GHOST WORLD (2001)

"I just - I can't relate to 99% of humanity."

I loved GHOST WORLD. I loved it the very first time I saw it back in 2001 and I think I love it even more now.

After a smile inducing opening credits (that perfectly sets the tone for movie), we are introduced to best friends, Enid and Rebecca, at their high school graduation. Both hate school and all the brain dead conformists that go there. Rebecca is excited about getting an apartment with Enid, but Enid (depressed about life and that she still has to go to summer school for art class to get her diploma) is still clinging (maybe subconsciously) to her childhood and keeps coming up with excuses to not get (or keep) a job. At the same time, Enid and Rebecca jokingly respond to a "missed connection" ad in the newspaper.  The ad was placed by the sad and lonely Steve Buscemi, who is absolutely fantastic in this role.

For the longest time I thought that the first half of GHOST WORLD was one of the best things I'd ever seen and the last act kinda fizzled out, but now, after many viewings and me getting older (and hopefully wiser) I've come to the conclusion that the ending is great also.  It's purposefully vague and open to interpretation (I'm not going to ruin it for anybody who hasn't seen it), but I think that the story takes a very dark turn at the end.

Perfect acting by all of the leads, some of the best supporting acting of all time, amazing set design and wardrobe, a cynical script that still cracks me up, Brad Renfro, masterful direction by Terry Zwigoff, six beef jerkys, many quotable lines, excellent use of "found footage", mirror, father, mirror, a Federico Fellini joke, The Mutilator, great music, nunchucks vs. mop fu, Satanists and quite possibly the single greatest post-end credit scene of all-time.

GHOST WORLD is one of the better things in my life.

THE WEDDING SINGER (1998)

Adam Sandler is a wedding singer and as far as wedding singers go he's pretty good at it.  A romantic at heart, he's always dreamed of getting married himself.  Unfortunately his girlfriend stands him up at the alter.  Almost too heartbroken to go on, he's coaxed out of his gloom to help a co-worker (Drew Barrymore) plan her wedding.  As the days pass, he realizes that this girl is actually the girl of his dreams, not his ex!  Also, her soon to be husband is a total douchelord.

That might sound like the story of a thousand different romantic comedies (and it is), but it's all THE WEDDING SINGER needs because it's honestly a great movie.  The main attractions are the delightful chemistry between Barrymore and Sandler, Steve Buscemi's hair, the awesome 80's soundtrack and the hilarious comedy.  Even after (easily) 30+ viewings I still enjoy every scene and can pretty much quote the entire thing.  "They were cones!"  I also really appreciated the fact that the "bad guy" (Drew's boyfriend), while he is a douche, isn't totally dislikable.  He's just an ass, but still very funny.

THE WEDDING SINGER is a truly fun movie and by far my most watched Adam Sandler film.  Highly recommended.  I am curious though as to why with so many 80's references and Drew Barrymore being the main star didn't they somehow work in an E.T. joke/reference?