The Burbs

Directed by Joe Dante, surely one of the most overlooked of all directors, this comedy classic stars Tom Hanks as an everyday man at war with his neighbours in The 'Burbs

Before Tom Hanks grew a little overweight, lost his sense of humour and started doing "worthy" films, he made this masterpiece of observational comedy. The Burbs also stands as the peak for director Joe Dante's work.

From the man who gave us Gremlins this is high praise indeed. Despite the monster success of Gremlins, Dante never seemed to breakthrough into the mainstream and his last two film outings were Looney Tunes: Back In Action and the bastard son of Gremlins - Small Soldiers. Both contain flashes of Dante's genius but neither compare to his earlier works The Howling, The Explorers, Gremlins and of course this his affectionate satire on the American Dream.

Hanks stars as Ray, the sensible centre of a suburban cul-de-sac full of eccentric personalities. Along with Corey Feldman's stoned teenager Ricky Butler and Bruce Dern's spaced out ex-soldier Mark Rumsfield, he grows suspicious that the new neighbours may be murderous psychopaths.

A true ensemble piece, The Burbs real cult movies pleasure lies in the interaction and comic timing of its stars. Bruce Dern almost steals the show with his eccentric behaviour. Corey Feldman too demonstrates considerable charisma and along with bit-parts from reliable Dante regulars such as Dick Miller and Robert Picardo (stealing the show as bickering dustmen), a great performance is always just around the corner.

Classic moments abound. Witness the opening sequence as each character is introduced with their own comedy vignette. Or the sequence where Art dares Ray to knock on the door, the neighbourhood looking on in awe.

Witness Hanks' sneezing fit inside the Klopeks' house, the sublime entrance of The Doctor and a whole host of quotable dialogue "'bout a nine on the tension scale there Rube..."

The script from Dana Olsen demonstrates distinct self-awareness with its nods and references to other movies and sideswipes at the idealistic suburbias of the American dream. Jerry Goldsmith's score is also full of character and contributes to the fun atmosphere in the same way his catchy work on Gremlins did. 

Dismissed at the time for being a little "silly", watched now it becomes clear how sharp the humour is. The Burbs is stuffed with movie in-jokes and great performances that are typical of Joe Dante's output and ranks up there with his own Gremlins as one of the key films of the 1980s

 "It came with the frame..."