Upon finding myself out of action with the plague (a cold) late last week I watched a few movies in bed. After finishing Bewitched I thought to myself ‘What an underrated movie this is’, thinking about the terrible reception it received, even though I thought it was quite fun and cute.
Now, I’m not claiming to have the greatest taste in movies, but sometimes a movie that is critically panned can actually be quite fun and enjoyable to watch – not everything can be American Beauty. So here are my top 6 most underrated (terrible) films of all time, in no particular order.
1. Spice World
It’s no secret I love the Spice Girls. I have loved them from the first time I heard Wannabe, and was taken to see the movie at the cinema in Bowral when it came out with my best friend and her mother. I will forever remember standing in line, being so excited, and a mother in front of us reading out the tag line “They don’t just sing”, my best friend’s mother replying “They don’t even do that”.
But in all honesty I love this movie. It is funny, it’s quite witty, there are some amazing cameos (Roger Moore anyone?) and some really funny lines. Like many things the British do I think the humour was missed by a lot of the audience, especially the way the girls hammed it up and took the piss out of themselves throughout.
Oh, and did I mention the aliens?
Best Line: “When the rabbit of chaos is pursued by the ferret of disorder through the fields of anarchy, it is time to hang your pants on the hook of darkness. Whether they’re clean or not.”
2. Crossroads
Remember when Britney was this cute?
Don’t look at me like that! This movie was actually really meaningful. Well, I thought so anyway. Most people just know it as that time Britney Spears tried her hand at acting. The story is about three young girls who bury a time capsule and vow to open it together at graduation. Come graduation they’re all leading extremely separate lives, one a perfect princess (Britney), one a pregnant outcast (Taryn Manning) and one a prom-queen engaged to be married (Zoe Saldana). They come back together and then set out on a road trip (obviously it’s slightly more complicated than that).
Along the way they all learn a lot about themselves and, predictably, not everything is as it seems. But it is a bit of a feel good romp and just as good as any other movie aimed at teens.
Best Line: “Well, Kit and I voted and you lost.”
3. Jersey Girl
Are you sensing a singer-to-actor theme here? This one only has JLo for a few minutes before she carks it under tragic circumstances (which I’m sure for many who weren’t fans of JLo was the high point of the film). Some strong acting from Ben Affleck and Raquel Castro (as his little girl) save it, as well as genuine chemistry between Ben and Liv Tyler. But it was two strong scenes with Will Smith (or rather, one with and one about) that made this film for me. And let’s be honest here, I do love some Kevin Smith.
Best Line: “Man cannot live on porn alone.”
4. The Stepford Wives
Another Nicole Kidman film, a remake of the 1975 classic, The Stepford Wives is the story of a stressed TV executive who, after a rather spectacular fail of a conference, moves to the little town of Stepford. Bette Midler and a truly creepy Joan Collins (who, let’s be honest, always scares me) make this movie, along with the super camp next door neighbour. Yeah, OK, it wasn’t Shakespeare but there certainly were some funny moments and I always enjoy a bit of Bette.
Best Line: “Oh, I feel like Nancy Drew in the mystery of the mid-life crisis.”
5. Idle Hands
One of my favourite movies of all time, Idle Hands stars Devon Sawa, recipient of one crush by Tamsin circa 1995 to 2008. Also starring the one woman in the world I’d want to look like if I could look like anyone, the stunning Jessica Alba, who I adored back when she was in Dark Angel (also underrated, but a TV show). It’s the story of a stoner teen who is so lazy the devil inhabits his right hand and goes on a murderous streak. So he kills his best friends (Seth Green and Elden Hensen), but they don’t go to Heaven because they “figured fuck it, I mean it was really far!” and hang out with him instead.
Best Line: “That’s it? That’s it? No explosions, no hellfire, no *screeches*? I mean, no, I’m glad everybody’s all right, but… that was weak.”
6. Son In Law
Back in the days when Pauly Shore was popular, he made this movie that is so classically 90’s and gave me some of my most quoted lines. Admittedly it is considered one of the best of Shore’s films, just behind Encino Man (another film I love – wheeze the juice!). The story line is typical 90’s, and typical Shore, with a touch of Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner. A farm girl goes to college in California, undergoes a transformation, comes home to be proposed to by the guy she always thought she wanted but instead she freaks out. A stupid lie later and everyone thinks the slightly odd “friend” she brought home for thanksgiving is actually her fiancé and he decides he’s going to be a farmer.
It’s stupid and predictable but it’s sweet and it’s funny.
Best Line: “Chickens You guys have chickens? I love chickens! Are they extra crispy or original recipe?”
Go on, what movies are your guilty pleasures? Are there some movies you adored, even though you realise they’re terrible?
T.
