The Good Humor Man

I saw "The Good Humor Man" at Methodfest awhile back and then I heard it was going to be on TV. I watched it again and remembered just how good it was.

The overall feeling I had is that I was watching a film that had been lost in the 70's, gathering dust on a shelf in the back of an office, and someone found it and said, "maybe folks could relate to this today." It seems more as if it was made in that period rather than trying to evoke it. The production values definitely said "indie" to me (in a good way). I loved the transition from the well-lit, perfectly blocked and shot interiors to the grainy, almost home movie look of the exteriors. A less experienced director would have used a lot more hand-held and faster cuts. That would have been the easy way out. But Tenney Fairchild let the story dictate the shots and not the other way around. The script was brilliant, and I can see it becoming an instant "cult classic" in the most complimentary sense of the term. So many great lines -- I kept thinking, "I've got to remember that line," then there'd be another, and another...

Of course, the music had me from the word go, but I knew that it would going in. How can you go wrong with a score by Robin Trower? Everything about the look, of course -- the hair, clothes, cars, appliances, Pop-Tarts...

The juxtaposition of the raw, almost jarring language of the stoners (I didn't know there were that many slang terms for sex acts and body parts -- I should count next time -- actually, I'll bet someone has) with the tender, innocent, almost childlike relationship between the lovers was what made it like a perverse Afterschool Special. At its heart, it's really an old-fashioned romance.

I was rolling on the floor more than once -- at some point I started thinking, "man I wish I made this." I found myself wanting to rush things along at the start -- it felt a bit slow. By the end, I was looking at the clock thinking, "damn, that's it?" I didn't want it to end. I could stay with those kids another couple of hours.

The kids were great. It didn't feel scripted, for the most part. To me a great director doesn't "direct" so much as let the actors do what they do best. That's what I felt from opening to closing credits.

This movie reminded me a lot of "Napoleon Dynamite". Every time you watch it you find new details that are just gems. Keep an eye on the mom's feet while she is in the kitchen. She's standing on paper towel because, I assume, she just finished washing it. My mom totally did that. Very good acting all around and you can see how the director let the actors be free, especially visible in the scenes between Nathan and Cameron. I get so drained by the constant big budget studio pics that lack the heart of true indie's such as this movie and Dynamite. It's refreshing and gives hope that personal film making still exists. When you find a movie that you can continue to watch and discover new things each time, you know you have a great movie.

I loved this movie. It is one of those small movies that is a great find. I have watched it several times and I figure out something new each time. I hope the director continues to make more movies because this one is very entertaining. I really liked the friendship between the character's "Jay" and "John". I think you could really see why they were the two guys in the group to be close. Then there was the good relationship "Jay" had with "Wendy" and his relationship with his parents. This was a great movie to discuss with friends. The movie also had some great lines. When Jay told his mom he would try to be a better "guest". I cracked up.

I saw this on a screener DVD a couple months before it was released.

I liked the main characters and the overall story but some scenes are pretty sloppy and confusing. The sets were fitting but a few just looked like left overs from Freaks & Geeks or reminded me of a cell phone commercial shot in a middle class home. Definitely not what the DVD cover claims, "Destined to be the next stoner classic", hardly.

Wardrobe and hairstyles are done well and yes, there are some really pretty girls in this, always nice to see a good looking cast.

Almost every scene contained guitar that just droned on and on. Sound design was a bit poor. I think less would have been best.

The writing and directing of Good Humour Man were top notch. Now if we can just get Tenney Fairchild and Vincent Chase in the same room...would that be something you're interested in?

The soundtrack, cinematography, and directing style of this movie were a refreshing departure from the CGI'd world.

Good Humour Man Trivia: Paul Mumford, who plays The Groom, was one of America's top sports car racers until he (along with Good Humour Man cameo, Chris Premer) died tragically in a plane crash outside of Corona, CA.

I believe Showtime is re-airing it a few times this month. Definitely a great way to chill out and have a few laughs.