Porky's (1981)

My friend Eric didn't get my reference to "Mike Hunt" from the classic 80s movie Porky's and so I had to explain it:

In 25 words, Group of teenage boys seeks to lose their virginity.  Sexual frustration of high school girls leads them to a shady honky-tonk called Porky's where drinking and sex flows more freely.

Noted at its time for the full frontal nudity of the girls locker room.  Starring a young Kim Cattrell.

When I saw this as a junior in high school (had to sneak in to the R Rated movie, we sat on the front row opening night it was so crowded.  My friend the late George Capps laughed so hard he fell on the floor - giving definition to modern day acronym ROTFL - rolling on the floor laughing

The Founder

Behind every great fortune is a great crime - Balzac.

This great crime is the plot point for The Founder, starring Michael Keaton as Ray Kroc.  In the 70s, when I might be first in a McDonalds, there was usually a plaque for Ray Kroc as the founder of McDonalds.  Only later did I ever hear of the McDonald brothers.

John Lee Hancock as director takes his sepia tones and 50s cars to tell the story of how Ray Kroc, a Midwestern milkshake machine salesman became involved with McDonalds.  If you see it as a crime what he did (e.g. The Social Network) , then you're likely missing the point of how McDonald's became the American Icon that it is.  The McDonald brothers thought they were in the restaurant business, but it took a visionary to see past that.  In that respect Ray Kroc is of course the hero of his movie.  I'll bet his estate financed the movie - certainly Joan Kroc comes off well. I call this the Blind Side effect.  Also directed by... John Lee Hancock.

Lots of parallels to other Midwestern American success stories (Walt Disney, Ronald Reagan, The Mormon Church) of taking one small idea nationwide and making it so much more.

* * * * of 5

Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)

A John Cusack film - that should tell you that we will have an angst-ridden semi-hero who should get the girl in spite of himself and the situations he puts himself in.  It's been a sure thing since The Sure Thing (1985) which we thought at the time was a cool movie.


Here we have Martin Blank, a CIA trained hitman, coming back to Grosse Pointe for his 10 year high school reunion.  For someone who kills for a living, he is racked by guilt and sees a psychiatrist (Alan Arkin) and pines for his high school girlfriend (Minnie Driver).

Credit to early showing of plot points in Analyze This, The Sopranos as well as many 80s high school reunions.  The soundtrack also has some alt, rock/ska music that is not often heard.

On the other hand, it's pretty much a Tarantino ripoff, from the suits, to the diner, to the shootouts, to the body disposal.    Even in the Ultimart shootout, we see a movie cutout from Pulp Fiction.  The fight scenes were similar to Kill Bill Volume 1 as well.

Decent performances, and a nice turn against type by Dan Ackroyd as a fellow hitman.

* * * of 5