The 'burbs (1989)

Director:

Joe Dante

Writer (WGA):

Dana Olsen (written by)

Release Date:

17 February 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

A comedy about one nice guy who gets pushed too far.

Plot:

An overstressed suburbanite and his paramilitaric neighbor struggle to prove their paranoid theory that the new family in town is a front for a cannibalistic cult.

Plot Keywords:

Neighbor | New Neighbor | Basement | Nosy Neighbor | Infrared Scope

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Tom Hanks	...	Ray Peterson
Bruce Dern	...	Mark Rumsfield
Carrie Fisher	...	Carol Peterson
Rick Ducommun	...	Art Weingartner
Corey Feldman	...	Ricky Butler
Wendy Schaal	...	Bonnie Rumsfield
Henry Gibson	...	Dr. Werner Klopek
Brother Theodore	...	Uncle Reuben Klopek
Courtney Gains	...	Hans Klopek
Gale Gordon	...	Walter Seznick
Dick Miller	...	Vic, Garbageman #1
Robert Picardo	...	Joe, Garbageman #2
Cory Danziger	...	Dave Peterson
Franklyn Ajaye	...	Detective #1
Rance Howard	...	Detective #2

Also Known As:

Life in the Burbs (USA) (original script title)

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:12 | UK:12 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | USA:PG (Certificate #29589) | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Sweden:11 (cut) | UK:PG (cut) | USA:PG | West Germany:16 | Spain:13 | Singapore:PG | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Imagine Entertainment

Trivia:

The street was shot on location in the Universal Backlot. It's been used in many films and TV shows. The most notable TV show the street is known for is "Desperate Housewives" (2004). Some of the buildings have changed over time, however the one that hasn't changed a bit is Walter's.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the end of the film, Ray comments on Carol's shorter haircut. In her last scene, her hair is back to its original length.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Carol Peterson: Ray. Ray, where are you going? Come back to bed.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Buck Rules (2007)

Soundtrack:

QUESTA O QUELLA

A movie you can relate to

'The 'Burbs' is a great movie and I would recommend it to anyone. Tom Hanks does a great job at playing the role of an ordinary guy with ordinary problems. Every time I watch this movie, I can really feel like I am actually there. We all have weird neighbors and can relate to what Hanks is going through. It has also been a fantasy for many of us to try and find out exactly what our neighbors are up to, but we never have the guts to do it. Movies are made so that we can escape reality for a couple of hours and feel like we are doing things that we would most likely never get to do. This movie does it better than any other movie I have seen.

Most of the other people that I have talked to have agreed with me that 'The 'Burbs' is one of the most underrated comedies ever made. I don't believe that it was unsuccessful, but it definitely doesn't get the credit it deserves. If you want to see a movie that you can relate to, then watch this.