The Suburbs

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There are certain themes that Hollywood continually revisits in movies. One such theme is life in the suburbs. I think it must be because life in the suburbs can be so gloriously happy, or darkly full of secrets. Nearly every genre of movie has been made about the 'burbs. It works great in movies, because you have a very convenient setting, and a built-in set of characters. My favorite movies about the suburbs tend to be comedies, so that says something about me!
Here's a list of my favorite movies about the suburbs:

1. The 'Burbs (1989)

Let's just go ahead and get this one out of the way, shall we? This one is also on my favorites of summer list. It blends the right mix of comedy, tongue-in-cheek horror, and the suburbs. Many people were turned off by this movie, but I say people need to give it a second chance. Stars Tom Hanks, Carrie Fisher, Bruce Dern, and Corey Feldman.


2. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

This one is a guilty pleasure of mine. Every Christmas, I break this one out and laugh. I grew up watching this with my family, and it still holds up. It's a very light-hearted look at Christmas in the suburbs, with Chevy Chase playing Clark Griswold, the slapstick clod who gets bombarded in his own home (in the burbs) by family visiting for Christmas.


3. Disturbia (2007)

This movie draws you in, and very quickly you realize you have not seen this movie before. Despite a predictable story line, the characters and pacing make it really interesting. This is really top-notch movie quality. It never feels cheesy, but rather, fully realized. Departing from the comedy genre, Disturbia stars Shia LaBeaouf as a teen who gets put on house arrest all summer. As he is confined to his own house in the suburbs, he must occupy himself by watching the rest of the neighborhood. His friends come over, and they begin unraveling a scandalous mystery. This one is too intense for kids, or even younger teenagers, but it's great for anyone 16 and older.


4. American Beauty (1999)

Kevin Spacey will probably always be remembered as Lester Burnham, the jaded suburbanite who has to confront the lies he's been concealing in the suburbs. This is a decidedly dark movie, with a bitingly cynical view of suburban morality. Definitely not for kids, this drama has something serious to say about the burbs.


Honorable mentions: Back to the Future, Cops and Robbersons, The Goonies, Uncle Buck






Comments

  1. Robert8:18 AM

    Good list. I like the 'Burbs. The scene at the end where Hanks lays down on the gurney and then throws it in the ambulance and lays down again always cracks me up.

    Fright Night would definitely be on my suburbs list...

    ReplyDelete
  2. edhigg12:44 PM

    Yes! You know, I love Fright Night! There's a remake of it coming out later in the fall. Nothing can compete with the classic, though.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Tiffany1:39 PM

    I really enjoy your lists! I think that The Stepford Wives, Keeping Up with the Jones, and Dick and Jane would be good additions to this list too.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Tim8:29 AM

    Great list. I'm surprised you didn't have "Edward Scissorhands" on the list. The way all those housewives call each other to gossip as soon as one of them sees something new and different in the neighborhood...and all the husbands leaving for work at the same time and getting home at the same time.

    ReplyDelete
  5. edhigg1:07 PM

    LOL yes, Edward Scissorhands is a good one. I like the way they made the neighborhood all pastel colors. Wow, there are so many movies about the 'burbs...

    ReplyDelete

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