Episode #127: City Slickers
Listen to Episode 127 of the Podcast here while you enjoy the show notes. **Our apologies for the lower audio quality as we dealt with technical issues through remote recording.**
SUMMARY - In City Slickers, Mitch (played by Billy Crystal) along with his two best friends are having mid-life crises. For his 39th birthday present, they take him out of his troubled New York City life and into a cattle ranch for a two-week adventure moving the herd managed by a rough and possibly dangerous cowboy.
Screenplay by Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel; Directed by Ron Underwood; and released on June 7,1991.
FILM DISCUSSION
We've said it before and we'll say it again. Animated opening credit sequences need to make a comeback.
The three best friends start off in Spain to get some quick, mostly easy laughs but really its to set up the crux of the mid-life crisis plot
Throughout there are plenty of heartfelt, introspective conversations that still remain incredibly comedy-appropriate and never get too sappy.
We really enjoyed the brief time we get to see Mitch and Barbara interact. It was so refreshing to have a couple address adult concerns with reason and care while still acknowledging problems.
The movie is full of these moments where the humor never lapses but we still get depth
The supporting cast is a little large, which makes sense, but there's little for most of them to do.
We were also surprised at how little screen time the Oscar winner Palance got. Not to knock his performance, but it's strange.
You gotta love Norman
There's some action, but mostly it's dialogue based. Regardless of the genre at the moment, nothing feels out of place.
Awards Talk: At the Oscars and Golden Globes Jack Palance won Best Supporting Actor. It earned nominations at the Golden Globes for Best Lead in a Comedy and Best Picture Comedy/Musical. At the People’s Choice Awards, it won Favorite Comedy Movie. At the MTV Movie Awards, it won Best Comedic Performance, and a Clip was shown in 'Best performance by Animals' and in the quotes montage.
TRUE CRIME & POP CULTURE
This week we don't have any true crime so we jump into music.
Here are the new releases on the Billboard charts as of June 8, 1991
Lenny Kravitz - It Aint Over Til Its Over
Titiyo - My Body Says Yes
D’zyre - Forever Amo’r
Gloria Estefan - Can’t forget You
Michael Damian - What A Price to Pay
Trixter - Surrender
RANKINGS & RATINGS
Nikki 1-5 star scale - 4 out of 5
Jon 0-4 star scale - 3 out of 4
Would you watch it again? - We enjoyed it as kids for one reason and watching it again as adults, it was enjoyable for different reasons. There is a great melding of genres with some moments that are still legitimately funny thanks to the charming cast. We would certainly watch this one again, regardless of age.
If you want to watch City Slickers, as of this recording in August 2023, it’s available on Prime, Roku, Digital Rental, VHS, DVD. Check your local listings.
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