Quick Movie Reviews
Rating of
2.5/4
Indyfreak - wrote on 03/09/2018
This Tom Hanks led dark comedy is not quite as funny as it thinks it is. But it commits to the madcap escapades of a neighborhood full of nosy busybodies and stressed out yuppies. A lot of the cast is very funny like Hanks, Feldman, Dern, and Ducommun. Carrie Fisher is sorely underused though and once the mystery is uncovered bit by bit, the movie loses steam.
Rating of
1.5/4
Yojimbo - wrote on 12/09/2012
I always thought Joe Dante was highly over-rated and this is typical of his stuff. A kind of comic version of Rear Window, it doesn't work as suspense and it isn't funny. So what's the point?
Rating of
2.5/4
Daniel Corleone - wrote on 02/02/2012
Ray Peterson (Tom Hanks), Lt. Mark Rumsfield (Bruce Dern) and Walter Seznick (Gale Gordon) suspect their neighbors of being murderers. Carol (Carrie Fisher), Ray’s wife, is skeptical after meeting Dr. Werner Klopek (Henry Gibson) and Uncle Reuben Klopek (Brother Theodore). The soundtrack provided the aura of spookiness while the comedic talents of Hanks. Unfortunately, Carrie Fisher’s character didn’t provide the laughs, Feldman was underutilized, Gordon was unfunny and some scenes were a bit childish. It had a lot of laughable scenes despite some impossible situations. The Burbs is a descent dark comedy with themes of being vigilant of peculiar neighbors and persistence of finding the truth.
Rating of
3/4
mitchellyoung - wrote on 01/07/2012
This sly, little-known Tom Hanks comedy is sly and dark in the right places. It features some great contextual comedy about suburban life, but some of the darker horror moments are truly terrifying. The reveal is sort of expected, but the buildup is incredibly tense for a comedy.
Rating of
2/4
Unknown - wrote on 12/05/2011
The premise sets up what could've been a decent horror/comedy. Sadly, the flat characters and mundane plot leave much more to be desired. The potential satire on suburb communities and older monster films is not mined at all. We are left with little-to-no jokes. Having Joe Dante behind the camera does amp up the horror homage factor. There's a good attempt at old-school horror cliches and atmosphere. The actors make the negatives a bit easier to get through. Underwhelming in it's average standard.
Rating of
4/4
dukeakasmudge - wrote on 09/17/2011
I enjoyed this movie when it 1st came out & still enjoy it today.My favorite Tom Hanks movie
Rating of
3/4
Drive-In Massacre - wrote on 05/22/2011
A really interesting, but inexplicably dismissed, black comedy about a tightly knit neighborhood that fears that their new neighbors are serial killers. Joe Dante's (who I've always considered the Horror-Comedy Martin Scorsese) characteristically unique direction is always a pleasure to see, and the cast including Tom Hanks, Carrie Fisher, Bruce Dern, Corey Feldman, Henry Gibson, and Dick Miller, makes up one of my favorite ensembles of any comedic film.
Rating of
1.5/4
frenchfreyteetor - wrote on 05/29/2008
A very strange and goofy movie. I really love Tom Hanks and he is what makes this movie worth watching.
Rating of
2.5/4
Chris Kavan - wrote on 07/10/2007
Kind of dark for Tom Hanks, but this is after all a dark comedy. It has its funny moments, but I can't say this is one of my favorites. Just OK.
Rating of
2.5/4
Josh C - wrote on 12/16/2006
Classic Tom Hanks, just a hilarious movie with a very creative plot. It takes ?Rear View Window? and twists it into a crazy comedy.