Happy Hour

This was an example of some of the worst mugging and all-around bad acting since Plan 9 from Outer Space! The leads actually maintain a straight face throughout to their credit, but the supporting cast (every last one of 'em), are all horrendous! It could have been funny if it had been played a bit more realistically. Then the outrageous behavior shown by the characters' reaction to the "Marshall Beer secret ingredient" would have been hilarious. Oh well... it WAS filmed in 1987 after all.

This film should be a classic in American Film archives. What a better story line than a beer company trying to take over the world. This movie is an absolute must for beer lover and movie buffs alike. Anyone that misses out on this one is truly a neglected individual.

My review was written in May 1987 after a screening at Manhattans' UA Twin theater.

The filmmakers of the intentionally bad 1977 release "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes" have not progressed one iota in a decade, judging by the singularly unfunny "Happy Hour", a purported comedy about beer. Poor writing and inept technique will have the viewer claiming "Sour Grapes", pic's original title when shot back in 1985.

Richard Gilliland blandly portrays a scientist working for Marshall eer who accidentally invents an ingredient which makes the product irresistible and addictive. Unfortunately, he cannot reproduce his formula, so only one bottle of the stuff exists, half of which is stolen by rival Lakeside Beer.

Picture consists of poorly staged and ill-timed slapstick as a bunch of zanies try to capture both breweries' vials of the ingredient. Charmles overacting is encouraged by director John De Bello, except for the casting of mimic Rich Little as a James Bond type of suave spy, given a very laid back, boring reading by Little. Film is so dated that Little has a running gag vocally doing an impression of Cary Grant to fool security guards.

Despite its R rating, pic has no nudity or sex. Technical quality is disgraceful, with poorly synched dialog (done intentionally as a gag in "Killer Tomatoes" but just a boner here), and no color correcting. Latter caused most of the print screened to be very reddish, virtually making lovely costgar Tawny Kitaen look as garish as a circus clown; some shots are greenish with no matching. The only pro credit is an effective music score. Pic ends with a bimbette addressing the audience directly, informing us we probably are too stupid to understand the film's message. Supposedly a satire of society's crassness as epitomized in beer advertising, the film's shoddy attempt to make a fast buck is transparently clear to any movie fan.

This is quite good comedy. First of all it has to do with beer! It has weird & stupid humour, but not even once does the pace slow down for a bit. It goes all the way, almost fresh even during the ending sequence, which must as tradition to be silly in american films. This one has some nice jokes - not the best, but surely enough for those who are looking for a nice old-school comedy.

Fast pace & hillarious characters (not mentioning the general beer-frenzy depicted in the film) are the two factors that make this an OK film.

It is disheartening to see how many bad movies have been produced over the years and it is a trend that never runs out because there will always be someone watching them. If only out of curiosity.