Matinee

"Thanks, Mr. Hitchcock." A typical Joe Dante film, which I think should be at least as well known as Gremlins or The 'Burbs... Matinee is a successful American family comedy with all the trimmings, and you will enjoy it all the more if you have a (positive) relationship with classic B-horror monster movies. Of course, the film is at its best when we watch John Goodman's creation, but the rest of the film, dealing with the child characters, the Cuban crisis and the strange atmosphere of fear of a nuclear attack, is not much worse. The fictional thriller about the half-man, half-ant Mant, which premieres in the second half of the film, is not without its faults, and I really liked other little things - like the hilariously awkward excerpt from another non-existent film about the ghost of Uncle Cedric who reincarnated into a shopping cart. Everything looks great, it has a great period atmosphere, the fake black and white films look very real... All that is left is to "only" praise the music of Jerry Goldsmith, with whom Dante has collaborated for the sixth time - and again brilliantly. I give the film 4.5 stars. (07/07/2012)

Joe Dante pays another tribute to American B-movies, and at the same time displays a passionate childlike enthusiasm for escapism, such as going to the movie theater during the Cuban Missile Crisis, a crystal clear enthusiasm not only from children but also from adults (the excellent John Goodman) - if you have been a movie-buff from your childhood, you must not miss Matinee. I will always like such movie-loving adventures. Plus, I think William Castle would applaud this one. (18/04/2019)