Great visuals, story delivers no surprises

Far from Perfect, Far from Terrible

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

"Matinee" is set in Key West, Florida where the residents were fearing for their lives believing that they're going to be bombed down during the infamous Cuban Missle Crisis back in 1961. When during time of panic, opportunity knocks for movie director Lawrence Woosley (John Goodman) who decides to direct another one of his kooky B-rated horror movies. Woolsey along with his fellow performers Ruth Corday (Cathy Moriarty) joins him for the opening of his new "Rumble-vision". Gene Loomis (Simon Fenton) is the new kid in town and is smitten for the attractive Sandra (Lisa Jakub). Stan (Omri Katz) is madly attracted to Sherry (Kellie Martin), but her ex-boyfriend doesn't permit him to go near her."Matinee" is a hodgepodge of genres; there's romance, a parody of those classic cheesy horror films and most of all it's focused on people who were paranoid about being bombed. Folks who were alive during these catastrophic events at the time will appreciate this movie more to understand the experience that was transpiring at the time. Also to those who grew up the time and were exposed to these cheesy films may also enjoy this movie (unfortuanately I wasn't alive then). I rated this movie with an automatic five stars. For the sensitive viewers who never seen this movie let me advise you that if you have kids at your side, be aware of explicit language and situations customized for the mature audience.The cast was top-notch and the performers were custom-made to fit in their respected roles. The big man on campus was Big Johnny himself John Goodman. He was excellent in his role as a poor man's Ed Wood like movie director who makes films not for fame, but for thrills. Cathy Moriarty was excellent in her role as on of Woolsey's fellow thespians. The youthful performers (Simon Fenton, Kellie Martin, Omri Katz and Lisa Jakub) were also quite brilliant in their respected roles. The leading antagonists who are opposed to this film (John Sayles and Richard Miller) turned in spectacular performances. And underrated film legend Kevin McCarthy was also sublime in his performance as another thespian in Woolsey's movie.The horror film exhibited in "Matinee" is quite astounding. It does everything it can to lampoon the classic horror films that manifested during that time period. The film within the film itself adds texture to the final product of "Matinee" especially the ending. I must give kudos to director Joe Dante and writers Jerico and Charles Haas for their spectacular work and teaching the lesson that even in troubled times, it's best to have a good laugh and a good scare to chase your troubles away.

Matinée is directed by Joe Dante and written by Charles S. Haas and Jerico Stone. It stars John Goodman, Cathy Moriarty, Omri Katz, Kellie Martin, Lisa Jakub and Simon Fenton. Music is by Jerry Goldsmith and cinematography by John Hora. The film operates on three fronts narratively speaking, set in 1962 it has a wry look at the paranoia created by the Cuban Missile Crisis, pays homage to the sci-fi schlock movies created by William Castle, and dallies in blossoming teenage romances.It's a lovingly crafted movie by Dante, perhaps more pertinent to those around at the time of the film's setting, or for someone like me who loves those creaky creature features of the 1950s, but surely there's enough to enjoy here for the average film lover? It's three pronged structure isn't a complete success, as the last third starts to feel a bit too chocked full of (sub) plots, but the homages stay warm and the period flavour of the time is expertly created by Dante and his team. It's fun without straining for laughs, while the cast, led by an excellent Goodman as schlockmeister Lawrence Woolsey, deliver the requisite amount of quality to make it work.A lovely film for film fans, created by a film fan himself. 8/10

Director Joe Dante's homage/movie-valentine to William Castle, featuring John Goodman as a B-movie filmmaker and theatrical showman in 1962 Florida working tirelessly to get the kids of Key West into the neighborhood theater for his latest monster masterpiece, "Mant!" Elements of real-life history (with President Kennedy warning the country about the crisis with Cuba), teen-time romance, and shameless self-promotion doesn't jell, and Goodman is amiable but uncommitted. The black-and-white scenes from "Mant!", in Rumble-Rama sound, are funny but--as if we need to be clued-in this just a satire--are far more ridiculous than need be. The teenage actors are alternately bored and boring, while one boy's mother--her husband away in the Navy--cries while watching home-movies in the middle of the night (for that extra sentimental punch). One is never sure when Dante is joshing or when he wants to be taken seriously. Portions of "Matinee" are nostalgic and funny, and the final shots are sweet, but the timing is always two-beats off, and the scenes in the brightly-lit movie theater are never convincing. *1/2 from ****

This isn't such a very well known film (at least I never heard of it before I watched it) and actually that is a god-awful shame, as "Matinee" is a joyously vivid, versatile and refreshingly imaginative little comedy. "Matinee" is director Joe Dante's ultimate tribute to typically 50's Sci-Fi B-movies and massively promoted gimmick-laden low-budget flicks; particularly the repertoire of the legendary William Castle. In one of his most glorious roles to date, John Goodman depicts the unscrupulous and sleazy horror movie producer Lawrence Woolsey, who is practically the reincarnation of William Castle, what with his sly and shameless salesmanship techniques and continuous wide-mouthed smile. At the highpoint of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, Woolsey jaunts out to Key West – where the Navy and population hectically prepares for a bomb attack – in order to proudly present his newest and supposedly most shocking motion picture named "Mant". "Mant" is a silly shock feature about a man slowly mutating into a gigantic ant after being exposed to nuclear radiation, and for the big premiere Woolsey stuffed the film theater with horrid decorations and gimmicks to raise extra fear in the audience. With the threat of actual bombing attack going on outside the theater, Woolsey bumps into a lot of protest and resistance from the adult population in Key West, but luckily the younger and horror-crazed generation are wildly enthusiast about the upcoming matinée preview. With "Matinee", the still incredibly underrated director Joe Dante delivered another delicious and charming movie. The extended bits and clips from the fictional movie "Mant" masterfully capture the essence of 1950's B-movie cinema, with grotesque ideas and effects, cheesy nonsensical dialogs and wooden acting performances. The real William Castle actually never made such a type of monster movie, but the gimmicks and promotional stunts (like buzzers underneath the seats and guys in rubber suits running around) are right up his delightful alley! But "Matinee" is a terrifically clever movie on other levels as well. Apart from a wonderful homage to horror cinema, it also contains an admirable "coming of age" sub plot and it effectively parodies the mass hysteria going on around the time of the Cold War. Whilst the adult population of Key West practices their duck & cover bomb alarms and prepare their shelters, the teenagers are more concerned about finding a date to go see "Mant" on Saturday. The acting performances are fantastic (like his monster "Mant", John Goodman himself is larger than life!), the decors and atmosphere of the early 60's are marvelously re-enacted and – in good old Joe Dante tradition – there are multiple cameos of horror veterans, like Dick Miller, Kevin McCarthy and Robert Cornthwaite. This is truly a film meant for genuine horror movie buffs, but nevertheless a stupendously enjoyable comedy for all type of audiences.