The 'burbs (1989)

Director:

Joe Dante

Writer (WGA):

Dana Olsen (written by)

Release Date:

17 February 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

A comedy about one nice guy who gets pushed too far.

Plot:

An overstressed suburbanite and his paramilitaric neighbor struggle to prove their paranoid theory that the new family in town is a front for a cannibalistic cult.

Plot Keywords:

Neighbor | New Neighbor | Basement | Nosy Neighbor | Infrared Scope

Awards:

1 nomination

US TV Schedule:

Fri. Dec. 11

2:45 PM

HBO

Cast

Tom Hanks	...	Ray Peterson
Bruce Dern	...	Mark Rumsfield
Carrie Fisher	...	Carol Peterson
Rick Ducommun	...	Art Weingartner
Corey Feldman	...	Ricky Butler
Wendy Schaal	...	Bonnie Rumsfield
Henry Gibson	...	Dr. Werner Klopek
Brother Theodore	...	Uncle Reuben Klopek
Courtney Gains	...	Hans Klopek
Gale Gordon	...	Walter Seznick
Dick Miller	...	Vic, Garbageman #1
Robert Picardo	...	Joe, Garbageman #2
Cory Danziger	...	Dave Peterson
Franklyn Ajaye	...	Detective #1
Rance Howard	...	Detective #2

Also Known As:

Life in the Burbs (USA) (original script title)

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:12 | UK:12 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | USA:PG (Certificate #29589) | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Sweden:11 (cut) | UK:PG (cut) | USA:PG | West Germany:16 | Spain:13 | Singapore:PG | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Imagine Entertainment

Trivia:

Wendy Schaal's voice might be recognized by some. She voices Francine Smith on the animated "American Dad!" (2005).

Goofs:

Continuity: When Ray and Carol talk in their parked Jeep, the headrests are missing. They appear as they pull out of the driveway.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Carol Peterson: Ray. Ray, where are you going? Come back to bed.

Movie Connections:

References Die Hard (1988)

Soundtrack:

LOCKED IN A CAGE

I Love This Movie

Originality can go a long way in movieland, as THE 'BURBS so perfectly illustrates. Tom Hanks is Ray Peterson, an average schmuck not sure what to do with his at-home vacation. He soon finds his excitement when he and his paranoid neighbors convince themselves the weirdos on the block are responsible for the strange disappearance of the neighborhood's beloved old man. So they do what any of us would do... break into their home to find proof of the dastardly deed.

So many critics charged that Hanks tarnished his reputation with this effort. But for the umpteenth time, the critics were just being overly critical. THE 'BURBS is a hilarious, well-written and wonderfully creative piece of work. It's the kind of movie Joe Dante (GREMLINS, Matinée) does best. He takes a situation we can all basically relate to, turns it upside down and shakes the hell out of it like a snow globe.

An unnecessarily heavy-handed ending is all that stands between THE 'BURBS and a 10-star rating. All of a sudden a fun little ride is derailed by an angry outburst and contrived syringe battle. If Dante had it to do over again, he surely would have come up with something more suitable (and humorous).

Of course THE 'BURBS is not for all tastes, but if you like the pre-PHILADELPHIA Hanks and are in the mood for something completely different, you won't want to mi