The Suburbans (1999)

User Rating:

4.2/10   

Director:

Donal Lardner Ward

Writers (WGA):

Donal Lardner Ward (written by) &
Tony Guma (written by)

Release Date:

19 January 2000 (Belgium)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Never before has a girl done so much with so little.

Plot:

An 80's one-hit wonder band (Donal Lardner Ward, Tony Guma, Craig Bierko, Will Ferrell) named The Suburbans...

Plot Keywords:

Reference To Yeats | Independent Film

Cast

Donal Lardner Ward	...	Danny
Tony Guma	...	Rory
Craig Bierko	...	Mitch
Will Ferrell	...	Gil
Dick Clark	...	Himself
Amy Brenneman	...	Grace
Bridgette Wilson	...	Lara
Brian Chlebowski	...	Kenny
Perrey Reeves	...	Amanda
Robert Loggia	...	Jules
Jennifer Love Hewitt	...	Cate
Jerry Stiller	...	Speedo Silverberg
Ben Stiller	...	Jay Rose
Lisa Gerstein	...	Leslie Gonzale
Antonio Fargas	...	Magee

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

81 min | Argentina:85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Iceland:L | UK:15 | USA:R | Argentina:13 | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Finland:S

Filming Locations:

First Christian Church of North Hollywood - 4390 Colfax Avenue, Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

HSX Films

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Reflected in car windows when Danny runs over the trash can in the driveway.

Quotes:

Mitch: Don't let Grace "Yoko" The Suburbans.

Movie Connections:

References The Godfather (1972)

Soundtrack:

By My Side

Drags On

Almost every comment or review you will read about this one is accurate. Whether you like it or not is up to you. You might also see someone write something about the team making a good effort. This is true too.

You'll see some people saying there's just too much dialogue. This is true as well. And they'll mostly say Amy Brenneman is the one that stands out. And that's true too.

But the movie drags. For all the good intentions, for all the clever skits, it drags - and that's unfortunate. It's fun to watch - Bierko is a riot and Hewitt is gorgeous, and let's not forget the Stillers in a wacky portrayal - but it's bits and pieces, it's too disparate, it doesn't grab you through a well organised and successful plot - it's bits and pieces with a thread someone tried to sew through it all afterwards. The story doesn't have momentum of its own and the plot mechanisms seem contrived and arbitrary. And you don't feel any empathy for any of the characters - not even for Amy's. Not enough to keep you enjoying, really enjoying the movie, on the edge of your seat, and so forth and so on. And stylistically it tries to attack everything at once - and that's never going to work.

You may enjoy this one - minimally. And it isn't for their not making an effort. But there are important ingredients missing. The acting's mostly great, the writing too - there just isn't enough good plot packed story. It drags on.