dilapidated porch and after they knock on the door, the one number that appears on the porch for the address "669" becomes loose and now reads "666."

Once they begin to investigate their neighbors, it does give a small eerie vibe but nothing really too serious at all. This 80s classic is one of those movies that should definitely be seen, even if its not during the spooky season!

Here are a few fun tidbits for The Burbs!

• Walter's toy poodle Queenie was played by the same dog that played Precious in Silence of the Lambs.

• Tom Hanks improvised the scene where he picks up the gurney and puts himself into the ambulance.

• Dante, who had directed Gremlins and Innerspace, and his producing partner, Michael Finnell, were immediately impressed by the concept of the movie. Dante, who specialized in offbeat subject matter, was intrigued by the blending of real-life situations with elements of the supernatural/horror.

• The movie opened at No. 1 with $11.1 million in its opening weekend (Feb. 17-20,1989). Overall, in the US, the movie made $36.5 million and $49.1 million worldwide.

• It's now regarded as a cult classic.

https://youtu.be/pyRUijyrXr4?si=Vz4AIzY2A5mLfEOI