I was thinking about casting and how it can help a film immeasurably. Gross and Stark in House II (1987) bring an energy and timing that a film longing to entertain needs desperately. The ludicrous nature of the plot would sure have been a lot to sell as it's bill of goods depends on quite a fantastic series of events, including a Neanderthal from prehistoric times intruding upon a 1987 Halloween party to take a crystal skull from its mantle above a fireplace, a tribe complete with masks, spears, and leafy skirts attacking Mummy Gramps (Royal Dano) for the crystal skull, and Slim, a Mummy gun-slinging rival of Gramps, emerging from a dinner table meal prepared by Jesse (Gross) for his "new family" (consisting of the cater-puppy, kid pterodactyl, Gramps, Jesse, Charlie, and a lovely tribal princess rescued during ritual sacrifice by Jesse, Charlie, and electrician Bill from an Aztec warrior tribe in headdress in a swordfight!). So Gross and Stark take the material given and posit likable guys caught in an inexplicably surreal situation. That they make it out of this film without a hitch is a testament to their resilience. Gross, the leading man here, with Stark his lovable oaf buddy, anchors this film surprisingly well. He loses a lot, but manages to outlast Slim, a determined zombie wanting that damned skull. And I'll be damned if I don't get a bit weepy-eyed when Jesse hugs a dying Gramps (how he actually dies when already dead, I just throw up my hands) in quite the farewell.
4th of July 2025 Marathoning
McDowell and Comi prepare to leave for Mars. Aliens visiting the UN, dropping off their cook book, providing goodies for humans on Earth, easing them into trusting them, spiriting them away to be food for them on their home planet. To Serve Man is nearly 60 years ago. I've been watching Twilight Zone since I was a teenager in the mid 90s thanks to Sci Fi Channel. Many of my family have passed since (for instance, my mother's siblings are all about gone except one last sister), and it wouldn't be right to avoid a marathon during the 4th if just for nostalgic reasons. Syfy didn't see the value of TZ on Independence Day, except last year, so even though I cannot watch episodes like I do during New Year's Eve and Day, it is nice to try and sneak in a block of episodes whenever possible. I started with Death Ship from the fourth season, continuing with Stopover in a Quiet Town and The Gift . To Serve Man would feel like a later afternoon watch but SYFY showed it at 3:...
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