The 'Burbs

**_Tom Hanks & neighbors vs. the new weirdo family on the block_** Shot in the summer of 1988, this capitalized on Tom Hanks’ popularity after hits like “Splash” and “Big.” He was in his youthful prime and people flocked to the theaters. It’s a fun flick about any average neighborhood in America, dealing with quirky neighbors and the adult males acting like kids. A new family has moved into the local rundown house, but they’re strangely aloof and “only come out at night.” The likable cast includes stalwarts Bruce Dern, Carrie Fisher, Rick Ducommun, Corey Feldman, Wendy Schaal and Henry Gibson. While there are elements of The Munsters and The Addams Family, don’t expect over-the-top bits, such as in the director’s “Gremlins,” at least not until the climax. It’s all about the journey and the amusing goings-on as the neighbors attempt to discover the truth about the eccentric (creepy) new family. Ricky’s girlfriend, played by blonde Heather Haase, is a minor peripheral highlight, but she’s underused. At the end of the day, it's enjoyable in an underwhelming way while playing, but there's no denying that it's forgettable throwaway entertainment (at least for me). It runs 1 hour, 41 minutes, and was shot at Universal Studios on the Colonial Street set of the back lot. GRADE: B-

"The 'burbs" develops in the most outrageously crazy ways imaginable as three overly curious neighbours band together and pool their limited resources to investigate their mysterious new neighbours and they inadvertently wreck all manner of assorted havoc upon their neighbourhood in the process. This film has been superbly directed by Joe Dante and he uses both visual comedy along with some gothic visuals to establish a genuine sense of macabre menace. He is invaluably aided throughout by the exemplary work of composer Jerry Goldsmith. He effortlessly manages to create all the various mood changes with an amusing and often magnificently subtle musical score that is well up to his marvellous Academy Award winning standard.