IMDb >
UHF (1989)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsUHF (1989) More at IMDbPro »
| Photos (see all 15 | slideshow) |
Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
21 July 1989 (USA) moreTagline:
TV as it was meant to be seen. In a movie theatre. morePlot:
A local public station gets a new owner. The station becomes a hit, with all sorts of hilarious sight gags and wacky humor. full summary | add synopsisNewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Halloween 2: Does Zombie Think He’s Better Than Carpenter? (From Screen Rant. 30 May 2009, 9:12 PM, PDT)
Weird Al Yankovic Cameo's In Rob Zombie's Halloween 2?!
(From Icons of Fright. 26 March 2009, 10:37 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
Go buy this DVD right now! moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| 'Weird Al' Yankovic | ... | George Newman | |
| Victoria Jackson | ... | Teri | |
| Kevin McCarthy | ... | R.J. Fletcher | |
| Michael Richards | ... | Stanley Spadowski | |
| David Bowe | ... | Bob | |
| Stanley Brock | ... | Uncle Harvey | |
| Anthony Geary | ... | Philo | |
| Trinidad Silva | ... | Raul Hernandez | |
| Gedde Watanabe | ... | Kuni | |
| Billy Barty | ... | Noodles MacIntosh | |
| John Paragon | ... | Richard Fletcher | |
| Fran Drescher | ... | Pamela Finklestein | |
| Sue Ane Langdon | ... | Aunt Esther | |
| David Proval | ... | Head Thug | |
| Grant James | ... | Killer Thug |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
97 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 moreSound Mix:
DolbyCertification:
Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Iceland:12 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #29692) | UK:PG | Australia:MFun Stuff
Trivia:
Weird Al never believed UHF deserved a PG-13 rating, but refused to allow cuts that would have earned the film a PG. Among the scenes the MPAA wanted cut were the "flying poodles" and part of "Conan the Librarian", which features a guy getting (bloodlessly) split in two for having an overdue book. Another scene that Al didn't cut despite rating concerns is the "Town Talk" scene wherein a shop teacher has his thumb cut off and bleeds all over George and the stage, this scene was edited for "time" however, as it was originally longer. Multiple endings were filmed, which included one where George finds the severed thumb and the shop teacher puts it in his pocket, continuing his lecture. In another the shop teacher states the thumb should be kept warm so it can be reattached, and promptly puts the thumb in his mouth, continuing his lecture. Strangely enough, when shown on television, the library scene is often cut out for content, but the bloody scene with the shop teacher is still aired, showing of the "poodle tossing" varies on the station. moreGoofs:
Revealing mistakes: When Joe Earley loses his thumb in the table saw and lifts his arm to examine the wound, briefly his thumb can be seen bent underneath his hand. moreQuotes:
Pamela Finklestein: "Broads don't belong in broadcasting"? Is that the kind of professional courtesy you teach your news department?R.J. Fletcher: Why, that's a terrible thing. I don't know how many time I've told those boys, never call chicks broads.
more
Soundtrack:
GANDHI II moreFAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for UHF (1989) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| ¡Three Amigos! | Start Cheering | The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! | Pistol Packin' Nitwits | Ghost Busters |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Comedy section | IMDb USA section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |












It's very telling that I had to look 15 pages deep into the user comments to find one negative review of this movie. And the negative reviews were from insufferable snots.
This movie made me laugh as a teenager, but it also makes me laugh as a fully grown adult. Does that mean the humor is dumb or sophomoric? Not necessarily. What exactly is "adult humor" anyway? Does it necessarily need to contain graphic depictions of sex and generous uses of profanity to be considered sophisticated and adult?? I contend that it does not, and I cite UHF as an example.
The laughs here are genuine, and they come from lack of pretentiousness and an honest feeling that one need not take oneself too seriously at any given moment. Al lets us know that it's OK to make fun of yourself as well as the rest of society. Much of what he does is self-deprecating, and UHF is no exception. He doesn't stand around making fun of others and establishing an air of superiority over the rest of society. As George Newman, he becomes the everyman, infusing much of his own personality along with his on-stage comedic persona. And he's not afraid to kick himself around and then proceed to pull himself up via his own bootstraps. Nobody else has to be hurt.
Plot has never been a big necessity in these spoof/parody movies. "The Naked Gun," "Airplane," "Top Secret," "Johnny Dangerously," and many others have had the most skeletal of plots. Cop must find and bring to justice bad guy who shot his friend. Burned out ex-pilot must save aircraft when crew dies. Rock and roll star must overthrow Nazi plot. Mobster must overcome those who wish to take him down. And in "UHF" we have Loser Man must save TV station from evil network exec. The plot is not important; it's just a vehicle to get us from laugh to laugh and set up the next joke.
UHF's comedy, though basic, rings true, and if you'll drop all of your pretentious airs, you'll get it. (We all know you're not nearly as sophisticated as you think you are anyway.) Who among us can keep from laughing while Raul teaches poodles to fly? Who can stifle a chuckle when Stanley is doing... well... doing just about everything he does in this film? Al admits in his commentaries and interviews that "UHF" is no "Citizen Kane." But that's the beauty of it. There's nothing complex here. It's all about the laugh, and there's where this movie really scores.