Episode #64: Hot Shots!
Listen to Episode 64 of the Podcast here while you enjoy the show notes.
SUMMARY - In Hot Shots!, Charlie Sheen plays Topper Harley, one of the best pilots the Navy has ever seen. He had left the armed services after a tragic incident, but is being called back in for a critical mission to destroy Saddam Hussein’s nuclear facilities.
Screenplay by Jim Abrahams and Pat Proft; Directed by Jim Abrahams, and released on July 31, 1991.
FILM DISCUSSION
The movie is jam packed full of jokes, but a lot of them are extremely predictable.
It's appreciated what lengths the movie will go for the visual gags.
Still, most of the jokes were simply far too obvious like using the fish eye lens for the POV of Walleye.
We thought the main characters were far too serious with their acting. There aren't enough winks to the camera or any indication that they're in on the joke - like we saw in Naked Gun 2 1/2.
The big exception is Lloyd Bridges who knows how to play it straight while still allowing the goofiness to come through.
The best scenes aren't trying to further plot. It seems like there maybe should have been more references to other movies in there too.
We also liked the slapstick and physical comedy parts which were infrequent.
Some of the bits went on so incredibly long that it was almost funny because of how unfunny and predictable it was, yet it kept going.
But most of the movie fell flat for us.
Awards Talk: While it didn't have an "actual" nominee, it was part of the MTV Movie Awards quotes montage and Best Inanimate Objects fake categories.
TRUE CRIME & POP CULTURE
This week we don't have any true crime but we can offer a little more context on the Charles Barkley & Bill Laimbeer fight referenced in the movie - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90-MMxiXI0Q
Moving onto TV - here's your lineup for July 31, 1991
And of course we have a lesser known show.
Morton & Hayes - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101148/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0
On to music, here are your Billboard 100 Bottom 5 songs as of August 3, 1991
100. Bingo Boys - Borrowed Love
99. D’Zyre - Forever Amo’r
98. Black Box - Strike It Up
97. Icy Blu - Pump It (Nice N Hard)
96. Glenn Frey - Part of Me, Part of You
RANKINGS & RATINGS
Nikki 1-5 star scale - 2 out of 5
Jon 0-4 star scale - 2 out of 4
Would you watch it again? - The movie isn't bad, but most of the jokes didn't land for us. It was weirdly plot heavy with serious acting. We would definitely want to watch "Part Deux" before watching this again, or other spoof movies like "Loaded Weapon" or a re-watch of episode two's feature "Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear."
If you want to watch Hot Shots!, as of this recording in May 2022, it’s available on YouTube, Digital Rental, VHS, DVD. Check your local listings.
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Join us next time for A Brighter Summer Day available on Criterion Channel, Kanopy, Digital Rental, DVD
