Burglar

Whoopi Goldberg was enjoying immense popularity at this period of the mid-'80s. Films like this, Jumping Jack Flash and Telephone seemed to secure her a comic place in Hollywood. And that’s all well and good, but being so of-the-period, many fashions are current to the day, and this sadly dates the films. For example, Whoopi wears jackets with the sleeves pushed up, she wears a leather jumpsuit with massive colourful socks (possibly leg warmers) to tuck it into and there is also Bobcat Goldthwait. I don’t understand his schtick I guess.

"I can’t go in there, it’s like yuppies from hell or something..."

Let’s see what we’re dealing with here...

Bernie (Whoopi) is a street smart ex-con who knows how to break in and out of a house with the riches it held. An ex-cop she knows is blackmailing her to the tune of $20,000 and to get it she needs to pull a simple job for a new client. Unfortunately, while trapped and hidden in his apartment, she hears a murder and, before you know it, she’s the major suspect. Knowing her only chance is to find out who did it, she and her best friend (Goldthwait) set about finding the truth before the cops put her away for good.

I remember watching this film when it first came to video way back when (and as a new release was $2.00 overnight. Those days are long gone...). I remember it being pretty cool, pretty funny and enjoying it a lot. However, that was then and this is now. While the film is still immensely watchable, it is rooted firmly within the '80s and will never reach escape velocity. And as for Bobcat Goldthwait, well, he’s billed here as Bob Goldthwait. Doesn’t change much though. In this he not only plays a pathetic character - he’s unfunny and intensely annoying. It’s bizarre that people find him funny. Unless it’s not funny funny, but weird funny.

Anyways, the film is a bit of fun. Whoopi is great as Whoopi and John Goodman even shows up as a cop, although he has none of his usual dry sparkle. However, it’s worth a look and as part of the Warner budget range it’s been treated fairly well by way of transfer.

Being an older film and shot mid-'80s, there are bound to be a few artefacts here and there. And there are (see fingerprint at 61:37). There are also a few instances of grain, but these are limited to some darker interiors (as is often the case). Flesh tones are all good though, and blacks are pretty natural, but the shadow detail is nowhere near great.

There is also a scene in an underwater aquarium in which the deep shadowy blacks become deep blues and swallow everything around them detail-wise. Like a whale or something. With a blue mouth.

Granted a Dolby Digital stereo mix here, levels haven’t quite been balanced properly in the execution. Dialogue is a shade lower and the music (which is so very '80s) comes in a shade higher. However, the dialogue is all clear and I could make it all out, but for Mr. Goldthwait and his inflections. What’s up with that anyway?

And, as noted, the music is again firmly entrenched in the '80s. It took me back in the same way the first Beverly Hills Cop can. Plenty of synthesiser which again is very of-the-day. Still, at least it fits with the rest of the fashion in the movie.

These have all been burgled by a sneaky burglar who has burglarised them.

While this is a fun film, it is quite dated now. However, I hear the '80s are back in, so it’s probably cool again. Or something. It’s a good enough storyline with some sub-plotting going on and some fairly okay performances, though there appear to be some borderline B-graders among the cast. Regardless, it’s a fun watch that fans of Whoopi will enjoy as she steals your heart at the peak of her Hollywood popularity.

(Get it? Steals your heart...? Priceless!).