The Suburbans (1999)

A 1980s one-hit wonder band named "The Suburbans" reform for a special performance at one of the ex-member's wedding. At the wedding, a young record company talent scout happens to be in ... See full summary »

Director:

Donal Lardner Ward

Writers:

Donal Lardner Ward, Tony Guma

Stars:

Donal Lardner Ward, Tony Guma, Craig Bierko

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Donal Lardner Ward	...	Danny
Tony Guma	...	Rory
Craig Bierko	...	Mitch
Will Ferrell	...	Gil
Dick Clark	...	Himself
Amy Brenneman	...	Grace
Bridgette Wilson-Sampras	...	Lara (as Bridgette Wilson)
Brian Chlebowski	...	Kenny
Perrey Reeves	...	Amanda
Robert Loggia	...	Jules
Jennifer Love Hewitt	...	Cate
Jerry Stiller	...	Speedo Silverberg
Ben Stiller	...	Jay Rose
Lisa Gerstein	...	Leslie Gonzalez
Antonio Fargas	...	Magee

Storyline

A 1980s one-hit wonder band named "The Suburbans" reform for a special performance at one of the ex-member's wedding. At the wedding, a young record company talent scout happens to be in the audience and decides to give the now forty-ish performers a comeback push. The film attempts to take a satirical look at the music business of the 1990s, and compare it to the simpler 1980s scene.

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Plot Keywords:

band | fictional band | sexy woman | talent | comeback | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some sexuality

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 January 2000 (Belgium)

Also Known As:

A bamba banda

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,797, 31 October 1999, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$5,797, 31 October 1999

Company Credits

Production Co:

HSX Films,Ignite Entertainment,Motion Picture Corporation of America (MPCA)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Will Ferrell and Perrey Reeves played husband and wife again in Old School (2003).

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Goofs

Helicopter reflected in taxi windows on the highway.

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Quotes

Rory: That's Craig? What is *he* doing here?
Danny: I brought him.

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Connections

References The Godfather (1972)

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Soundtracks

The Only Change
Written and Performed by Mike James Kirkland
Arranged by Ray Jackson & Bob Kirkland
Courtesy of Ubiquity Recordings, Inc./B3 Vibes (ASCAP)/Bokirk Music Publishing (ASCAP)

User Reviews

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.