ONE CRAZY SUMMER (1986)

This is the movie where the two little girls get slapped on the back while making ugly faces and their faces freeze.

Writer/director Steve Holland and star John Cusack follow the success of their first film together, BETTER OFF DEAD, the very next year with ONE CRAZY SUMMER the story of yet another teenage loser with girl problems.  This time around Cusack and his buddy have just graduated from high school so they head off for a relaxing vacation on Nantucket Island.  Along the way they pick up struggling singer Demi Moore, who was running from some bikers.  Once on the island they have to join forces with some other friends to save the one guy's grandma's house from an evil land developer and his douchebag jock son.  While all of this is going on Cusack has the hots for Demi, but the jocks sexy girlfriend has her sights set on Cusack.

Like BETTER OFF DEAD the comedy is pretty wacky, but unlike BETTER OFF DEAD it doesn't have a real soul and it's not even that funny.  There's some humorous moments, but over all it's pretty dated.  Older fans who grew up during the wacky comedy wave of the 1980's will probably still like it, but I just can't see newer audiences laughing at Bobcat Goldthwait screeching nonstop, a guy listening all summer to a radio station 24/7 in hopes of winning a contest or a guy named "Hoops" who can't play basketball.  The Nantucket scenery did look beautiful though.

HONDO (1953)

Way off out in the middle of the unsettled New Mexico Territory, homesteader Geraldine Page sees a lone man walking across the desert towards her house.  She and her young son are all alone since her husband left...but this isn't her husband returning.  No, it's Army despatch (yes, it's spelt with an e) rider Hondo Lane (John Wayne).  He got his ass kicked a few days ago by some Indians and now he's without a horse.  Once rested up he does some chores around the house in exchange for a horse.  While he's at it he makes quite an impression on Geraldine.  He can't lollygag around though, he needs to get back and tell the Army that the Apaches are gearing up for war!  Will Wayne and Geraldine's paths cross again?

I liked HONDO.  The story is a little different than your average cowboys versus Indians story thanks to the fact that the Indians were actually portrayed as humans and not just bloodthirsty savages.  The relationship between Wayne and Geraldine was believable and I thought she was fantastic.  I knew she was a master from her performance in INTERIORS, but seeing her give a performance nearly to the same level 25 years earlier was quite surprising.  Beautiful photography, Ward Bond with a beard, quick pace, James Arness in a small role, cute looking dog.  Worth a watch for western fans.

One interesting fact about HONDO is when the production went over schedule director John Farrow (yes, Mia's father) had to leave to start on his next project so John Ford was brought in (uncredited) to finish the job!  How crazy is that?!