The 80s were the time when the teen comedy genre really took off as Hollywood realized that those who actually spent a substantial amount of money going to movies – teenagers – liked to see themselves on screen. One modern performer who really had his golden era was John Cusack, a man who could inhabit the lovable underdog to perfection. While probably best known for iconic turns in Say Anything or The Sure Thing, there is one comedy that has seemingly slipped by the mainstream but is in desperate need of a rediscovery. In 1986 Cusack teamed up with his Better Off Dead director Savage Steve Holland for the romantic comedy One Crazy Summer. While this one has the veneer of a typical teen comedy, those who give this one chance will be treated with a zany, satirical look at the genre as executed by those who know it best. The motions are familiar, but the laughs are genuinely fresh and hilarious in a way that makes this one a wonderful surprise.
Cusack stars as the ironically named Hoops McCann, a recent high school graduate who registers as somewhat of disappointment to his parents after failing to secure a basketball scholarship. While his pro basketball player father had big dreams for his son when he bequeathed him with his name, the truth is that Hoops is just not a good athlete. He is much more interested in becoming an animator with dreams of his own of attending the Rhode Island School of Design. This passion does not seem incidental to the story, as the movie itself takes on a very heightened, cartoonish quality that allows the characters to embark on increasingly ridiculous adventures. As he struggles to illustrate a love story to submit with his college application he joins his friends, siblings George (Joel Murray) and Squid Calamari (Kristen Goelz), to spend the summer on the island of Nantucket, Massachusetts where he will hopefully learn a thing or two about the love that has eluded him up until this point.
Even with just a cursory glance at some of these character names and you can understand that the movie is having a blast with its premise. Every tired trope that you might expect pops up in this film; Hoops has a wacky best friend with even zanier extended family including twin brothers Egg and Clay Stork (Bobcat Goldthwait and Tom Villard) and outcast Ack-Ack Raymond (Curtis Armstrong); the group has to contend with rich bullies; the girl next door, Cassandra (Demi Moore), gets overlooked in favor of a superficial blonde; and there is even an over-the-top plot for a wealthy evil developer to crush the dreams of the little guy. The situations are rote, but Holland brings an almost Zucker-esque sensibility to his characters. They are not quite as broad as the characters in something like Airplane! because Holland takes great pains to ensure these characters feel authentic to the established tone. It is just that this tone is so outlandish that it leads to much insanity.
Cusack plays the most even-handed of the group with his lovable, everyman charm that makes you root for his romantic endeavors. The chemistry he shares with Moore is quite palpable, while she is given many chances to shine herself. The supporting cast provides the lion’s share of the laughter, and trust us when we say this will have you laughing very hard very consistently. From throwaway moments where Egg asks a kid to hold a kite to recurring gags where George keeps getting buried on the beach underneath a cheery beach goer, nearly every moment hits. There is even an adorable dog in a cone that gets some of the biggest laughs of the film thanks to the absurd ways in which characters interact with them. Fans of this era of comedy will appreciate delightfully oddball cameos from the likes of Joe Flaherty, Taylor Negron and Rich Hall. One Crazy Summer is the perfect teen comedy satire that satisfies in the same manner that a typical teen comedy might. If you are a fan of 80s comedies, you owe it to yourself to give this one a viewing.
Video Quality
One Crazy Summer gets a major upgrade from the ancient DVD to Blu-Ray courtesy of Warner Archive with a 1080p transfer from what I will assume is a new 2K or 4K scan. Skin tones look natural, and the presentation offers up deep black levels. There is also a noticeable uptick in fine detail that should please fans of the film. Subtle details in the inventive production design standout more than ever before, often revealing new gags. The transfer provides nice, natural film grain absent of any compression artifacts or other such damage. This disc beautifully represents the sumptuous beachtown landscape that runs throughout the film. There are some nice, vibrant colors that bring real life to the film from the outfits to some of the lighting. The animated sequences that Hoops draws throughout the film look outstanding and vibrant every time they come to life. This is a major upgrade from the ancient source material used for previous DVD releases.
Audio Quality
Warner Archive brings this Blu-Ray to consumers with a lossless DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix that is worthy of praise due to its reverence to the original intent. The dialogue holds up quite nicely, coming though clearly without being stepped on by the music or sound effects. While occasionally a bit chaotic or over the top, the track is able to nicely incorporate some subtle environmental activity. Kinetic moments pack a punch within the mix when they need to. The movie sports a spirited score from Cory Lerios that sounds great here. This is a track that represents the film in a very satisfying way. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are provided on this disc.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Director Savage Steve Holland, and actors Bobcat Goldthwait and Curtis Armstrong deliver a hilarious and informative commentary track in which they share various stories about the production of the film, background information on various performers, the ideas behind some of the gags, how they pulled off certain sequences and more. This is a truly entertaining listen that is highly recommended.
- Theatrical Trailer: The minute-and-a-half long trailer is provided for the film.
Final Thoughts
One Crazy Summer is a hilarious comedic gem just waiting to be discovered and appreciated by a larger audience. Not only is John Cusack in prime form, but the remainder of the ensemble are turning in wonderfully chaotic performances that suit the outlandish tone established by Savage Steve Holland. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray that has an excellent A/V presentation and an essential commentary track. If you want a clever, irreverent take on the 80s teen comedy genre, make this one a priority. Highly Recommended
One Crazy Summer can be purchased directly through the Warner Archive Amazon Store or various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
