I seem to recall my older siblings saw it in the theater. I didn't see an unedited version of this film until was an older adult, but it was on TV every summer.
This was the highest grossing Canadian movie in history when it came out. It's Bill Murray's film debut and Ivan Reitman's director debut. It 's also the film debut for Chris Makepeace, who played Rudy. Makepeace was in a string of quirky teen movies in the early 80s that weren't big hits but developed a cult following, most notably My Bodyguard, with Adam Baldwin and Matt Dillon, and Maze & Monsters, with Tom Hanks.
@@Madbandit77 I checked wiki and you are right. I'm sure his directing Cannibal Girls and Foxy Lady 6 and 8 years before Meatballs are what really got him noticed by Hollywood. Let's just say that Meatballs is the first movie he directed that anyone noticed.
So the camp that this was shot at is called Camp White Pine, in Ontario, Canada. It is still open today, and offers a number of different sessions. The full season cost which is six weeks long is over $11k Canadian.
It was filmed there but also across the lake at camp towhee. I went there in 1985 when I was 12 lol. It was a camp for kids with special needs. My big special need was ADHD lol. It was 6 weeks for free. There was 1 counselor for every 2 campers and only 60 campers total. When I went there the dock was still yellow. Oh and camp White pine paid all the operating expenses for camp towhee. They didn't like that set up but the camp White pine owner put it in his will before he died.
A great summer movie is The Bad News Bears (1976). A lot of people (including me) consider it to be among the best kids movies and sports movies of all time. Another great summer flick is Dirty Dancing.
Just a warning about Bad News Bears. It is very racist and sexist. And there is at least one use of the n word. And lots of violence, too. So even though the movie is about kids it's not for kids. I don't think it's suitable for anyone under the age of 17.
@@trhansen3244 That's your take on it. I think it's the opposite of that. And I think it's a very real portrayal of what childhood and little league sports were like back in the day. This is a pretty deep movie, and yes, it's great for kids in many ways, but probably with some pre and post discussion. I think what's more important about the little speeches is that he says the words but he clearly doesn't feel them. His passion and dedication for his team and teammates is very clear. What's also interesting is the other kids' reactions to him. They don't take him too seriously; and, they see past it too. And so do I, though I am from two of the groups of people he's insulting. He's a lovable kid. They all are. And it's an important film about friendship, sportsmanship and some very real portrayals of personal relationships. I'm guessing that you weren't a kid in the seventies. I think it's foolish for young people today to try and pretend the world was different than it was. The thing to do is think and learn and improve, not to shove things away. This is a beautiful film, and a whole generation of kids watched it growing up and we turned out, for the most part, to be a generation that's busted through a lot of the bullshit prejudices; maybe because movies like this helped us to observe and feel through these things. The kid characters in the movie represented a relatable mirror for childhood; in a raw and unpolished, un-bullshit way. Also, the probably half dozen moments you're talking about from the whole movie aren't at the core of the movie. The movie is about sportsmanship, and I can think of dozens of films that were made to follow in its footsteps. It's an original and it's raw and it's beautifully acted, and it's warm and funny and real - and it's worth a watch. I will say that parental guidance would be important, though, on some of the specific behaviors that shouldn't be imitated. And there's quite a bit of that. I don't disagree that there are things portrayed, such as the manner in which he ports the team around, that I dislike - I actually consider that a more important point to make as there's safety involved. Clearly, coach isn't the ideal babysitter to say the least. But at the heart of the movie is a lot of heart, and incredible acting performances by all.
Another underrated summer time movie is Summer School (1987), which stars Mark Harmon in a role that is the complete opposite of his best known role (NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs) and a pre-Cheers Kirstie Alley.. It is a very funny movie.
Harmon is absolutely hilarious in that film. Wish he did more comedies as he's known more for serious fare like NCIS and even older stuff like The Presidio (another great film the Mrs should definitely see) and The Deliberate Stranger where Harmon played Ted Bundy of all people.
Barely pre-Cheers. She started on Cheers that fall. It also has Shawnee Smith before Saw and Courtney Thorne-Smith before Melrose Place. I always liked that movie.
Ah, simpler times! I remember watching this on HBO back in the day. Parents were asleep, lights out after dark, thinking I was so naughty. It's a pretty tame movie all things considered, but the nostalgia stick hits hard with this one. You make an old man happy!
Well, despite being a hit (the first Ivan Reitman/Bill Murray/Harold Ramis collaboration), Meatballs kind of got lost in the midst of raunchy sex comedies that came out around the late 70s/early 80s because it's not as raunchy. It, however, has influenced the likes of "Camp Nowhere", "Heavyweights" and "Wet Hot American Summer".
I've lost count of how many times I've seen this movie in the 80s & 90s. It is a true classic! This one is Bill's top 5 movies, in my book. Thanks for the suggestion Granny!
God.. they played Meatballs all the time on HBO in the 80's. Fun Fact: The disco song playing was called "Makin' It". It was the theme song for a short lived disco themed sitcom starring David Naughton.. who was the lead actor in "An American Werewolf In London". Naughton's also the singer of that song which was a Billboard hit that year.
When I was really young, 6 or 7 maybe, I remember a short lived sitcom that used this as a theme song, and I think it might have been called 'Making It' (the show). But I also think Naughton was in it?
@@tinastar1972 That's correct - that's the sitcom Xanda meant. The song was recorded earlier, and then reissued in '81 and became a hit at around the same time as the sitcom.
I grew up on the 80's "naughty" comedies.... Porkys, Bachelor Party, Revenge of the Nerds, Weird Science etc.. I was aware that they were just movies and the things in them were just fantasy. Back then we could have fun without everyone taking everything seriously and getting offended.
Saw this at a drive-in near Oyster Bay, Long Island when it came out in 1979. Loved it then, love it now! The camp they shot at is still functioning and is in Haliburton, Ontario.
The story that Tripper tells the counselors in training at the campfire is the classic urban legend, The Tale of the Hook Man, which inspired many horror/slasher movies like Halloween, Friday the 13th, Prom Night, My Bloody Valentine, Scream, and I Know What You Did Last Summer.
The way he hold it scared the shiit out of me when I was a kid lol. I went camping a lot with my family and my scouting troop. It was hard sleeping in my tent with that story on my mind lol.
"Lost in Translation" is a GREAT movie with Bill Murray in a dramatic role. With Scarlett Johansson who was 17 at the time playing a young 20's love interest. Directed by Sophia Coppola.
You gotta love how fun and light-hearted movies from this era could be. Lots of movies about teenagers, for teenagers. Little Darlings and Bad News Bears come to mind. Shortly afterward you had a treasure trove of John Hughes teen movies and their knock-offs.
LOVE this movie. Favorite bit: The entire "it just doesn't matter" speech. Over the decades I must have quoted that a dozen times. Great speech for when the chips are down. My 2nd favorite bit: Murray hijacking the news story on Camp Mohawk. Sexual Awareness week. Classic.
An underrated and unappreciated movie!! My friend and I used to watch it as often as possible and then we even wore out the VHS. The soundtrack is great too! I still love the song, "Moondust" Thanks to YT, someone posted the song since it's not available on Spotify.
'Meatballs' defined the summer of 1979. It was from a simpler time in life when human beings were individually more genuine, more amicably social and free speech was embraced for better or worse. The statement "...it just doesn't matter..." stuck with me through life, at 15 years old it was ultimately freeing from the mental rigors of growing-up. This beloved movie in my opinion will exist along with the original Star Wars, Close Encounters, Jaws, The Blues Brothers and Grease as an icon film to be appreciated by future generations.
This was among the earliest entries in the "raunchy sex comedy" genre, along with Animal House, Porky's, Revenge of the Nerds, etc. through later films like the American Pie series, but it was the tamest. It's tone is part of its charm, because it turns out to be one of the few of that entire crop where you genuinely like the characters as people and want to see them succeed, as opposed to just beat the bad guys. It has a heart of gold, and I think that owes to its sincerity.
Another FUNNY summer movie I HIGHLY recommend "The Great Outdoors" with John Candy and Dan Akroyd. 2 families go camping and Dan Akroyd plays the annoying brother in law to John Candy who is trying to be the perfect Dad/hubby. You guys are the best!!!!
This is my all time favorite movie. I really connected with the character Rudy. I actually owe my career to this movie. I got a job at a summer camp and ended up working as a counselor in the behavioral health field working in residential programs with children. The way Bill Murray connects with Rudy and helped him develop his strengths was my philosophy.
I watched this movie completely randomly today, havent even heard a reference to it in 15 years i come on here and boom reaction of it posted lmao. We live in a simulation
A very underrated summer movie is The Way Way Back, with Sam Rockwell basically doing a riff on Bill Murray's character from Meatballs. It's a fantastic coming of age movie.
Ah. Great pick and excellent reaction. This movie had such a grounded feeling to it. I know it’s the precursor to all the naughty sex comedies of the 80’s, but it really came across as quite wholesome. And it definitely benefited from the sheer charisma of Bill Murray:)
Lovin' this post, as per usual ;) Corvette Summer would make for a great chaser. I agree with everything the mrs said about Bill, lol, and if anything, I can't wait for the day you do Lost In Translation. THANK YOU to granny Christi for picking this gem!
I saw Corvette Summer in the theater. I have a 1080p copy of it on my computer. I loved the car. Many people theses days who see replicas thinks it's ugly but I guess they are entitled to their WRONG opinion.
@@thereturningshadow Same. I had a model corvette car kit that I suped up and I loved it. I also started out with a sh**** vhs looking version on my computer, then swapped it for the HD version. I kinda miss that soft furry edged copy though, it felt a bit more nostalgic, if just retro looking, lol.
I grew up with this film. Every kid could relate to it. I definitely felt like Rudy lol. The actor who played him, Chris Makepeace, played a similar character in another great teen movie called My Bodyguard. It's a lesser known but excellent film. You would recognize some of the cast. My summer camp was just day camp. We didn't stay overnight. It usually went for one week. This camping program that these kids were on was for most of the summer. It wasn't clear how much time had passed between when they first arrived at camp and Parent's Day. I would say at least 2 weeks. That would explain the joyful and tearful reunions the kids had with their parents. I've never heard of overnight camps lasting that long though. I mean, where did they all wash their clothes? Lol. Anyway, this movie is nostalgia. And I will always feel bad for Morty at the end lol. They totally left him. That was so mean! 🤣
I'd definitely second My Bodyguard and camps like that have a laundry mat believe it or not, the kids put their dirty clothes in garbage bags with a tag of cabin room and bed number and they come back in the same bag but the kids have to refold most of it by the time it gets to them lol
There are usually 2 sets of counselors at summer camp, the actual counselors and CITs (counselors-in-training), even sometimes some lesser CITs that just help cleanup and do manual labor stuff. Went to summer camp a few summers back in the day, loved it! Oh and yeah they are still around 100% -- at least here in Texas.
The story time scene reminded me of what happened when I went spontaneous camping with some friends one night in the woods near a lake around 1989. Just a few of us were hanging out together one night and we went walking in some woods we had never walked through before. At the end of the path we found a lake or large pond and we all thought "what the hell, let's camp out tonight" and so we each went back home, grabbed a little camp gear and some food and went back to the woods. We ran into other friends on the way back and they all decided to join us as well. 13 of us total. I remember that number exactly because we managed to fit 12 people in Mike's 8 person tent. We all set up camp and were enjoying ourselves relaxing in the woods. Timmy relaxed himself a little too much on the Devil's Lettuce and passed out in some foliage. Anyway while we all were surrounding the camp fire, Mike was telling us about what his mom's boyfriend, a county cop, told him that night while he was getting his camp stuff together. It was about a guy the cops recently were on the hunt for in this area who they believe was a homeless vagrant but scared some other campers earlier in the week and he tried to kill the guy and rape the girl but the couple managed to get away and that's how the cops knew about him and searched but couldn't find him. Mike went into some good detail with what he was telling us. After the story, no Bill Murray surprise at the end, we all decided to get some sleep and squeezed into this tent. Some girlfriends had to sleep on top of their boyfriends. Anyway about an hour or so after sleeping some of us woke up to footsteps near the tent. Some of the girls were getting REAL scared and one boyfriend literally had to clamp his hand over his girlfriend's mouth to keep her from screaming but we could still hear faint whimpers. The moon was out so enough though. It was quite dark in the woods but we could still see slight shadows on the tent as our eyes adjusted with natural night vision. The footsteps got closer and closer and by this time EVERYONE was awake and waiting because Mike's story was fresh in our heads. Then the footsteps stopped right outside the tent door/flaps. Then suddenly the zipper unzipped up and that's when the girls lost it making everyone else lose and I swear I saw a guy in the corner literally jump up in the air and put a pair of shorts on then land on his feet all in one motion. Girls were screaming, people were moving around in this small tent and then finally the person stuffed his head in the tent and Timmy said "Man, why'd y'all leave sleeping the woods like that?" Everyone starting laughing our asses off after that and I don't think anyone got anymore sleep that night. We packed up the next morning and went home. I think it was the way Mike told the story, yes it was a story, so seriously and many of us knew his mom was dating a cop so we all thought there was truth to the story. That is one camp out I don't think I will ever forget.
You should do 1981's Stripes next as another early Bill Murray movie. I saw it like 5 times in the theater at the time when I was 12 or 13. Not sure it would hold up now though. But I think it will. Stripes was pretty epic for a 12 year old at the time. As in from where it starts as to where it ends.
Stripes is easily in my top 3 Bill Murray movies, probably first, just got the extended version a month ago, already watched it 3 or 4 times... classic.
This is such a sweet, goodnatured film. It was pretty much an all Canadian production, filmed in Canada. Reitman had a verbal agreement with Bill Murray to do the movie, but no one knew if he'd actually show up until he did. In the scene where Bill Murray tells the "hook" story at the campfire, the cast had actually been drinking, and Murray was apparently so drunk that it took all his willpower to get through his monologue. That's why he looks so sweaty. In the "it just doesn't matter" inspirational speech, the kids had never heard what he was going to say, and their reactions were real. i love this film.
Thank you for requesting and doing this reaction! I've been trying to get reactors to react to it for some time, hopefully this is the beginning of the wave. Soundtrack is a lot of fun and it even has several quotes from the movie on it like the announcements. The kid that played Rudy, Chris Makepeace, did another movie that's really good for reacting from 1980 called My Bodyguard about school bullies. It costars Matt Dillon and Ruth Gordon. He also appeared in the old TV movie Mazes and Monsters (1982) with Tom Hanks.
This was one of two essential 80s camp comedies, the other being Little Darlings (1980). That one is a little bit raunchier, although still nowhere near the level of Porky's. Another lesser known summer camp comedy is Gorp (1980). Almost nobody remembers it, but it had Dennis Quaid, Fran Drescher and Rosanna Arquette.
I loved this movie and your reaction! What I didn't know way back then, as I was only about 10 when I first saw this, is the fact that Kristine Debell (AL here) starred in an X-rated version of Alice in Wonderland 3 years before this movie was made. From the stories I've read (and from an interview she did once) her boyfriend, who was the director, taped some "special time" they spent together, and inserted it into the movie without her knowledge. Its really a shame that this young lady never really had a better shot at Hollywood potentially because of that other "film". Regardless, thank you for this reaction and I look forward to the next!! Edited as I forgot to mention her boyfriend was also the director of the Alice film. Felt that needed to be added.
@@Tr0nzoid When I was 17, there was a video store in my town that had the "unrated" version of Alice in Wonderland. It was the same movie with those X-rated moments the director had filmed removed. I recognized her from Meatballs and was like, "I'll give it a shot", thinking it was just a hard R rated comedy at the time. It wasn't until later that I realized there was an actual X-rated version. Once I heard the stories about how the extra footage was actually shot... I never had the desire to see it. Heck, I honestly felt a bit bad about having even watched the tamer version!
Kind of. Alice was originally shot has a hard-core x rated film but the hard-core shots where taken out so the film could be released with a more commercial R rating. Alice went on to be a big hit. The film makers went and put the hard-core scenes back in and re released the film with a x rating. Kristen had no idea they where going to do that and it pretty much de railed her career
Wow! Does watching this great movie again with you after a while make me feel old. 😂 I'm just thinking: This is what I grew up with. It is so different from the shit kids grow up with nowadays.
I can't count how many times I've seen Meatballs. From a little kid and understanding very little of the adult jokes, to being they age to finally understand the Yasir Arafat bit at the start. It used to always be on HBO, and was one of those you just put on if there was nothing good on TV and it was playing.
32:08 I don't know about 1979, but in the 80s in high school we all had to do the challenges to get the Award from the President's Committee on Physical Fitness. When Regan was president, Arnie was the Chair of the Committee
The actor who plays Rudy, Christopher Makepeace, played in a movie called My Bodyguard with Adam Baldwin and Matt Dillon in the '80s it's another really good movie.
Chris Makepeace stars in a movie called My Bodyguard, from the early 80's. The guy who plays Jayne, or however they spell it is The Bodyguard in the movie.
Bill Murray was the first major breakout star from Saturday Night Live who was not an original cast member (he joined the cast in 1977). He made this low-budget Canadian comedy while he was still with the show. Murray left SNL in 1980, and became a major film star in big-budget '80s productions.
"Wet Hot American Summer" is a camp parody. "Troop Beverly Hills" is a girl scout camp comedy. I know you don't do cartoons but "Race for your life, Charlie Brown (1977)" is one that you can't go wrong with.
There’s a great camp comedy about a bunch of 30 something people who go back to revisit their summer camp as adults called Indian Summer with Bill Paxton,.. really funny movie!
Meatballs was the first collaboration between Bill Murray and Canadian director Ivan Reitman, which was followed by the military comedy Stripes (1981) and the paranormal comedy Ghostbusters (1984).
The song Makin it which is played in the movie is sung by the actor who plays the lead in an American werewolf in London his name is David Naughton…. He also drank Dr Pepper and was proud😀
Summer movies - Summer School The Sandlot Wet Hot American Summer Stand By Me Btw, the Mrs. demonstrating the hot dog eating champ's style was one of the funniest things I'd ever seen, in part due to Cowboy's face when it happened. Bravo.
Back in the mid 80s I recorded this on our VCR (yes, I'm that old) when a local broadcast station was playing it. I was shocked when I found out that they played it UNCUT except for commercials but uncut nonetheless on regular broadcast tv, not a cable station, which technically didn't exist then. Just premium movie channels then. That kind of stuff only happens once in the proverbial blue moon.
“It just doesn’t matter! It just doesn’t matter! It just doesn’t matter!”
I have loved this movie since I saw it theatrically as a kid.
It was a great movie.
I seem to recall my older siblings saw it in the theater. I didn't see an unedited version of this film until was an older adult, but it was on TV every summer.
I’m always amazed at the core of kindness that lurks in this silly, ridiculous movie.
So true. Shows perfectly how you can poke fun in a kind way.
Great comment! Always loved this film! Great friendships.
This was the highest grossing Canadian movie in history when it came out. It's Bill Murray's film debut and Ivan Reitman's director debut. It 's also the film debut for Chris Makepeace, who played Rudy. Makepeace was in a string of quirky teen movies in the early 80s that weren't big hits but developed a cult following, most notably My Bodyguard, with Adam Baldwin and Matt Dillon, and Maze & Monsters, with Tom Hanks.
This isn't Ivan Reitman's first directorial film. It's his third.
See I remember Makepeace from the movie Vamp
You know waaaaaay too much trivia. BUT My Bodyguard is def a classic.
@@Madbandit77 I checked wiki and you are right. I'm sure his directing Cannibal Girls and Foxy Lady 6 and 8 years before Meatballs are what really got him noticed by Hollywood. Let's just say that Meatballs is the first movie he directed that anyone noticed.
@@theplanetruth Want more trivia? Adam Baldwin is the bodyguard in the movie. Matt Dillion! Joan Cusack too!
So the camp that this was shot at is called Camp White Pine, in Ontario, Canada. It is still open today, and offers a number of different sessions. The full season cost which is six weeks long is over $11k Canadian.
It was filmed there but also across the lake at camp towhee. I went there in 1985 when I was 12 lol. It was a camp for kids with special needs. My big special need was ADHD lol. It was 6 weeks for free. There was 1 counselor for every 2 campers and only 60 campers total. When I went there the dock was still yellow. Oh and camp White pine paid all the operating expenses for camp towhee. They didn't like that set up but the camp White pine owner put it in his will before he died.
A great summer movie is The Bad News Bears (1976). A lot of people (including me) consider it to be among the best kids movies and sports movies of all time. Another great summer flick is Dirty Dancing.
White water summer with Kevin bacon!
Bad News Bears is amazing. Imagine anything like that being put out today. Being a kid in the 70s was awesome because we weren't pussies.
Don’t forget Summer School with Mark Harmon and Kirstie Alley
Just a warning about Bad News Bears. It is very racist and sexist. And there is at least one use of the n word. And lots of violence, too. So even though the movie is about kids it's not for kids. I don't think it's suitable for anyone under the age of 17.
@@trhansen3244 That's your take on it. I think it's the opposite of that. And I think it's a very real portrayal of what childhood and little league sports were like back in the day. This is a pretty deep movie, and yes, it's great for kids in many ways, but probably with some pre and post discussion. I think what's more important about the little speeches is that he says the words but he clearly doesn't feel them. His passion and dedication for his team and teammates is very clear. What's also interesting is the other kids' reactions to him. They don't take him too seriously; and, they see past it too. And so do I, though I am from two of the groups of people he's insulting. He's a lovable kid. They all are. And it's an important film about friendship, sportsmanship and some very real portrayals of personal relationships. I'm guessing that you weren't a kid in the seventies. I think it's foolish for young people today to try and pretend the world was different than it was. The thing to do is think and learn and improve, not to shove things away. This is a beautiful film, and a whole generation of kids watched it growing up and we turned out, for the most part, to be a generation that's busted through a lot of the bullshit prejudices; maybe because movies like this helped us to observe and feel through these things. The kid characters in the movie represented a relatable mirror for childhood; in a raw and unpolished, un-bullshit way. Also, the probably half dozen moments you're talking about from the whole movie aren't at the core of the movie. The movie is about sportsmanship, and I can think of dozens of films that were made to follow in its footsteps. It's an original and it's raw and it's beautifully acted, and it's warm and funny and real - and it's worth a watch. I will say that parental guidance would be important, though, on some of the specific behaviors that shouldn't be imitated. And there's quite a bit of that. I don't disagree that there are things portrayed, such as the manner in which he ports the team around, that I dislike - I actually consider that a more important point to make as there's safety involved. Clearly, coach isn't the ideal babysitter to say the least. But at the heart of the movie is a lot of heart, and incredible acting performances by all.
"One Crazy Summer" w/ John Cusack, Demi Moore, Curtis Armstrong, and Bobcat Goldwaith.
Last November I met Kristine DeBell who played A.L. at a local comic con.She’s very nice.
That's cool! She's one of the cast members who didn't seem overawed by Bill Murray, and had plenty of her own good "moments."
@@stoogeswoman Definitely
Another underrated summer time movie is Summer School (1987), which stars Mark Harmon in a role that is the complete opposite of his best known role (NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs) and a pre-Cheers Kirstie Alley.. It is a very funny movie.
Harmon is absolutely hilarious in that film. Wish he did more comedies as he's known more for serious fare like NCIS and even older stuff like The Presidio (another great film the Mrs should definitely see) and The Deliberate Stranger where Harmon played Ted Bundy of all people.
Summer School is still hilarious. I like Indian Summer too (in keeping with a camp theme).
Barely pre-Cheers. She started on Cheers that fall.
It also has Shawnee Smith before Saw and Courtney Thorne-Smith before Melrose Place.
I always liked that movie.
Summer camp was 4 to 5 weeks. They only mentioned that Mohawk was $1k per week to show how ridiculously expensive it was.
The kid who played Rudy was in another great movie called “My Bodyguard” with Adam Baldwin and Matt Dillon. You guys should check it out.
Yes! My Bodyguard is a great one.
He was also in the 1986 vampire comedy VAMP starring Robert Rusler(Weird Science) and Grace Jones
Ah, simpler times! I remember watching this on HBO back in the day. Parents were asleep, lights out after dark, thinking I was so naughty. It's a pretty tame movie all things considered, but the nostalgia stick hits hard with this one. You make an old man happy!
They never said it was one week. lol. It's summer camp.
I can honestly say I never expected anyone to react to this.
Well, despite being a hit (the first Ivan Reitman/Bill Murray/Harold Ramis collaboration), Meatballs kind of got lost in the midst of raunchy sex comedies that came out around the late 70s/early 80s because it's not as raunchy. It, however, has influenced the likes of "Camp Nowhere", "Heavyweights" and "Wet Hot American Summer".
Reactors tend to all watch the same safe popular films. I'm glad this one was picked for them.
I've lost count of how many times I've seen this movie in the 80s & 90s. It is a true classic! This one is Bill's top 5 movies, in my book. Thanks for the suggestion Granny!
God.. they played Meatballs all the time on HBO in the 80's.
Fun Fact: The disco song playing was called "Makin' It". It was the theme song for a short lived disco themed sitcom starring David Naughton.. who was the lead actor in "An American Werewolf In London". Naughton's also the singer of that song which was a Billboard hit that year.
He also did a very popular Dr. Pepper commercial.
When I was really young, 6 or 7 maybe, I remember a short lived sitcom that used this as a theme song, and I think it might have been called 'Making It' (the show). But I also think Naughton was in it?
@@tinastar1972 That's correct - that's the sitcom Xanda meant. The song was recorded earlier, and then reissued in '81 and became a hit at around the same time as the sitcom.
Yep and his name was in the credits. Naughton was kind of everywhere back in the 80's and then he suddenly disappeared.
@@SurvivorBri I used to love his movie "Midnight Madness" with a very young Michael J Fox playing his brother! Maybe someday someone will react to it.
I grew up on the 80's "naughty" comedies.... Porkys, Bachelor Party, Revenge of the Nerds, Weird Science etc.. I was aware that they were just movies and the things in them were just fantasy. Back then we could have fun without everyone taking everything seriously and getting offended.
and Police Academy, Caddy Shack, Back to School etc ❤
And Screwballs!
👍
Don't forget Strange Brew (1983).
Saw this at a drive-in near Oyster Bay, Long Island when it came out in 1979. Loved it then, love it now! The camp they shot at is still functioning and is in Haliburton, Ontario.
Addam's Family Values has the greatest summer camp scene in history. LOL!
Being born in 1970 this movie was definitely part of my youth.
The story that Tripper tells the counselors in training at the campfire is the classic urban legend, The Tale of the Hook Man, which inspired many horror/slasher movies like Halloween, Friday the 13th, Prom Night, My Bloody Valentine, Scream, and I Know What You Did Last Summer.
The way he hold it scared the shiit out of me when I was a kid lol. I went camping a lot with my family and my scouting troop. It was hard sleeping in my tent with that story on my mind lol.
@@SurvivorBri I know what you mean. lol I saw Meatballs before I even saw any slasher movies.
Back in the day, we called him "Chop Chop Charlie".
"Lost in Translation" is a GREAT movie with Bill Murray in a dramatic role. With Scarlett Johansson who was 17 at the time playing a young 20's love interest. Directed by Sophia Coppola.
8:59 They are chanting "we want gossip" and "c'mon Jodi!"...Jodi is the resident gossipmonger of the camp.
FINALLY! Somebody reacts to this freaking movie! I’ve been telling people to watch this one for three years! Thanks!
So i am 45 tears old now. When i was a kid we would take tv dinners camping because they were all tin and perfect for the fire.
Tv dinners from the 70's and 80's are sorely missed! Also, do your best to watch "My Bodyguard" :)
You gotta love how fun and light-hearted movies from this era could be. Lots of movies about teenagers, for teenagers. Little Darlings and Bad News Bears come to mind. Shortly afterward you had a treasure trove of John Hughes teen movies and their knock-offs.
When this movie came out, everyone in the audience screamed at Bill Murray's hook jumpscare 😀
Legend...Wet Hot American Summer is pretty funny, too.
They didn't know if this was going to be a Bill Murray movie until the third day. When Bill gainfully showed up on set.
LOVE this movie. Favorite bit: The entire "it just doesn't matter" speech. Over the decades I must have quoted that a dozen times. Great speech for when the chips are down. My 2nd favorite bit: Murray hijacking the news story on Camp Mohawk. Sexual Awareness week. Classic.
An underrated and unappreciated movie!! My friend and I used to watch it as often as possible and then we even wore out the VHS.
The soundtrack is great too! I still love the song, "Moondust" Thanks to YT, someone posted the song since it's not available on Spotify.
Meatballs, Porky's, Animal House, and Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Where I learned about the 🐦🐦🐦 & 🐝🐝🐝
'Meatballs' defined the summer of 1979. It was from a simpler time in life when human beings were individually more genuine, more amicably social and free speech was embraced for better or worse. The statement "...it just doesn't matter..." stuck with me through life, at 15 years old it was ultimately freeing from the mental rigors of growing-up. This beloved movie in my opinion will exist along with the original Star Wars, Close Encounters, Jaws, The Blues Brothers and Grease as an icon film to be appreciated by future generations.
This was among the earliest entries in the "raunchy sex comedy" genre, along with Animal House, Porky's, Revenge of the Nerds, etc. through later films like the American Pie series, but it was the tamest. It's tone is part of its charm, because it turns out to be one of the few of that entire crop where you genuinely like the characters as people and want to see them succeed, as opposed to just beat the bad guys. It has a heart of gold, and I think that owes to its sincerity.
I never want to hear "are you ready for the summer" screamed ever again in my life 😭
Even as low budget as this movie is, it's my favorite Bill Murray comedy
Another FUNNY summer movie I HIGHLY recommend "The Great Outdoors" with John Candy and Dan Akroyd.
2 families go camping and Dan Akroyd plays the annoying brother in law to John Candy who is trying to be the perfect Dad/hubby.
You guys are the best!!!!
Such a great movie! Seen it so many times I can’t count.
You know what hot dogs are made out of, don't ya?
That and Summer Rental are hilarious.
This is my all time favorite movie. I really connected with the character Rudy. I actually owe my career to this movie. I got a job at a summer camp and ended up working as a counselor in the behavioral health field working in residential programs with children. The way Bill Murray connects with Rudy and helped him develop his strengths was my philosophy.
Great movie, a lot of people haven't seen it, but it's a fun, well acted bonkers movie that's very entertaining and heartwarming. Murray is hilarious
I watched this movie completely randomly today, havent even heard a reference to it in 15 years i come on here and boom reaction of it posted lmao. We live in a simulation
This was filmed in Canada. Rudy's a Canadian actor. He was in My Bodyguard which was good at the time. Worth a look I think.
102.7 KIIS FM, Los Angeles, Rick Dees in the morning 1980s I used to listen to.
A very underrated summer movie is The Way Way Back, with Sam Rockwell basically doing a riff on Bill Murray's character from Meatballs. It's a fantastic coming of age movie.
I love that film.
Ah. Great pick and excellent reaction. This movie had such a grounded feeling to it. I know it’s the precursor to all the naughty sex comedies of the 80’s, but it really came across as quite wholesome. And it definitely benefited from the sheer charisma of Bill Murray:)
Yes it has a groundhog feeling to it.
Seemed like Murray ad libbed his way through this amazingly.
Up there with Animal House
The music also Awesome. Apparently it did matter cause they pulled out all the stops to win
Metaballs, Porky´s and Revenge of the nerds is a must watch for anyone that likes dirty humor
One crazy summer! Demi Moore and John Cusac!
_Summer Rental_ with John Candy is a fun summertime movie.
I LOVE Summer Rental!!
Lovin' this post, as per usual ;)
Corvette Summer would make for a great chaser. I agree with everything the mrs said about Bill, lol, and if anything, I can't wait for the day you do Lost In Translation.
THANK YOU to granny Christi for picking this gem!
I saw Corvette Summer in the theater. I have a 1080p copy of it on my computer. I loved the car. Many people theses days who see replicas thinks it's ugly but I guess they are entitled to their WRONG opinion.
@@thereturningshadow Same. I had a model corvette car kit that I suped up and I loved it. I also started out with a sh**** vhs looking version on my computer, then swapped it for the HD version. I kinda miss that soft furry edged copy though, it felt a bit more nostalgic, if just retro looking, lol.
I grew up with this film. Every kid could relate to it. I definitely felt like Rudy lol. The actor who played him, Chris Makepeace, played a similar character in another great teen movie called My Bodyguard. It's a lesser known but excellent film. You would recognize some of the cast. My summer camp was just day camp. We didn't stay overnight. It usually went for one week. This camping program that these kids were on was for most of the summer. It wasn't clear how much time had passed between when they first arrived at camp and Parent's Day. I would say at least 2 weeks. That would explain the joyful and tearful reunions the kids had with their parents. I've never heard of overnight camps lasting that long though. I mean, where did they all wash their clothes? Lol. Anyway, this movie is nostalgia. And I will always feel bad for Morty at the end lol. They totally left him. That was so mean! 🤣
I'd definitely second My Bodyguard and camps like that have a laundry mat believe it or not, the kids put their dirty clothes in garbage bags with a tag of cabin room and bed number and they come back in the same bag but the kids have to refold most of it by the time it gets to them lol
"My Bodyguard"!! 1980. Same kid is in this one as Meatballs!
There are usually 2 sets of counselors at summer camp, the actual counselors and CITs (counselors-in-training), even sometimes some lesser CITs that just help cleanup and do manual labor stuff. Went to summer camp a few summers back in the day, loved it! Oh and yeah they are still around 100% -- at least here in Texas.
Did you like the CIT song?
The story time scene reminded me of what happened when I went spontaneous camping with some friends one night in the woods near a lake around 1989. Just a few of us were hanging out together one night and we went walking in some woods we had never walked through before. At the end of the path we found a lake or large pond and we all thought "what the hell, let's camp out tonight" and so we each went back home, grabbed a little camp gear and some food and went back to the woods. We ran into other friends on the way back and they all decided to join us as well. 13 of us total. I remember that number exactly because we managed to fit 12 people in Mike's 8 person tent.
We all set up camp and were enjoying ourselves relaxing in the woods. Timmy relaxed himself a little too much on the Devil's Lettuce and passed out in some foliage. Anyway while we all were surrounding the camp fire, Mike was telling us about what his mom's boyfriend, a county cop, told him that night while he was getting his camp stuff together. It was about a guy the cops recently were on the hunt for in this area who they believe was a homeless vagrant but scared some other campers earlier in the week and he tried to kill the guy and rape the girl but the couple managed to get away and that's how the cops knew about him and searched but couldn't find him. Mike went into some good detail with what he was telling us.
After the story, no Bill Murray surprise at the end, we all decided to get some sleep and squeezed into this tent. Some girlfriends had to sleep on top of their boyfriends. Anyway about an hour or so after sleeping some of us woke up to footsteps near the tent. Some of the girls were getting REAL scared and one boyfriend literally had to clamp his hand over his girlfriend's mouth to keep her from screaming but we could still hear faint whimpers. The moon was out so enough though. It was quite dark in the woods but we could still see slight shadows on the tent as our eyes adjusted with natural night vision.
The footsteps got closer and closer and by this time EVERYONE was awake and waiting because Mike's story was fresh in our heads. Then the footsteps stopped right outside the tent door/flaps. Then suddenly the zipper unzipped up and that's when the girls lost it making everyone else lose and I swear I saw a guy in the corner literally jump up in the air and put a pair of shorts on then land on his feet all in one motion. Girls were screaming, people were moving around in this small tent and then finally the person stuffed his head in the tent and Timmy said "Man, why'd y'all leave sleeping the woods like that?"
Everyone starting laughing our asses off after that and I don't think anyone got anymore sleep that night. We packed up the next morning and went home. I think it was the way Mike told the story, yes it was a story, so seriously and many of us knew his mom was dating a cop so we all thought there was truth to the story. That is one camp out I don't think I will ever forget.
I think I was 11 or 12 when I went to the theater to see this. I loved it then and it still holds wonderful memories for me. Just a fun summer movie!
Kristine DeBell's was big in Theater. Her biggest Om-screen role was in an X-rated musical called "Alice".
You should do 1981's Stripes next as another early Bill Murray movie.
I saw it like 5 times in the theater at the time when I was 12 or 13. Not sure it would hold up now though. But I think it will.
Stripes was pretty epic for a 12 year old at the time. As in from where it starts as to where it ends.
I saw it many times in the theatre as well, I was 17. It's a classic! John Candy and Harold Ramis as well.
Stripes is easily in my top 3 Bill Murray movies, probably first, just got the extended version a month ago, already watched it 3 or 4 times... classic.
Make sure it’s not the new extended cut though.
@@tempsitch5632 original extended cut, not reworked
Man! I haven’t seen this in years!!! Talk about obscure in today’s world. Nice!
This is such a sweet, goodnatured film. It was pretty much an all Canadian production, filmed in Canada. Reitman had a verbal agreement with Bill Murray to do the movie, but no one knew if he'd actually show up until he did. In the scene where Bill Murray tells the "hook" story at the campfire, the cast had actually been drinking, and Murray was apparently so drunk that it took all his willpower to get through his monologue. That's why he looks so sweaty. In the "it just doesn't matter" inspirational speech, the kids had never heard what he was going to say, and their reactions were real. i love this film.
As for the movie that not only jump - started naughty comedy, but changed comedy forever: Please put Animal House on your list.
I’ve already seen it many times sorry
@@MrsMovies You guys are delightful. I love your reactions. God bless you!
I can’t believe you didn’t include the North Star CIT song scene. That’s one of the scenes that make the movie.
YES! "Meatballs"!
I miss the seventies. I REALLY miss the seventies!
Thank you!
🎶🎶🎶🎶
Making it...
Oo-oo-oo-ooo
I'm makin' it...
🎶🎶🎶🎶
Great to see you reacting to this. This movie never gets old.
Thank you for requesting and doing this reaction! I've been trying to get reactors to react to it for some time, hopefully this is the beginning of the wave.
Soundtrack is a lot of fun and it even has several quotes from the movie on it like the announcements.
The kid that played Rudy, Chris Makepeace, did another movie that's really good for reacting from 1980 called My Bodyguard about school bullies. It costars Matt Dillon and Ruth Gordon. He also appeared in the old TV movie Mazes and Monsters (1982) with Tom Hanks.
This was one of two essential 80s camp comedies, the other being Little Darlings (1980). That one is a little bit raunchier, although still nowhere near the level of Porky's.
Another lesser known summer camp comedy is Gorp (1980). Almost nobody remembers it, but it had Dennis Quaid, Fran Drescher and Rosanna Arquette.
Classic! Seen probably 50 times on hbo back in the day, hopefully “Porkys “ is on your radar thanks
I loved this movie and your reaction! What I didn't know way back then, as I was only about 10 when I first saw this, is the fact that Kristine Debell (AL here) starred in an X-rated version of Alice in Wonderland 3 years before this movie was made. From the stories I've read (and from an interview she did once) her boyfriend, who was the director, taped some "special time" they spent together, and inserted it into the movie without her knowledge. Its really a shame that this young lady never really had a better shot at Hollywood potentially because of that other "film".
Regardless, thank you for this reaction and I look forward to the next!!
Edited as I forgot to mention her boyfriend was also the director of the Alice film. Felt that needed to be added.
I remember always seeing that Alice in Wonderland listed in catalogs back then.
@@Tr0nzoid When I was 17, there was a video store in my town that had the "unrated" version of Alice in Wonderland. It was the same movie with those X-rated moments the director had filmed removed. I recognized her from Meatballs and was like, "I'll give it a shot", thinking it was just a hard R rated comedy at the time. It wasn't until later that I realized there was an actual X-rated version. Once I heard the stories about how the extra footage was actually shot... I never had the desire to see it. Heck, I honestly felt a bit bad about having even watched the tamer version!
Kind of. Alice was originally shot has a hard-core x rated film but the hard-core shots where taken out so the film could be released with a more commercial R rating. Alice went on to be a big hit. The film makers went and put the hard-core scenes back in and re released the film with a x rating. Kristen had no idea they where going to do that and it pretty much de railed her career
She was in The Big Brawl too (an early Jackie Chan film).
My favorite movie as a kid! Still love it!
This Bring back memories, I was 15 when It came out during summer vacation
This was Bill Murray's first movie he had done, following his departure from SNL.
Actually, I think this was filmed during his summer break from SNL between the fourth & fifth seasons.
Wow! Does watching this great movie again with you after a while make me feel old. 😂 I'm just thinking: This is what I grew up with. It is so different from the shit kids grow up with nowadays.
A true Generation X classic. We were all Makepeaces but wanted to grow up to be Murrays.
Hey you! On the water skis!
Dick Fosbury won gold in 1968 for his "flop" over the high bar. By 79 all pros were doing it but kids were probably still training old style
'My name is Morty' 'Hi Mickey!!!' Gotta get that shirt! Love this movie!😂
I can't count how many times I've seen Meatballs. From a little kid and understanding very little of the adult jokes, to being they age to finally understand the Yasir Arafat bit at the start. It used to always be on HBO, and was one of those you just put on if there was nothing good on TV and it was playing.
My public high school had a field hockey team. A girl I was friends with was on it.
Hello You and Me, I'm joining you today. It's been a long time since I watched " Rudy the Rabbit ". " Hey! "
Now you need to do Wet Hot American Summer. A meta parody of movies like this.
Finally! A movie both of you haven't seen.
Movie Recommendation > Adventureland 2014, going back to the 1980's and working at Amusement Park during the Summer. Killer Score/Music.
Camp Nowhere with Christopher Lloyd; Wet Hot American Summer
More people should talk about this.
Thanks for watching this. It seemed like an edited version played on TV every summer in the early 80's.
A very underrated Bill Murray film, cool reaction as always Mr. & Mrs Movies, you both take care
32:08 I don't know about 1979, but in the 80s in high school we all had to do the challenges to get the Award from the President's Committee on Physical Fitness. When Regan was president, Arnie was the Chair of the Committee
Great movie... Keeping with the theme. Poison Ivy with Michael J. Fox, is another great summer camp movie.
I love this movie. Watched it a ton when I was a kid.
Nah never went to summer camp but because of Ernest Goes to Camp and Camp Nowhere i always wanted to go : P
The actor who plays Rudy, Christopher Makepeace, played in a movie called My Bodyguard with Adam Baldwin and Matt Dillon in the '80s it's another really good movie.
Awesome reaction video as always 👍. One of my favourite movies growing up was One Crazy Summer staring John Cusack & Demi Moore.
Chris Makepeace stars in a movie called My Bodyguard, from the early 80's. The guy who plays Jayne, or however they spell it is The Bodyguard in the movie.
Great movie finally someone do a reaction to it Bravo :)
Cannot wait to enjoy your reactions to this awesome classic comedy.
Bill Murray was the first major breakout star from Saturday Night Live who was not an original cast member (he joined the cast in 1977). He made this low-budget Canadian comedy while he was still with the show. Murray left SNL in 1980, and became a major film star in big-budget '80s productions.
Check out the movie My Bodyguard with Chris Makepeace (Young kid in this movie) and a young Matt Dillon
"Wet Hot American Summer" is a camp parody. "Troop Beverly Hills" is a girl scout camp comedy. I know you don't do cartoons but "Race for your life, Charlie Brown (1977)" is one that you can't go wrong with.
There’s a great camp comedy about a bunch of 30 something people who go back to revisit their summer camp as adults called Indian Summer with Bill Paxton,.. really funny movie!
A classic!
Meatballs was the first collaboration between Bill Murray and Canadian director Ivan Reitman, which was followed by the military comedy Stripes (1981) and the paranormal comedy Ghostbusters (1984).
The song Makin it which is played in the movie is sung by the actor who plays the lead in an American werewolf in London his name is David Naughton…. He also drank Dr Pepper and was proud😀
Summer movies -
Summer School
The Sandlot
Wet Hot American Summer
Stand By Me
Btw, the Mrs. demonstrating the hot dog eating champ's style was one of the funniest things I'd ever seen, in part due to Cowboy's face when it happened. Bravo.
Back in the mid 80s I recorded this on our VCR (yes, I'm that old) when a local broadcast station was playing it. I was shocked when I found out that they played it UNCUT except for commercials but uncut nonetheless on regular broadcast tv, not a cable station, which technically didn't exist then. Just premium movie channels then. That kind of stuff only happens once in the proverbial blue moon.