Category: Humor

“The Rink” (1916) written, directed and starring Charlie Chaplin / Z-View

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The Rink (1916)

Director: Charlie Chaplin, Edward Brewer (technical director)

Screenplay:  Charlie Chaplin, Vincent Bryan, Maverick Terrell

Stars:  Charlie Chaplin, Edna Purviance, Eric Campbell, Henry Bergman, Albert Austin.

Tagline: Can you imagine the excruciatingly comedy capers of Charley on a pair of roller skates?

The Plot…

Charlie is a terribly clumsy waiter.  On his lunch hour Charlie likes to go to the skating rink where he is graceful beyond belief.  Still, Charlie being Charlie…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Charlie Chaplin was a man of many talents.  He wrote screenplays, acted, directed, produced, composed music and wrote songs.  Who knew he could also skate so well?

In addition to his physical comedy, Chaplin made me smile when as a waiter he figured a fat man’s dinner bill by the stains on his clothes.

The Rink (1916) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Are Brunettes Safe?” (1927) starring Charlie Chase / Z-View

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Are Brunettes Safe? (1927)

Director: James Parrott

Screenplay:  H.M. Walker

Stars:  Charlie Chase, Lorraine Eason Will Walling.

Tagline: You can only choose one.

The Plot…

Charlie plays a newspaper advice columnist.  Charlie gets a letter from a man saying he hasn’t seen his mother in years and he will not be able to return home.  The man encloses a photo of himself.  Charlie is surprised to see that the man looks exactly like him.

That’s when Charlie gets an idea.  Charlie will travel to the man’s small town.  He’ll visit the man’s mother and see if he can impersonate the man.  It’ll make a great human interest story.

What Charlie doesn’t know, but is about to find out: the man is infamous in the town!  He is wanted for robbing the town’s bank.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Are Brunettes Safe? is a 20 minute silent film from Hal Roach, the producer famous for Laurel & Hardy, Harold Lloyd and Our Gang shorts.

Are Brunettes Safe? (1927) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Eternity” (2025) starring Mile Teller, Elizabeth Olsen and Callum Turner / Z-View

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Eternity (2025)

Director: David Freyne

Screenplay:  Pat Cunnane, David Freyne

Stars: Miles Teller, Elizabeth Olsen, Callum Turner, John Early, Olga Merediz, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Barry Primus and Betty Buckley.

Tagline: You can only choose one.

The Plot…

Larry and Joan have been married for 65 years.  Although they’ve been together for a lifetime, it is Joan’s second marriage.  When she was very young, Joan was briefly married.  Her husband, Luke, was killed in the Korean War.

Although Joan has terminal cancer, it is Larry who dies first when he chokes on a pretzel.

When Larry awakens as a young man, he discovers he’s in the afterlife.  Anna, Larry’s Afterlife Coordinator explains that he must decide in which themed afterlife he wants to spend his eternity.  Once selected, a person cannot change their theme.  Eternity theme salespeople are constantly touting their products.

Larry decides to wait for Joan to make his eternity selection.  That way they can always be together.  Soon enough Joan arrives.  Larry is surprised to find that Joan’s first husband, Luke has also waited for her.  He also wants to spend eternity with her.

Joan is faced with an impossible choice.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Eternity is better than I anticipated.  The Afterlife Coordinators are a hoot.  I also got a kick out of the different themes available for eternity.

Eternity (2025) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“The Incredible Mr. Limpet” (1964) starring Don Knotts / Z-View

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The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964)

Director: Arthur Lubin

Screenplay:  Joe DiMona, Jameson Brewer, John C. Rose; based on MR. LIMPET by Theodore Pratt

Stars: Don Knotts, Carole Cook, Jack Weston, Andrew Duggan and Paul Frees (voice).

Tagline: The man who turned into a fish… and became America’s deadliest secret weapon!

The Plot…

War War II rages.  Henry Limpett, a mild-mannered bookkeeper, would love nothing more than to enlist and help the war effort.  Each time Henry’s tried he’s been rejected due to his many health issues.

Henry, his wife and his best friend George go to Coney Island for the day.  As Henry is looking down into the ocean, he falls.  Henry can’t swim so George dives in to save him.  Despite several attempts, George is unable to find Henry.  Everyone believes Henry has drowned.

But he hasn’t.  Somehow Henry Limpet has turned into a fish!  Even more amazing as a fish, Henry has a power that may help turn the tide of the war!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The film moves from live action to animation once Limpet turns into a fish.

It’s funny how much the fish looks like Don Knotts — or is it how much he looks like a fish?

I saw the film when it was first released. I was five and the theater was full of kids.  We loved it.  I recently re-watched it again with my grandson who is six.  He enjoyed it as well.  Your mileage may vary depending on your age and the audience you’re watching with.

The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Nobody 2” (2025) starring Bob Odenkirk / Z-View

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Nobody 2 (2025)

Director: Timo Tjahjanto

Screenplay: Derek Kolstad, Aaron Rabin; story by Derek Kolstad

Stars: Bob Odenkirk, Connie Nielsen, John Ortiz, Colin Hanks, RZA, Christopher Lloyd and Sharon Stone.

Tagline: Nobody ruins his vacation.

The Plot…

Hutch Mansell has been on the job nonstop as an assassin to pay off a debt created during the first movie.  Hutch’s family life has suffered due to him always working.  In an effort to have some quality family time Hutch decides to take his family on vacation to a resort/amusement park that his father took him to when he was young.

At the amusement park Hutch’s son gets into it with a local bully.  The bully’s dad (who owns the amusement park) causes things to escalate when he slaps Hutch’s young daughter in the back of the head.  Hutch then returns the favor by beating up the bully’ dad and several park employees.

As it turns out, the bully’s dad is friends with the local Sheriff.  The two are involved in several criminal enterprises with a psycho-crime lord named Lendina.  Soon Hutch finds himself the target of revenge by the Sheriff as well as Lendina and her organization.

So much for vacation time.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Sharon Stone is excellent as the over-the-top villain who wouldn’t be out of place in a James Bond movie.

Nobody 2 features Timo Tjahjanto’s American directorial debut.  Tjahjanto is best known for his ultra-violent Indonesian action films.

Bob Odenkirk and Christopher Lloyd share the same birthday of the 22nd of October. What are the odds?  That’s also my birthday.

Nobody 2 is fun.  It leans into over-the-top comedy a bit more than I’d prefer at times, but is still a fun ride.

Nobody 2 (2025) rates 3 of 5 stars

“We’re No Angels” (1955) directed by Michael Curtiz, starring Humphrey Bogart, Aldo Ray and Peter Ustinov / Z-View

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We’re No Angels (1955)

Director:  Michael Curtiz

Screenplay: Ranald MacDougall; based on La Cuisine Des Anges by Albert Husson

Stars:  Humphrey Bogart, Aldo Ray, Peter Ustinov, Joan Bennett, Basil Rathbone, Gloria Talbott and Leo G. Carroll.

Tagline:  A strangler… A swindler… A safecracker… Yet you’ll love them!

The Plot…

Joseph, a thief, along with Albert and Jules who are murderers escape from the Devil’s Island French Prison.  They make it to a small town where they plan to steal enough funds to make it aboard a ship for their final escape.

The convicts decide to go into a store, steal clothes and money and make their getaway.  Once in the store they discover that the store is failing.  The nice family running the store is on the verge of losing everything.  Against their better judgment the three convicts decide to stay at the store until nightfall.  While there the boys decide to fix the leaking roof… help with sales… cook the family a nice dinner and more.

The longer Joseph, Albert and Jules stay the less likely they are to getaway.  The clock is ticking.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

We’re No Angels is based on the French play La cuisine des anges (The Angels’ Kitchen) by Albert Husson.  Interestingly enough, there was a Broadway play, My Three Angels by Sam and Bella Spewack which was was also based on the French play.  The Spewacks sued Paramount because parts of their play were incorporated into the movie without proper permission or payment.

We’re No Angels (1955) rates 3 of 5 stars

“Brother Orchid” (1940) starring Edward G. Robinson, Ann Southern and Humphrey Bogart / Z-View

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Brother Orchid (1940)

Director: Lloyd Bacon

Screenplay: Earl Baldwin; Jerry Wald (uncredited); Richard Macaulay (uncredited); based on Brother Orchid by Richard Connell

Stars: Edward G. Robinson, Ann Sothern, Humphrey Bogart, Donald Crisp, Ralph Bellamy, Cecil Kellaway, John Ridgely and Tom Tyler.

Tagline: Not Since “A Slight Case of Murder” has there been such a hysterical homicide, such mad mirth!

The Plot…

Little John Sarto rose from the streets to become head of a crime syndicate.  He’s rich.  People fear him, but he doesn’t want that.  Sarto craves to be respected.  To have… class.

So Sarto suddenly decides to give up his life of crime and become a gentleman of leisure.  Sarto turns his syndicate over to his second in command, John Buck.  He tells his girlfriend, Flo that he’s going to Europe and he’ll see her when he returns.

Things don’t go as planned in Europe.  Every move Sarto makes is a bad one.  He loses money on every deal.  Five years pass and Sarto is broke.  So he heads back to the states where he plans to regain control of his syndicate, and hook back up with Flo.

But it’s been five years.

Flo still loves Sarto, but thought he’d left for good.  So she has a new man.  John Buck and the crew felt abandoned when Sarto left.  Buck isn’t going to give up control of the gang.  So he puts out a hit on Sarto.

Sarto is caught off-guard and barely escapes with his life.  He finds himself injured and outside of a monastery.  The monks don’t recognize the infamous crime boss and take him in.  Sarto plans to stay there until he heals…

… then he will get his revenge.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Brother Orchid is one of five films that Robinson and Bogart made together.  It is the only one where neither of them is killed.

Brother Orchid (1940) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Being Eddie” (2025) starring Eddie Murphy / Z-View

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Being Eddie (2025)

Director: Angus Wall

Stars: Eddie Murphy, Dave Chappelle, Jerry Seinfeld, Charlie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Tracy Morgan, Chris Rock, Jamie Foxx, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Elvis Mitchell,
John Landis, Pete Davidson, Jerry Bruckheimer and Kevin Hart.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Eddie Murphy, friends and those who have worked with him, sit for interviews to discuss Eddie’s amazing career.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Some of the awards Eddie Murphy has won over the course of his career include: an Emmy, a Grammy, a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Murphy also earned an Academy Award nomination for for Best Supporting Actor.  Murphy has had success as a comedian, television star, movie star, and singer.

While at times Eddie does seem to have a bit of an ego, who wouldn’t with all that he has achieved.  There was a tv show that I watched as a kid, it was about an old gunfighter.  He had a catchphrase: “No brag, just fact.”   I think of Eddie now as that old gunfighter.  He’s not bragging, just stating facts about his career.

I was surprised at how personable and down-to-earth Eddie comes off as.  So many stars, especially who attain superstar status at an early age, self-destruct.  Eddie Murphy seems to be in a great place.

I look forward to where Eddie Murphy’s career leads next.

Being Eddie (2025) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Time Warp: The Greatest Cult Films of All-Time”Parts 1-3” (2020): Part 1 – “Midnight Madness”; Part 2 – “Horror & Sci-Fi”; Part 3 – “Comedy & Camp” / Z-View

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Time Warp: The Greatest Cult Films of All-Time, Parts 1 – 3 (2020)

Director: Danny Wolf

Writers: Paul Fishbein, Irv Slifkin, Danny Wolf

Stars: Kevin Pollak, John Waters, Illeana Douglas, Joe Dante, Jeff Goldblum, Michael McKean, Bruce Campbell, Jeff Bridges, Rob Reiner, Gina Gershon, Fran Drescher, John Turturro, Pam Grier, Amy Heckerling, Roger Corman, Joe Morton, Ed Neil, John Sayles, Rob Zombie, John Cleese, Kevin Smith and Sean Young.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Joe Dante, Illeana Douglas, John Waters and Kevin Pollack talk about the all-time best cult movies in a three part series.  Clips from interviews with those who starred in the films are included.

  • Episode 1: Midnight Madness.
    Films covered include: The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Pink Flamingos, The Big Lebowski, Eraserhead, The Warriors, Point Break, and Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!.

 

  • Episode 2: Horror and Sci-Fi
    Films covered include: Horror – Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead , The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, The Evil Dead, The Devil’s Rejects, Re-Animator, The Human Centipede, Blade Runner, A Clockwork Orange, Death Race 2000, The Brother from Another Planet, Liquid Sky and The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension.

 

  • Episode 3: Comedy and Camp
    Films covered include: Comedy – Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Office Space, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Napoleon Dynamite, Clerks, Kingpin and Super Troopers. Camp – The Room, Showgirls, Plan 9 From Outer Space, Glen or Glenda, Female Trouble, and Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Phantom of the Paradise.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Episode 1 brought back great memories of midnight showings that were popular in the 70s and 80s.  Films that never found an audience, got a second chance with these late night showings.  Fans of the films made them hits.

Episode 2 looks at films that often didn’t do great on their initial release due to bad or little marketing, but found a hard core audience over time.  This was my favorite episode — although I’ll never understand how (and hope to never see) The Human Centipede was greenlit.

Episode 3 explores cult comedies and camp films — movies so bad that they are “good”.  While I don’t think a movie can be so bad it becomes good, Ed Wood’s films are hard to not keep watching once you start.  It’s hard to believe that they’re not comedies and even better to watch with the right crowd.

Time Warp: The Best Cult Films of All-Time, Parts 1 – 3  (2020) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“The In-Laws” (1979) starring Peter Falk & Alan Arkin / Z-View

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The In-Laws (1979)

Director: Arthur Hiller

Screenplay: Andrew Bergman

Stars: Peter Falk, Alan Arkin, Richard Libertini, Nancy Dussault, Penny Peyser, Arlene Golonka, Paul L. Smith, Carmine Caridi, James Hong, David Paymer and Ed Begley Jr.

Tagline: While the Father of the Bride was extracting a molar from Mrs. Cohen, the Father of the Groom was extracting $20 Million from the U.S. Mint. And this was only the beginning.

The Plot…

Dr. Sheldon “Shelley” Kornpett’s daughter is about to marry the son of Vince Ricardo.  Shelley likes his future daughter-in-law and her mother.  He has concerns about Vince though.  Shelley thinks Vince tells tall tales (to put it politely) and might even be crazy.

So when Vince comes to Shelley’s office and asks a favor, he’s hesitant.  Vince promises it will just take five minutes.  Not wanting to create waves Shelley agrees.  Soon he’s involved with money stolen from the US Mint, and chased by crooks and the CIA.  Oh, and the wedding is tomorrow.

Serpentine!  Serpentine!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The In-Laws showcases David Paymer’s feature film debut.

Fran Drescher, who gained fame in The Nanny, was originally cast as the daughter but was fired shortly after filming began.  The part was recast with Penny Peyser.

I saw The In-Laws during it’s original theatrical run and loved it.  I re-watched it recently and am happy to say it holds up.

The In-Laws (1979) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Battling Butler” (1926) directed by and starring Buster Keaton / Z-View

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Battling Butler (1926)

Director: Buster Keaton

Screenplay: Al Boasberg, Lex Neal, Charles Smith, Paul Gerard Smith; based on Battling Butler
(a 1922 play) by Stanley Brightman, Austin Melford

Stars: Buster Keaton, Sally O’Neil, Walter James.

Tagline: KEATON wins the laugh championship of the world in this greatest of all screen comedies! A love story. A prize-fight story! A knockout – and how! You can’t stop laughing!

The Plot…

Alfred Butler has grown up with all the luxuries a wealthy family can provide.  Alfred, although a young man, even has a personal assistant.  Alfred is a small, gentle young man who his father believes needs to toughen up.  So Alfred and his valet decide to go roughing it in the woods.

While camping Alfred meets a poor young woman who lives with her family in a mountain shack.  It’s love at first sight.  The woman’s brothers are tough mountain men.  In order to impress them, Alfred’s valet says that Alfred is a famous fighter called ‘Battling Butler”.  Alfred reluctantly goes along when it becomes clear that the family is impressed.

Alfred never dreamed he’d really have to enter the ring against the real “Battling Butler”.

Let’s get ready to rumble!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Battling Butler was released the same year as Keaton’s classic The General.  Ironically, The General, during it’s initial release, was considered a huge flop, while Battling Butler became Keaton’s second biggest hit.

Battling Butler (1926) rates 3 of 5 stars.

Otis Frampton Goes to “Paradise Alley”

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Otis Frampton did his take on Sly from Paradise Alley way back in 2009 when every Sunday [okay, ALMOST, every Sunday], Otis had a live UStream broadcast that he called the 7×7 Sunday.

Lucky fans could get a head sketch of ANY character drawn live by Otis on a 7X7 inch bristol board for 7 bucks postage paid. It was the best deal going.  Watching Otis drawing live and interacting with fans kept me up even if I wasn’t a sketch winner.  As you can see above, sometimes I was.

Good times!