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Does Rob Reiner Still Have One Left in the Tank?

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under Trailers | Comments (34)

princessbride_for_web.jpg

From 1984 to 1996, Rob Reiner was one of the best directors in the business. Just look at this filmography: This Is Spinal Tap, The Sure Thing, Stand By Me, Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, Misery, A Few Good Men, Ghosts of Mississippi and The American President (in 12 years, he had only one misfire: North). But since Ghosts, he hasn’t been able to re-conjure that magic, directing one dud after another: Bucket List, Rumor Has It …, Everyday Life, Alex and Emma and The Story of Us.

I’d nearly chalked Rob Reiner up to the movie heavens. But he just might have one left in the tank, and it’s likely because Reiner had a hand in writing this one, and you get the feeling he’s pulling from something personal. A little, at least.

It’s a coming-of-age movie set in the ’50s. And while it’s not cool or edgy or comic-book-y, it looks like it might just have some of that old school Reiner romanticism. It really doesn’t have a chance at the box office — a coming of age movie with no contemporary stars, and adults played largely by the stars of yesteryear (Rebecca DeMornay, Aidan Quinn, Penelope Ann Miller, John Mahoney, Anthony Edwards), but for those who are huge suckers for coming-of-age flicks, this one looks remarkably sweet. Also, the lack of contemporary teen stars is mighty refreshing (assuming that the eighth graders in the movie are not actually popular in that alternate tween universe).

Movies like these were once somewhat common, but I don’t think I’ve seen one in a decade. I’m determined now to dig up a few for a seriously random list. But first, let’s see if the earnestness of the trailer can cut through your collective cynicism.










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Comments

wow. I saw that banner pic and read Rob Snider (Schneider) and was seriously about to explode.

Posted by: EricD at June 4, 2010 11:37 AM

let’s see if the earnestness of the trailer can cut through your collective cynicism.

fail.
that dialogue is aweful. old timey aweful.

Posted by: EricD at June 4, 2010 11:42 AM

Oh is that what it's about? Big summer reading list book.

Posted by: Jay at June 4, 2010 11:45 AM

Yeaaah Rob Reiner really just does his best work when he's taking us "back to the most magical time" of our lives....er, his life...uh the 50s...whatever. This looks like it will be good.

Posted by: JenVegas at June 4, 2010 11:47 AM

Am I the only person who hated "When Harry Met Sally"?

Posted by: PaddyDog at June 4, 2010 11:54 AM

No, Paddy. If it wasn't for that edgy orgasm scene, nobody would even remember it.

So this is geared to the 60 year-old boomers? Good call Rob.

Posted by: admin at June 4, 2010 12:01 PM

I'm sorry to say, but they had me at "Angel Eyes."

Posted by: myjetski at June 4, 2010 12:22 PM

The browser bar sez "Flipper Trailer," so imagine my surprise when I didn't find a coming-of-age story about a boy and his dolphin.

Posted by: Dan at June 4, 2010 12:24 PM

You've just pitched Reiner his next film, Dan.

Posted by: admin at June 4, 2010 12:27 PM

Admin:

Thank you. Plus if one more woman in her sixties cracks a "I'll have what she's having" joke in a restaurant, I won't be responsible for my actions.

Posted by: PaddyDog at June 4, 2010 12:27 PM

Not to say that this movie doesn't look good, it really does, but where are the coming of age movies about girls? I have racked my brain to think of a single great movie about a girl's coming of age, and all I can think of is My Girl and Now and Then (neither of which I would call great). Am I missing something? Is anyone else curious and a little ticked off about this?

Posted by: PumMuff at June 4, 2010 12:49 PM

Holy shit, that looks fucking adorable. I will see it.

And, that picture of Cary Elwes is like cool balm for my eyes after that fucking Gulliver's Travels trailer. I might hug you, Dustin.

Posted by: stardust at June 4, 2010 1:28 PM

I have a huge weakness for romantic movies set in the 50s. Seriously. I never thought I would have an opportunity to say that in context. Nice work RR

Posted by: "luker" the barbarian at June 4, 2010 1:31 PM

*sigh*
I love Robin Wright
(I refuse to acknowledge the Penn, whether it's even still applicable or not.)

Posted by: Odnon. at June 4, 2010 1:52 PM

Bunk, bunk, dickety bunk bunk hammerbunk.
(Sorry I tried to quell that in my last post, but it got out. So to speak.)

Posted by: Odnon. at June 4, 2010 1:53 PM

No thanks. The cloying sweet has the potential to erode away at the carefully cultivated acid layer coating my black little heart. But since romantic comedies are the secret obsession of UMBoy, I'll probably end up seeing it in the end. It'll take a good week or two of exposure to Human Centipede levels of lechery and maybe a SyFy original movie or two to re-insulate that cynical, caustic membrane.

Posted by: Ulterior Motive Girl at June 4, 2010 2:19 PM

On that "What movie do you have to stop and watch to the end?" thread yesterday, I almost picked When Harry Met Sally, but it was too difficult to choose just one candidate, and seldom am I absolutely compelled to watch anything all the way to the end. Rather, I just prefer to roost for a little while.

Posted by: DarthCorleone at June 4, 2010 2:26 PM

Wasn't this released in the late 90's with Mulkey Culkin and killer bees?

Posted by: C.C. Divine at June 4, 2010 2:37 PM

Being in the VERY deep end of the demographic pool (y'know, where the alien eggs that rejuvenate me are soaking), I'll say that this looks just fine and dandy, by cracky. That Reiner boy can make a whiz-bang of a film when he has a mind to and this one just might be the bee's knees.

Posted by: Spender at June 4, 2010 2:44 PM

The junior love interest girl looks like her pigtails are way too tight. Except she isn't wearing any.

Posted by: Yippidey skip at June 4, 2010 10:15 PM

Oh my goodness, that looks like the sweetest and most fun movie about kids in the 50s since The Sandlot. I have GOT to see this!

Posted by: ChristianH at June 4, 2010 10:59 PM

P.S. The headline at the top of my screen says "Flipper Trailer," which, while a hilarious misspelling, makes me think of that awful movie, and now I need to eat some tuna to hate the pain away.

Posted by: ChristianH at June 4, 2010 11:03 PM

Ehhhhh ... I'm thinking I'll just watch "Diner" again.

And "The Sandlot." That's a greatly underrated movie.

Posted by: , at June 4, 2010 11:52 PM

Fine. I'm sold. Also, is that Brie Larson playing the main kid's sister? I adore her so much on USofTara that I may be starting to hallucinate her into other things...

Posted by: Mimi at June 4, 2010 11:54 PM

I liked this movie better when they called it the "Wonder Years".

Posted by: logan at June 5, 2010 12:17 AM

If I go and see this movie, and one of the characters dies a tragic, young death, I shall be VERY CROSS.

Posted by: PaleoLithchick at June 5, 2010 1:54 AM

Is that Dante Basco doing the narration?

Posted by: Ken Hart at June 5, 2010 2:02 AM

I love the 50s. Also, this looks fabulous.
I don't care how much trash Rob Reiner directed, The Princess Bride is amazing. I will give him another chance.

Posted by: A-schaef at June 5, 2010 11:52 AM

I don't know about Reiner but that Marty DiBergi guy should make another movie. His first one was hysterical.

Posted by: , at June 5, 2010 12:36 PM

I knew this trailer sounded familiar! This movie appears to be based on a young adult novel by Wendelin Van Draanen. They have the same title and looks like the same plot. I don't remember it being set in the 1950s though.

Posted by: laura at June 5, 2010 3:29 PM

PumMuff you aren't wrong. I read The Secret Lives of Bees which was made into a movie, but I didn't see it so I can't tell you if it was any good or not. That is a girl's coming of age story. I guess maybe The Golden Compass is too, sort of.

Posted by: Viking at June 5, 2010 10:33 PM

Director Rob Riener takes you back... to an idealized time period that never really quite existed... where there are no black people in sight... and everyone drives cool vintage cars (because how cool are they?), have never heard of drugs, and go to Church on Sundays.

It looks sweet, for sure, but it always makes me a little mad when the "good old days" are so heavily varnished and whitewashed like that.

Posted by: linny at June 6, 2010 1:49 PM

@PumMuff - what about Sixteen Candles and Pretty in Pink?

Posted by: Arib at June 7, 2010 4:50 PM

is dante basco doing the naration for the trailer. Because when i saw it for the first time it sounded just like zuko from the last airbender cartton.

Posted by: :) at June 17, 2010 4:28 PM