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UHF (1989)

DVD Cover (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer)
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Overall Rating 69%
Overall Rating
Ranked #3,017
...out of 20,322 movies
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George Newman is a daydreamer whose hyperactive imagination keeps him from holding a steady job. His uncle decides George would be the perfect man to manage Channel 62, a television station which is losing money and viewers fast. When George replaces the station's reruns with bizarre programs such as "Stanley Spadowski's Clubhouse", "Wheel of Fish" and "Raul's Wild Kingdom", ratings begin to soar again. Mean-spirited and cynical mogul R.J. Fletcher becomes furious that the UHF station is getting better ratings than his network's programming. Because of gambling debts, the uncle is forced to consider selling the station to Fletcher, who would only too happily shut down (he cannot legally own two stations in the same town). George and his friends organize a 48-hour telethon to raise the money by selling investment stock from Channel 62 to save the town's new favorite station. --IMDb
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Review by Christopher
Added: September 27, 2009
The ever so popular "Weird Al" Yankovic film (with a little help from David Bowie). George (Yankovic) imagines his own life as if he were the hero in any of the popular 80's films. Unfortunately he does it at all the wrong times. Like when he's at work and it gets him fired. Or when he's suppose to be out on a date with his girlfriend. His uncle Harvey Bilchik (Stanley Brock) scores a local television station that is on the brink of death. He wants nothing to do with Channel 62 and ends up giving it to George and his best friend Bob (David Bowie) to manage. Not pleased with the stations current line-up of 60's sitcoms, they start to create their own original shows. After none of the shows take off, George gives up and has the janitor (played by everyone's favorite racist Michael Richards) take over while being on the air. Viewers immediately lose their marbles over him and the ratings begin to sky rocket.

Now with the top local television station at second best, Channel 8 is set on the destruction of Channel 62. No time sooner, George's uncle, whom is still active owner of Channel 62, loses a gigantic bet and owes the big cheese in town thousands of dollars. Channel 8 opts to buy Channel 62 for the exact amount he owes. But George can't just let that happen without a fight. He throws a fundraiser to help the channel stay a float. When Channel 8 sees that he has a fighting chance, they kidnap the star janitor in hopes of people losing interest. Will Channel 8 get the new parking lot they are in great need of or will George pull through and save his pal the janitor? Throw in the ever so annoying Fran Drescher as Channel 8's secretary and one of the more low key ex-SNL cast members Victoria Jackson as George's girlfriend and you got yourself a classic 80's Hollywood spoof on your hands.

The heroic day dreams Weird Al has are from ridiculously common films such as Indiana Jones and Rambo. But that doesn't take away the comedic value of them any. Whether he's running from a giant rolling rock down the middle of a crowded neighborhood or dressed up in a super ripped and greasy Stallone muscle suit, he always manages to pull it off. Being the most known as a man of parody for music videos, one just had to be thrown in. Dire Straits "Money For Nothing" was manipulated into a take on "The Beverly Hillbillies." As most as have seen the video, it makes a lot more sense when it's watched with the film.

There's a few commercials during the movie that are simply airing on Channel 62 for advertising. Conan the Librarian. He cuts a kid in half for not returning a book on time! Gandhi II, sleeping with hot dames, driving convertibles and wiping out enemies with high powered weaponry. Spatula City, the owner loves spatulas so much... he bought the company! There was a used car commercial for crazy low prices on every car on the lot. If that wasn't convincing enough, if you didn't come down to his place to get a car, he was going to club a seal! The most notable was for a funeral / burial service. Taking a stab at their competitors, they have this grieving widow and her son walking through a graveyard with all sorts of limbs sticking out of their plots. Not only do they offer the finest burial of a loved one, but also a free salad bar. It wouldn't be complete without a woman dressed in all black, looking miserable and crying while eating a salad.

If you've seen even one episode of Seinfeld, then you know who Kramer is. Michael Richards doesn't act much different than that in any movie he's been in. UHF is no exception. When this came out twenty years ago, the character wasn't even known, let alone played out. Add that onto a janitor who simply loves cleaning and it works wonderfully. During his clubhouse show, he has a kid find a marble in this big tub of oatmeal. His prize? A drink from the fire house. The kid is set on a toy rocking horse and completely blasted into next week. There's not enough big budget films out in the world that will actually do physical harm to kids. So seeing one done so well just makes it that much better.

Through out the entire film, there was absolutely no racist jokes or sexual references made. No big fake boobs running around and absolutely no nudity. This was probably the last comedy that even attempted that within the last two decades. Don't get me wrong, I love dumb blondes that have absolutely no self-respect for themselves as much as the next guy. But watching a guy stare at some girls chest in every comedy for a half hour and then replying to her with "What?" just isn't funny. I could turn on Friends at any given time and see weak "comedy" like that. Weird Al needs to make at least one more movie before he completely gives up the entertainment business. Flawless film.

Final Conclusion: 10/10
Lucid Dreams #1: Lucid Dreams - added November 22, 2010 at 3:47am
It's crazy to know that this guy is actually a fucking genius.
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