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.

---

Plot Keywords:

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

---

Taglines:

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

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama

---

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).

---

Goofs

Reflected in car windows when Danny runs over the trash can in the driveway.

---

Quotes

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

---

Connections

References American Bandstand (1952)

---

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

When it's good, it's very, very good

It's a strange mix of broad satire and angsty romantic comedy.

The satire is hilarious. Ben and Jerry Stiller are wonderful as a father/son team of record company execs. Jennifer Love Hewitt is equally wonderful as long as she stays on the satire side of the line; when the script shoves her over onto the romantic comedy side, she never quite recovers her balance. She has to play two completely different characters; she can't be blamed if it doesn't quite work.

Amy Brenneman, stuck on the romantic comedy side, does her formidable best to make her character work. In fact, she is by far the most sympathetic and memorable character in the movie.

Definitely worth a rental.