I clearly remember trying to understand this movie back in the 80's.. it was on HBO often and I'd catch it in the middle or something and just didn't get it at all. So I finally revisited "O.C. and Stiggs" yesterday and though it is still an utter mess of a film, there are some hilarious disjointed moments with a cast that is 80's awesome.
What is O.C. and Stiggs? It is an 80's Robert Altman film that was inspired by a 1982 special issue of National Lampoon magazine titled "The Utterly Monstrous, Mind-Roasting Summer of O.C. and Stiggs". The film was made in 1984, but tested so poorly it wasn't released in 1987.
Altman later explained the movie to be a satire on the Reagan Administration and the audience wanted "porky's" instead.
So is there a plot? Hey with that National Lampoon magazine title.. it appears we were expecting too much. But the film revolves around two rebellious Arizona teens .. O.C. and Stiggs .. that despise their suburban surroundings so much, they plot against it. So to prove it, they seek revenge against the middle class Schwab family and especially Randall Schwab Sr. that totally cheated Gramps in the past.
Recognize this guy?
Actually, in retrospect the movie is worth watching at least once for the cast alone. So Daniel Jenkins plays O.C. and Neill Barry is Stiggs.. impressed? Nope.. ok.. how about .. Paul Dooley, Jane Curtin, Ray Walston, Tina Louise, Cynthia Nixon, Martin Mull, Bob Uecker, Dennis Hopper, and a pre-Pretty In Pink Jon Cryer pictured above?
So bad it's good? Not for me, but I've read reviews of folks that totally enjoy this film. They think it is hilarious.
"O.C. and Stiggs" is more of a jumbled mess in my opinion, but the cast and silliness will definitely keep your attention. Oh and the O.C. and Stiggs theme music apparently performed by King Sunny Ade is just addictive to listen to as they are roaming around in their tripped out Gila Monster car!
Posted by Crash (Member # 7484) on :
You are correct. This is terrible, an unreleasable mess. The Lampoon story is one of the funniest things I have read, but the humor is lost here, mostly because Robert Altman was the worst possible choice as director. He shot the thing like one of his serious art films--overlapping, mumbled dialogue; lots of master shots; scenes that are edited so that they either start in the middle of the action or drag on too long. And he missed the point of the piece: It is not a commentary on the Reagan era; it is about two guys taking revenge on the snotty Schwabs. Jenkins and Barry aren't great either. This thing needed either John Hughes or Savage Steve Holland at the helm with Anthony Michael Hall and Bobcat Goldthwait as leads.
[ 22. January 2012, 19:12: Message edited by: Crash ]
Posted by Logan 5 (Member # 1467) on :
I remember thinking how odd this was back in the day. I still enjoyed it. Still think it's an odd mess... but worth watching. Not really like many other movies.
Posted by pettyfan (Member # 2260) on :
Oh gosh Valley I gotta disagree!! I love, love, love O.C. and Stiggs!!! It's one of my top 5 80s movies. I have it on DVD, I have it saved in my Netflix instant que...I can never watch it enough times. Sure it's a bit over the top at times, and sometimes silly, but that's why I love it.
Posted by gotta go back (Member # 9818) on :
Is it Robin Williams silly/annoying or more like Coneheads silly. That cast looks ok to me and I would like to see it unless it is Williams goofy.
Posted by pettyfan (Member # 2260) on :
I don't think it's Robin Williams silly....
Posted by Valley (Member # 1322) on :
pettyfan .. that is actually cool that you appreciate this movie so much .. top 5 that is some serious love.
I totally agree that the cast is fantastic and the movie has some hilarious sequences, but for me it is just too disjointed. I did like it more watching recently than back in the 80's.
Posted by pettyfan (Member # 2260) on :
It's not normally my type of movie. I just love it though. Plus I always had a crush on Neill Berry.
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