Thursday, March 25, 2010

Retro Review\The Best movies you probably haven't seen

Initially I was going to do a straight out retro review, but then it occurred to me that there's probably a lot more people who haven't seen this movie than have. So if you've seen it, I'd love to hear what you remember about it, and if you haven't, prepare for the ride of your this minute. Unless you were actually riding on something, in which case that's probably better than this.


NOW SHOWING:

Tommy Tricker and the Stamp Traveller
Tommy Tricker and the Stamp Traveller (1988)

Staring: Anthony Rogers (II) who was in this movie and the sequel, and that's it.

The Gist: A goofy kid's coming of age story about a boy who collects stamps. He's a huge doofus who stutters nervously, but that's ok, cause in short time he finds a magic stamp that shrinks him down small enough to ride stamps in the mail to different countries. No, I'm not kidding. How awesome is that?

Why you probably haven't seen it: A Canadian film from '88 with the above plot... seriously, I lived in Canada when it came out and I'm surprised I've seen it.

Scene worth savoring: If it has one true claim to fame it's that a teenaged Rufus Wainright appeared in it as, you guessed it, a singer. He and his sister both have songs on the "soundtrack."

What I thought of it then: I loved it when I was kid, but not passionately. Even then I had an idea of how ridiculous the plot is. It was goofy, and very weird. Kind of like a B monster movie without any monster (which I feel is an important distinction from a straight B-movie). At any rate it was definitely something I'd watch when it came on TV. 

How it stands up: This is not for everybody. It requires a taste for bad children's movies, which I have. While time has done it no favors I still think it's worth the occasional revisit. If only to marvel at the absolute insanity of the story.

On a scale of weird, tripped out kid flicks: 5 out of 10 

16 comments:

  1. One of my best friends and I get together every few weeks to watch cheesy movies. Something like this would do nicely. :)

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  2. Due to 'Canadian content' laws this movies plays most every week on the movie channels. It has gone from cute to abomination for me just because it refuses to go away. How can I miss you if you are in my face every day. GAH!

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  3. Mainland, I love to do that too. Cheesy movies are just fun to watch

    Kal, Got that bad has it? Never plays down here. Possibly never has.

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  4. I secretly hate when you feature these awesome retro films that I just NEED to see, Netflix is sure not to have this one. Argg going over to check now. I wanna see a young Rufus!

    PS Anything Canadian is always so awesome, especially TV. They have the very best programming EVER! Even their grown up shows on HGTV are fabulous.

    Tales Of A Fourth Grade Nothing

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  5. Hey, at least I know this one is on DVD. That's a step up from the previous entries.

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  6. This sounds like a guilty pleasure/rainy day kind movie! Thanks!

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  7. A coming of age story in the 80s? So rare and Canadian.

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  8. Where the heck do you find these movies?

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  9. Let me answer that one. TS has a membership to HELL'S Video Store and he gets his ticket punched often. When he fills up his card he gets a beanie with a propeller on it.

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  10. Kal, HAHAHA, I'll take that as a compliment on this one. I love propeller beanies.

    Kristy, Don't buy into Kal's 'Hell' theory. I haven't gotten anything from their video selection in years.

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  11. I am a Canadian and I have never heard of this movie. Not sure that's a bad thing.

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  12. I haven't seen the movie, but I read the book, which, I was surprised to learn, was a true story. What in the world goes on up there in Canada? Is this magic stamp thing the reason why the postal service is so bad in Canada?

    Oh, wait. Sorry. I just heard (as I was typing) that it's not a true story. But at least ... no, wait, I didn't read it either. In fact, there may not even be a book. Sorry everybody. Didn't mean to get your hopes up. Sounds like a movie worth watching during commercials, though, so thanks TS.

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  13. Hmm, I am interested in seeing this but I already have such a long list of movies to watch. I will try to work this one in before end of the year.

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  14. It's at the top of my blockbuster list.... Should get it next week.... I'll let you know what I think!

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  15. Fact: I have never seen this movie.

    Also Fact: I probably still never will.

    For the best in Childrens cheese, I highly recommend Santa Claus 1960, it is simply amazing..

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  16. Ok.... So I got this movie in the mail the other day.... You left out so much in your review....

    The chase scene while the rock star kid plays a fast paced song.

    The doofus that wears half-shirts and is best friends with Tommy Tricker....

    The superb ball of the cheese that is the entire movie....

    The horrible acting.... By the way.... It's 45 minutes into the 100 minute movie when the kid travels for the first time.... And he only travels to two places.... And the 10 minute search for a translator in China was sooooo boring.... There's so much more that I have to say.... I don't want to spoil it for anybody else....

    I'm watching it again right now.... I can't stop watching it....

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