#Fuck I love the 90's Dave Foley

[the-motion-box]

Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy (1996), Kelly Makin.

Dave Foley a.k.a Marv♡

[theharpermovieblog]

#HARPERSMOVIECOLLECTION

2023

I re-watched The Kids In The Hall: Brain Candy (1996)

Probably one of the most quotable comedies of the 1990's. Well, it would be if anyone actually remembered it.

A scientist invents a drug that cures depression and then finds himself rocketed to corporate and public stardom.

Comedies from the 1990's tend to be cheap and a tad bit ugly looking, with bright garish colors and a sort of silly cartoonish feel where the joke matters more than the style. This movie is no different. Don't expect beautiful cinematography, well shot special effects scenes, or anything really authentic looking. It's just an episode of Kids in the Hall with a somewhat linear plot, a longer running time and a slightly higher budget.

Like Monty Python's film excursions, the members of KITH play several different characters throughout the film. The writing is definitely sketch writing, as the focus jumps around to many different characters on the periphery of the main story. So, also don't expect the story to be overly solid or the characters to be more than launch pads for jokes.

What I'm getting at is this is a comedy and should be judged by how funny it is and not by it's cinematic artistry.

This movie was made toward the end of The Kids In The Hall as a group. At the time, Dave Foley had distanced himself from the group and he doesn't even have a writing credit on the film. He's in the movie, but he's not a huge presence throughout, and if you're a big fan, you can tell his style is somewhat missing.

That being said, the movie is very funny. It's ridiculous and weird and full of satire from top to bottom. Having to stick to an actual plot does hinder the Kids a bit, but they manage well.

While the movie does feel more tame and less edgy than the sketch show, there is still plenty of weirdness here that wouldn't be in any other movie by any other writers. The darkness of depression, which carries the main plot, is something the Kids have always covered. Broken fathers, mothers living in denial of their dysfunctional families. Corporate greed and public ignorance being what drives society. It's the comedy of the dark and gross and sad and it's pretty fucking funny.

This movie should be up there with Wayne's World as one of the better comedies of the 90's. When it was coming out in theaters the studio barely promoted the film and the mixed reaction from critics killed it's box office chances. Not to mention that The Kids In The Hall were yet to be recognized as one of the greatest comedy teams of all time. Which they are.

It's by no means a perfect or well made movie and, it's clearly not the best version of the Kids, but it is far better than it's reputation. It's got so many great little moments, and 9 out of 10 jokes work.....Maybe 8 out of 10, but hey that's sketch comedy.

I love the Kids In The Hall and no matter how old I get, I'll love this movie. I'm biased, but I can't help it.