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Movies / Upcoming / The Burbs
The Burbs

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The Burbs (1989)

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42 %
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Reviews Counted:12

Fresh:5

Rotten:7

Average Rating:5/10

Runtime: 1 hr 42 mins

Genre: Comedies

US Box Office: $0

Synopsis: Set in an average neighborhood that is anything but average, Tom Hanks portrays suburbanite Ray Peterson, who finally takes a much-needed week of vacation. However, Ray doesn't use the time to jet... Set in an average neighborhood that is anything but average, Tom Hanks portrays suburbanite Ray Peterson, who finally takes a much-needed week of vacation. However, Ray doesn't use the time to jet off to some exotic locale, there are no frolicsome adventures in his plans, all he wants is a week of mindless relaxation in his own comfortable suburban home. His wife Carol (Carrie Fisher) warns him that he's liable to go crazy from the boredom, but he refuses to listen. The nothingness finally does get to him, however, and he creates a little excitement for himself by spying on his neighbors - the Klopeks, a mysterious, oddball family that just moved in to a dilapidated home down the street. When the neighborhood grouch mysteriously disappears, Ray and a motley crew of other neighborhood crackpots begin to concoct wild theories about the strange, and perhaps murderous, goings on in the Klopek's creepy, old house. For one brief, shining moment their lives seem to have some meaning and purpose as Ray and his friends become consumed with the secrets of the bizarre family. Tom Hanks is hysterical as Ray, bring his own brand of boyish charm and zany slapstick comedy to the screen. [More]

Starring: Tom Hanks, Carrie Fisher, Bruce Dern, Rick Ducommun

Starring: Tom Hanks, Carrie Fisher, Bruce Dern, Rick Ducommun, Corey Feldman, Dana Olsen, Henry Gibson, Wendy Schaal, Courtney Gains

Director: Joe Dante

Director: Joe Dante
Screenwriter: Dana Olsen
Producer: Michael Finnell, Larry Brezner
Composer: Jerry Goldsmith

[See More Credits]

Reviews for The Burbs

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1 - 17 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
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Dante's excoriating view of homegrown isolationism is as profound and misunderstood as Spielberg's in 1941

Full Review Source: CinePassion | comment Comment
11/15/09
Fernando F. Croce
Fernando F. Croce
CinePassion
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
03/26/09
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
10/20/07
Susan Granger
Susan Granger
www.susangranger.com
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
06/12/05
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
08/30/04
Vincent Canby
Vincent Canby
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Moderately amusing comedy with a nice twist.

comment Comment
08/19/04
Widgett Walls
Widgett Walls
Needcoffee.com

No review available.

comment Comment
08/04/04
Linda Cook
Linda Cook
Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)

No review available.

comment Comment
08/01/03
Ryan Cracknell
Ryan Cracknell
Movie Views

Lots of in-jokes and a few agreeable moments.

comment Comment
04/24/03
Ken Hanke
Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

No review available.

comment Comment
03/19/03
Mark Palermo
Mark Palermo
Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia)

No review available.

comment Comment
02/14/03
Philip Martin
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

A weird and misshapen farce, but there's something going on here beyond simple goofiness.

comment Comment
07/26/02
Scott Weinberg
Scott Weinberg
eFilmCritic.com

A long shaggy dog story.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
10/24/01
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

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Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
01/01/00
Desson Thomson
Desson Thomson
Washington Post
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N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
01/01/00
Hal Hinson
Hal Hinson
Washington Post
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Works effectively as a kind of goofy homage to suburbanites

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
01/01/00
Shane Burridge
Shane Burridge
rec.arts.movies.reviews
 
 
1 - 17 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
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