Welcome to this week’s installment of “It Came from the Bargain Bin”. There I am digging like a madman through the place where DVDs go to die and hopefully be revived and I’m not really sure of what I am looking for. Your expectations have to be low but you still have to have hope when you’re elbow deep in “The Bin”. You cannot expect to find a movie like last week’s review “Bernie” every time you’re on the hunt because good movies just aren’t a reality when your hunting grounds is a box full of five dollar flops. Sure, you get lucky but more often than not you are really just settling. I would have to say that one of the best things about The Bin is that you will most likely come up with a movie that you have not seen since you were a teen and that can be good or bad but either way it is a piece of your cinematic life that you have not forgotten…….or maybe you have until The Bin magically reminds you of the particular film. This week’s pick is one of those films. This week’s pick reminds me of a time when a certain comedian dominated the entertainment world. A comedian that was selling out stadiums in the late ’80′s and very early nineties. From rated R nursery rhymes to mannerisms that were laughably cool, this comedian was the big thing at the time. I think, by now, you know the comedian that I am reminiscing about; the incomparable, the crass, the, at one time, hysterical, Andrew Dice Clay. That’s right! This week’s pick from The Bin is the 1990 comedy…………”The Adventures of Ford Fairlane”!
The Adventures of Ford Fairlane
Starring: Andrew Dice Clay, Lauren Holly and Wayne Newton
Written By: Daniel Waters and James Cappe
Directed By: Renny Harlin
Reviewed by: Joe Sikes
There is a rock and roll crime to be solved and who else are you going to hire to solve the case than the one and only “Rock and Roll Detective”, Ford Fairlane (Andrew Dice Clay). The premier rock band “Black Plague” is performing and its legendary lead singer “Bobby Black” (Vince Neil) has just mysteriously croaked on stage.
This current tragedy is just the beginning of a trail of rock and roll industry related crimes that demands the attention of Mr. Fairlane. When Fairlane is hired by old Brooklyn buddy turned loud mouth DJ “Johnny Crunch” (Gilbert Gottfried) who ends up electrocuted to death in his own studio and Los Angeles millionaire “Colleen Sutton” (Priscilla Presley) to find and return a rock and roll groupie of the deceased Bobby Black known as Zuzu Petals (Maddie Corman), Ford finds himself knee-deep in a mystery that has him diving from exploding buildings, dropping endless one liners, and even possibly discovering that life isn’t just about hot chicks and partying.
“The Adventures of Ford Fairlane” is one of those movies that was funny at one time for a totally different reason than why it is entertaining now. I have to admit that I still find the ridiculous Dice Man one-liners humorous, even if it’s not for the same reasons that I found them funny for when I was a teen. I think that you will still get a kick out of this movie for one reason or another. If you haven’t watched “Ford Fairlane” in a while, I suggest that you check this one out again for old times sake and just have a good time. I give “The Adventures of Ford Fairlane” 2 out of 3 washed up comics. Have a great week and see you next time.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
They should have paid you the five bucks for sitting down to watch this one again. Nice write up JoJo!
Thank you brotha!
If only I was paid five bucks for every piece of stool that I’ve spent my time to view this would be a very lucrative venture wouldn’t it? There are worse ways to spend our time though aren’t there? Have a great week. Roger Ebert…. I fucked him….ooooh!
Love the Bargain Bin idea, i’ve got a few of those on my shelfs! I see they cast a John Travolta lookalike in the lead role, always a good sign.
Thanks, Duncan
We all have our share of bin flix in our collections. I like to think that they add character. Thanks for the post and have a great week.
I’m a total sucker for most Renny Harlin films, plus I loved the Dice-man back in the day. I admit to seeing this multiple times at the theater when it came out. “MY HAIR!”
Hey markuswelby1,
Yeah, I think you coulld say that FF may fall into the guilty pleasure movie category. I have a feeling that if you were to watch FF today that you would find yourself cracking up over some of the classic Dice Man bad jokes. Thanks for the post and have a great week.
I actually saw the Dice Man in Vegas a few years ago. I’m sure we paid way too much but it was still a good time, as I sort of recall. I was glad to see ADC was still alive when he was on Entourage.
Hey Adam,
Wish I was at the Dice Man show with you. Can’t imagine that you paid TOO much for the show because that kind of experience is priceless. Thanks for the post. Have a great week.
Sweet baby Jesus…..look at that man’s chops & chest hair! I totally remember seeing this on HBO back in the day. I giggled at the time, but I’m not sure I could sit through it today. I, like Adam, saw him on Entourage too and thought “oh yeah…..that guy!” I also remember the Koala Bear….not sure why the damned thing was there, but I remember him.
Hey Tracy,
If anything you might get a kick out of the ’80′s rock band references in FF and maybe the bad jokes but as far as being able to sit through this one we both know that is no guarantee. Such is the way of The Bin. FYI the Koala Bear was payment from INXS for a crime that Ford solved for lead singer Michael Hutchence ; hence the Australian connection of INXS and Koala Bears. At first I did get a kick out of this eighties band related joke but sadly it then just reminded me that Hutchence is no longer with us. The movie does remind you of a very unique time in recent history. Hope all is well. Thank you for the post. Have a great week.