In 1984, Ivan Reitman dressed four comedians in a strange outfit and had them run around New York City together. There was applause, interest and amazement. Later, the director would say that he knew that the movie Ghostbusters It would be a success seeing the reaction of indifferent New Yorkers to the experiment. Reitman was always a man who followed his lead. Even more so, one that created a new kind of insightful comedy that still feels contemporary and fresh today.
The director’s death leaves in his wake a long and deep legacy of comedy and humor spanning almost three decades. Also several of the most emblematic films of a complicated genre. Reitman himself knew: making people laugh is an exercise in intelligence. And he tried it during almost forty years of career, through a deep perception about humanity and a rare sensitivity. In his wake, Reitman left behind a collection of epoch-making movies.
Beyond Ghostbusters, Ivan Reitman was able to narrate modern humor in a different way. And also, tell particular stories from new angles. We are talking about five films that the director also directed and that marked a milestone in one way or another.
Ivan Reitman’s Great Movies
The Nutty Squad (1981)
Ivan Reitman’s film has the peculiarity of being a parody of a parody. Or in other words, from carry the formula of the classic series M*A*S*H to another dimension. For the occasion, Reitman included several of his favorite actors in his cast. Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, John Candy and Warren Oates were part of a brash comedy of thug humor that was a box office hit. And the first to open the doors for similar director projects.
Reitman discovered how to play with the idea of the classic “friends club” to create tension and a peculiar version of irony. Y was that conception about sarcastic humorthe subtle and well-constructed jokes, which would mark the rest of his career.
Can see The Nutty Squad on AppleTV.
The Twins Strike Twice (1988)
Back then, Arnold Arnold Schwarzenegger was known for his muscles more than his acting chops. And Danny De Vito seemed to be the least suitable actor to sustain a movie with delirious humor. But somehow Reitman found a way to combine the talents of both actors and take advantage of their undoubted chemistry.. Everything, under the premise of twins separated at birth. Again, Reitman appealed to his infallible formula and asked both actors to dress identically and walk down the street. “I knew it would definitely work,” Ivan Reitman commented a year later.
He was right. The result was a fun take on brotherly love, kindness, and comedy. With the actors enjoying their unlikely papers and unprecedented plot freedom, the film was crazy. And also, a resounding box office success.
Can see The Twins strike twice on AppleTV.
Kindergarten Cop (1990)
When Arnold Schwarzenegger was the epitome of action movies and the trope “one man army”, Ivan Reitman made a bold move. And it was to imagine a friendly comedy based on the clichés of the genre. The result was an unexpected box-office hit, which further showcased Schwarzenegger’s undoubted comedic gifts.
But beyond that, Reitman created a delicate, well-balanced mix that still amazes. Not only gave occasional comedy an unusual flexibility, but also a new friendly depth. The idea would become one of the high points of Reitman’s filmography for decades to come.
Can see Nursery Cop on AppleTV.
Dave, President for a Day (1993)
Power has always been a complicated issue in American culture. And much more, the figure of the president. Reitman took both ideas and combined them into an extraordinary comedy.. In addition, he delved into the country’s obsession with authority figures through the basic idea of the common man.
With a Kevin Kline in one of his best performances, Ivan Reitman showed an elaborate nuance on politics. At once, gave Sigourney Weaver the opportunity to symbolize an intelligent look at women in American politics. The film was the subject of discussion and also earned an Oscar nomination for best original screenplay.
Can see Dave, president for a day on AppleTV.
Junior (1994)
And after one of his greatest successes came one of Reitman’s greatest failures. Again with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the lead, Reitman once again tried to combine genres to create comedy. But if he had previously achieved extraordinary results, Junior It was a mess from start to finish.
The story of a man from a scientist who manages to get pregnant, became an uncomfortable and superficial look at disparate topics. That despite its star cast, which included Danny De Vito and Emma Thompson, the film is still remembered as a full-scale wacko.