Bill Murray Fest: Meatballs

1979 80's comedy made before the 80's were ready to happen

Rating: 14/20

Plot: A summary in the life of a run-down summer camp.

Thankfully, this movie is neither as raunchy or as stupid as the above poster or the dumb title might suggest. Actually, I don't want to say anything about the title of this because the very best thing about the entire movie is the theme song where somebody sings the titular food item in a deep rhythmic voice. It sounds like Adam Driver's character in Inside Llewyn Davis. I don't think it was Driver though because he wasn't alive in 1979. No, that song was performed by Rick Dees and His Cast of Idiots, a name that makes me smile. Elmer Bernstein, of all people, did the instrumental music for this, and it's fine while the rest of the movie's music is completely crappy. "Are You Ready for the Summer?" is the kind of sing-along shit that could make even the most avid fan of summertime want to end it all by putting a bullet in the brain.

But this isn't about music. This is about Bill Murray, and he fucking hoists this movie on his shoulders and carries the thing. He's got this liveliness, unleashing the Bill Murray and just Bill Murraying all over the place until the screen is almost leaking Bill Murrayness. Goofball shenanigans, a ridiculous wardrobe, numerous, non-sequiturs, and a hilariously deranged pep talk make this whole thing watchable. And I hate to start Bill Murray Fest with borderline blasphemy, but Tripper is the exact kind of player (with the same kind of stupid name) that Sam Rockwell would play today which makes me believe that Sam Rockwell is the new Bill Murray. That might just be the result of seeing this so soon after The Way Way Back which is so obviously inspired by this that it's dangerously close to plagiarism. Think about it. What contemporary actor would even attempt to pull off that yellow shirt, burgundy sports coat, boxers, and cowboy boot combination that Murray rocks in this thing? Nobody! There's a rapport between Murray and the likably-bland Rudy (Chris Makespeace) that reminds me of The Way Way Back, too. Kristine DeBell, one of the stars of A Talking Cat!?!, also plays one of the camp counselors. This is episodic, and a lot of it just feels like a waste of time, but it's one of the more likable entries in the teen camp comedy genre and has such a fun Bill Murray performance that it's almost impossible not to like a little bit.