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Matinee
1992
It's 1962 and 15-year-old horror film fan Gene Loomis (Simon Fenton) is the new kid in a small Key West town; the Cuban Missile Crisis is happening in his own backyard; an intriguing girl (Lisa Jakub) is actually looking his way, and best of all, master showman Lawrence Woolsey (John Goodman) is in town promoting his latest sci-.. Read more
| Starring | John Goodman, Cathy Moriarty, Simon Fenton, Omri Katz |
|---|---|
| Director | Joe Dante |
| Genres | Comedy |
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Critics' reviews (6)
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A glorious mix of American Graffiti, Stand by Me and The Fly, this super coming-of-age saga from Joe Dante (director of Gremlins and the Spielberg-produced fantasy Small Soldiers, among others) is a tender paean to growing up in the early 1960s, using the twin backdrops of nuclear bomb paranoia and “Atom Age” monster flicks. It's also a loving tribute to legendary producer/director William Castle, the schlock showman responsible for gimmick B-movies such as The Tingler and House on Haunted Hill. Charming John Goodman is the Castle clone launching his new giant insect horror film Mant in Key West during the Cuban missile crisis, and it's the contrast between fake movie scares and real-life ones that makes Dante's nostalgic inferno such an engaging delight.
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An enjoyable celebration of the nuclear-inspired, gimmicky horror movies of the 50s, brilliantly parodied; but it is hampered by a teen romance, presented without apparent irony, which might have been lifted from any drive-in movie of the period.
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"...JOE DANTE lovingly recreates the monster pics of his youth in MATINEE....Solid comic turns by Goodman, Moriarty and Robert Picardo..."
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Most helpful members' reviews (3)
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2 out of 3 people found this review helpful
John Goodman on top form
No-one seems to know this film, which is a crying shame.
John Goodman is well cast as the film director, luring his audiences to the cinemas using the latest in 1960's technology (hmm) and a guy in a rubber suit. He really does make the movie. Hats off to you sir, a fine performance!
Set in the cuban missile crisis, there isn't really a whole lot of plot, or any lesson to learn from this film. But the characters are strong and well played, and it's a nice little film for the family.
(I'd love to see more of the movie- within-a-movie. 'Mant' looks like a rather hilarious little B-movie...) -
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
A feel good film
A films set during the 1962 missile crisis. Not a good start you think, but how wrong you would be.
John Goodman plays Laurence Woolsey, a character based on director William Castle, the man you brought “The House on Haunted Hill”, “The Tingler” and “Rosemary’s Baby”, known as the “King of the Gimmicks”.
The film is a gentle tribute to all those horror/ sci-fi films of the 50s and 60s, with a large number of the same actors sending up their roles, wrapped around a coming of age story. -
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
No subtitles
This feature does not have subtitles.
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Most recent members' review
View all -
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful
John Goodman on top form
No-one seems to know this film, which is a crying shame.
John Goodman is well cast as the film director, luring his audiences to the cinemas using the latest in 1960's technology (hmm) and a guy in a rubber suit. He really does make the movie. Hats off to you sir, a fine performance!
Set in the cuban missile crisis, there isn't really a whole lot of plot, or any lesson to learn from this film. But the characters are strong and well played, and it's a nice little film for the family.
(I'd love to see more of the movie- within-a-movie. 'Mant' looks like a rather hilarious little B-movie...)
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2 out of 3 people found this review helpful
John Goodman on top form
No-one seems to know this film, which is a crying shame.
John Goodman is well cast as the film director, luring his audiences to the cinemas using the latest in 1960's technology (hmm) and a guy in a rubber suit. He really does make the movie. Hats off to you sir, a fine performance!
Set in the cuban missile crisis, there isn't really a whole lot of plot, or any lesson to learn from this film. But the characters are strong and well played, and it's a nice little film for the family.
(I'd love to see more of the movie- within-a-movie. 'Mant' looks like a rather hilarious little B-movie...) -
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
A feel good film
A films set during the 1962 missile crisis. Not a good start you think, but how wrong you would be.
John Goodman plays Laurence Woolsey, a character based on director William Castle, the man you brought “The House on Haunted Hill”, “The Tingler” and “Rosemary’s Baby”, known as the “King of the Gimmicks”.
The film is a gentle tribute to all those horror/ sci-fi films of the 50s and 60s, with a large number of the same actors sending up their roles, wrapped around a coming of age story. -
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
No subtitles
This feature does not have subtitles.
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Love this movie
Watched it when I was a kid and have fond memories of how it made me feel at the time. Easy to watch, natural, different, natural acting and when they get locked in the vault.....! Classy movie for teens.
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Critics' reviews (6)
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A glorious mix of American Graffiti, Stand by Me and The Fly, this super coming-of-age saga from Joe Dante (director of Gremlins and the Spielberg-produced fantasy Small Soldiers, among others) is a tender paean to growing up in the early 1960s, using the twin backdrops of nuclear bomb paranoia and “Atom Age” monster flicks. It's also a loving tribute to legendary producer/director William Castle, the schlock showman responsible for gimmick B-movies such as The Tingler and House on Haunted Hill. Charming John Goodman is the Castle clone launching his new giant insect horror film Mant in Key West during the Cuban missile crisis, and it's the contrast between fake movie scares and real-life ones that makes Dante's nostalgic inferno such an engaging delight.
-
An enjoyable celebration of the nuclear-inspired, gimmicky horror movies of the 50s, brilliantly parodied; but it is hampered by a teen romance, presented without apparent irony, which might have been lifted from any drive-in movie of the period.
-
"...JOE DANTE lovingly recreates the monster pics of his youth in MATINEE....Solid comic turns by Goodman, Moriarty and Robert Picardo..."
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"...A delightful comedy and one of the most charming movies in a long time....There are plenty of big laughs in MATINEE..."
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In Key West during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, 14-year-old Gene (Fenton) is preoccupied with the forthcoming visit... read more on Time Out
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"...MATINEE is a sweetly resonant little movie-lovers' movie..."
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