Chemistry is a marvelous thing. I’m not speaking of the chemistry we study in school … although the periodic table does have its magic qualities that are more evident to the scientifically oriented people I know. The chemistry that I speak of is that which exists between people. This type of chemistry cannot be artificially manufactured … it either exists or it doesn’t … and it can make or break a film. I just finished watching Days of Wine and Roses. This film starts off by drawing the viewer on the strength of the chemistry between Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick. Their budding romance develops around a backdrop of good times and drinks. Alcohol begins to be the center of the film (and the characters in the film) and it quickly takes on a life of it own. The characters, their jobs, their relationships and the world around them begins to unravel as they continuously get lost in the bottom of a bottle. While driver’s education videos seem to be the deterrent for drinking when you are a teenager … this film shows how you can remain alive, yet still destroy your life, and the lives of loved ones, by drinking. Stark, depressing and powerful are three adjectives that quickly pop into my mind when I think about this film. Blake Edwards directs this film and makes it as close to perfect as it could be. This movie would have easily made my Top 100 list if I had re-written it today. So many scenes wanted to make you laugh at first, but then progressed to the point that you began to wince at how painful and pointless it all seemed. I can’t say that you’ll consider this a “feel good” movie … but I do give it the highest recommendation possible!

43. THE JERK – On the lighter side … I am going to talk about The Jerk. There was a time when Steve Martin could do no wrong. All of his movies had a pleasant absurdity to their themes and you couldn’t help but laugh at the naivete of his characters. The Jerk is the perfect example of this era. Carl Reiner directed this 1979 comedy which, basically, follows Navin Johnson … who is a complete idiot. The entire plot is based on how he goes through the world and manages to get by … despite the fact that he is an idiot. Exploding cans, revelations about his race and origin, romantic encounters and financial successes are all hear in this terrific comedy. If you need a light-hearted flick (after watching the aforementioned recommendation) you should go with the Jerk.

44. EUROPEAN VACATION – I don’t know why I happened to list this film before any of the other “Vacation” films. I don’t necessarily favor it over any of those films (although I must admit that Vegas Vacation falls very short of the previous three). Chevy Chase had his time in the same (relative) time frame as Steve Martin. They owned the late 1970′s to late 1980′s comedy film genre. After winning a European Vacation on an absurd game show, The Griswold family begins its journey through Europe … and hilarity follows suit. Toilet accidents on the airplane, language barriers (i.e. looking for sex … meaning six), vehicular problems, repeatedly injuring Eric Idle, foiling criminals and destroying Stonehenge are all part of a trip in the life of the Griswold’s. Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo are so consistent throughout these “Vacation” films that we don’t even mind that they can’t seem to keep the same kids from film to film. I think that anybody who has every traveled outside of the United States can identify with the feeling of confusion and paranoia that sets in when you don’t know what people are saying. This film definitely plays on this quality and brings out what we are all thinking. The scene where a waiter is mocking them in French and they are completely agreeable is the perfect example of this idea brought to life on the screen. Make sure you see this one before you go to Europe again … or for the first time!

Well … I promised you a blurb on The Incredibles last week … and I would need to make one up now because I didn’t get a chance to go to the movies … but I do promise that it will come in due time. Stay tuned for some thoughts on the other Vacation movies next week. See you then!

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