|
Channeling Those
Goonies Spirits
by Christian De Matteo
Super
Being the special, press kinda-guy
I am, I got to a sneak screening of Monster House
last week. I was curious about it, but,
frankly, probably would have waited till my little
sister wanted to go if I hadn't gotten the tickets.
I should have expected more.
The teaming up of Zemekis and Spielberg producing
this film, knocked it flat out of the park.
Directed by Gil Kenan, Monster House is a helluva
ride. Filled with that Goonies spirit, we
haven't seen in movies in quite some time, the movie
tells the tale of three mostly good kids, who aren't
afraid of a little mischief if it means adventure.
Not your usual sanitized childrens-fare, Monster
House is funny, irreverrant and clever throughout.
While a good amount of disbelief must be suspended
to truly enjoy the flick, who wouldn't expect that
already while watching a haunted, walking, taunting
house movie. The kids are
the heart of the movie, right down to the little fat
boy who I kept expecting to break into the truffly
shuffle. Our hero is a skinny, borderline
nerdy boy who no one believes about the evil nature
of the house. His fat friend is a goofball
with a good heart and raging hormones. And enter,
the cute, clever, sarcastic little girl who's
smarter than both the boys. Together they gear
up like Ghostbusters and take on the house.
The dialogue is funny. The kids
are kids, the teens are teens, and the adults are
appropriately humorous. This is a kids
empowerment flick like we used to have in the '80s
before we were terrified that are real kids might
emulate the movies and start thinking for
themselves, or doing stupid things because we've
forgotten to teach them that reality and film don't
always match up. Monster House is a real
accomplishment, a fun, witty, exciting and
occasionally jump-worthy kids scary flick... one
that real kids can identify with and enjoy. |
