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One Crazy Summer Blu-ray Review

“One Crazy Summer” is a quintessentially 80’s comedy.

Written and directed by Savage Steve Holland, 1986’s “One Crazy Summer” revolves around a high school graduate (Hoops) who is struggling with a scholarship assignment for art school. In the meantime, he decides to spend the summer in Nantucket with his pal George and George’s sister Squid and her dog. While on the road, they meet a young woman (Cassandra) who is also headed to Nantucket to save her grandfather’s house from the rich, greedy Beckersted family who want to develop the property. As Hoops begins to fall for Cassandra, he opts to help her by any means necessary along with friends George, Squid, twin brothers Egg and Clay and Ack Ack.

“One Crazy Summer” is the type of movie studios just don’t make anymore. It’s a completely stupid, but entirely amusing madcap comedy filled with a great soundtrack that could never be afforded today AND all sorts of sight gags that involve everything from messed up faces, animated segments, a graduation hat death, a purple haired biker gang leader, a “Jaws” spoof, beach bombs, a monster costume, chili, lobsters and a sail boat race. How does all that tie together? You’re just going to have to see for yourself.

What really grabs me about ‘Summer’ though is that it’s a high energy comedy that doesn’t skimp on character. Sure, there’s a plethora of comedic bits and perhaps it’s overstuffed with characters, but there are genuine character arcs here involving Hoops trying to find himself, Ack Ack trying to make his dad proud, and Cassandra trying to overcome the odds and defeat the wealthy villains. Is it anything original? No, but it doesn’t matter. The comedy wouldn’t work if you weren’t on board with the characters and Holland gets that.

‘Summer’ is, of course, aided by a fantastic cast comprised of John Cusack, Demi Moore, Bobcat Goldthwait, Curtis Armstrong, Jeremy Piven and plenty of character actors like William Hickey, Joe Flaherty and Mark Metcalf. Cusack and Moore may be the big names here (and both are charming), but let’s be real, Bobcat Goldthwait steals this movie. This is peak Goldthwait weirdness. Everything from his weird expressions and noises to his mannerisms is nothing short of unique. 

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.85:1 1080p. How does it look? Viewers can expect a nice pristine new print.

Audio Track: 2.0 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? This lively movie gets a suitably lively audio track.

Extras:
* “One Crazy Summer” theatrical trailer
* A highly amusing and laidback commentary by Savage Steve Holland, Bobcat Goldthwait and Curtis Armstrong.
  

You can pick up “One Crazy Summer” over at the Amazon Warner Archive store or through other retailers.

September 1, 2021 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | 80's Movie, Comedy Movie, Demi Moore, One Crazy Summer Blu-ray Review, Warner Archive