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First Family (1980)
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Lame Brooks Wannabe
I have never really understood the mythos of Buck Henry. I know the man hosted SNL a bazillion times and that Jon Stewart, among others, worships at his alter. Yet for me, his humour has always been to much of a reach. I don't like seeing the sweat behind the laughs.
Henry wrote and directed this 'satire' of a US President, his controlling wife and their horny virgin of a 28 year old daughter. The film tries for all kinds of laughs, from a racist take on an African nation to the fact that 30 million Americans voted for the dead corpses of the opponents in the election. Yet none of these jokes really fly. This film was made in 1980 and yet it reeks of 70's Chevy Chase-ish, Ford era broadness. The majority of the jokes worked for me.
Bob Newhart does the best he can with a duller than dull role; Gilda Radner is funny in some scenes, but overall rather one-note; and Madeliene Kahn is great as ever in her small role as the First Lady, if only she had been given more to work with.
As for the support staff, Fred Willard is a standout, and it is pretty fun to see him in his heyday. As well, Rip Torn is kind of attractive 27 years ago.
This film tries to be a Mel Brooks style comedy, but it comes up short and is ultimately fairly lackluster.
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