When it comes to movies, there’s no question that Slumdog Millionaire deserved to win the 2008 Academy Award for Best Picture, or that The Godfather earned its spot in the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry.
But there’s another group of movies out there – the ones that never win any prestigious awards or enjoy any critical success. These are films that constantly get one star ratings from movie reviewers and make some film stars want to wipe them off of their resumes.
Even so, when audiences give these “bad” movies a chance, they’re often surprised at how entertaining they can be. And while most people wouldn’t spend ten dollars to see these movies in theatres, they often make good DVDs to rent – especially on nights when you’re not in the mood for an epic blockbuster or thought-provoking independent film.
Here then is a list of three “bad” films to rent that still accomplish what all movies should strive for – great entertainment.
Johnny Dangerously (1984)
Michael Keaton spoofs gangster movies in this hilarious parody film of James Cagney movies. When paper boy Johnny Kelly beats up a group of mobsters, he impresses rival mob boss Jocko Dundee (Peter Boyle) so much that he’s invited to join their gang. Deciding he needs the money to pay for his mother’s expensive gall bladder and salivary gland operations, Johnny becomes the infamous “Johnny Dangerously” (Michael Keaton).
Thanks to a ridiculous amount of bribes to everyone in his neighborhood, Johnny manages to keep his criminal activities a secret from his mother and kid brother Tommy (Griffin Dunne) – and even sends Tommy through law school. But when Tommy joins the D.A.’s office, Johnny figures he’ll have to quit crime or take on his brother.
Keaton delivers an excellent comedic performance in this parody film, which also features appearances by comedy greats Danny DeVito and Peter Boyle. Comedy fans will also want to keep a look out for cameo appearances by Dom DeLuise as the Pope and Alan Hale Jr. (the Skipper from Gilligan’s Island) as a desk sergeant.
Delirious (1991)
What if you could control people’s lives by writing what you wanted to happen to them? Soap opera writer Jack Gable (John Candy) gets to find the answer to this question when he gets hit on the head and winds up a character in his own TV show. After discovering he can make anything he wants happen by typing out the scenes – including turning himself into a horseback rider or martial arts champion – Jack decides to romance socialite Rachel Hedison (Emma Samms) as suave “Jack Gates.”
Unfortunately, Jack soon learns he’s not the only writer pulling the strings – as he must contend with a rival writer in the “real world” who’s messing around with Jack’s plots. Things get more complicated when Jack falls for down-to-earth Janet Dubois (Mariel Hemmingway), who’s scheduled to meet a horrible fate. As Jack tries to protect Janet, he learns that living in a fantasy world isn’t what he really wants.
A surprisingly sweet classic comedy movie, Delirious parodies every soap opera cliché from murder plots to switched babies. Most of the actors deliver hilarious, over-the-top performances – including Raymond Burr who plays Rachel’s cable-TV-obsessed father and Robert Wagner who has an unexpected cameo as the “real” Jack Gates. A fun romantic comedy DVD to rent when you’re in the mood for something silly.
Return of the Killer Tomatoes (1988)
Long ago, a young actor named George Clooney made a parody film so terrifying, so bizarre that the mere mention of the title is enough to make his current fan base scream in horror.
Well… maybe not. Actually, the parody film, Return of the Killer Tomatoes, is an entertaining sci fi video that functions as a sequel to the cult classic movie Attack of the Killer Tomatoes (1978), although it adopts a new take on the story about tomatoes trying to take over the world.
This time, Dr. Gangrene (John Astin) has developed a way to turn tomatoes into anyone he wants, from muscle-bound guards to a sexy maid named Tara (Karen Mistal). When Tara escapes with a mutated furry tomato named F.T., however, she falls in love with pizza boy Chad (Anthony Starke), only to learn Chad’s tomato bigotry may threaten their relationship. But when Tara is captured, Chad and his best friend Matt (George Clooney) must overcome their tomato prejudice to storm Gangrene’s lab and save her.
While the movie is basically a silly 1980s comedy film, it does have a classic scene where the filmmakers break the fourth wall to announce they’ve run out of money. Unwilling to stop production, Clooney saves the day by suggesting the movie use product placement to save the parody film – leading to a scene where he does nothing but sell Nestle Crunch bars, Pepsi, and Crest toothpaste to another actor until they raise enough advertising capital to finish the movie. It’s a hilarious sequence, similar to Mel Brooks’ Spaceballs (1987).
Find more lists of films to rent at Parody Films to Rent for Action Adventure Fans and Fantasy Romantic Comedy Films to Rent.
