Search - The 'Burbs on DVD

Lydia Z. (grandmalydia)
Reviewed on 5/27/2023...

It's an OK movie, but I won't be watching it again!

2 of 4 member(s) found this review helpful.

K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 2/24/2023...

A classic with lots of stars and a plotline that takes you all over the place. Director Joe Dante has a special way to creep you out!

Michael G. (mgmirkin) from PORTLAND, OR
Reviewed on 5/26/2010...

I absolutely ADORE this movie. It has lost not one iota of its charm since the first, third or 10th watching years ago. Today I appreciate it even more, to be frank. It is a piece of cinematic genius from start to finish.

It explores the trope of "that odd family down the block." That is to say, urban horror. But it's also a dark comedy. It also plays up genre conceits, while at the same time parodying the genre. It doesn't take itself TOO seriously and is a bit self-effacing.

Some favorite scenes include the old Western stare-down with the odd family's front door while at the same time playing a music score fit for an epic drama. At other times, the Gothic angle is certainly put to the fore by way of pipe organs, rain, lightning.

Truly a masterpiece of lighthearted dark comedy and urban horror. I would give this film six stars if the site let me. See it, love it, see it again.

4 of 4 member(s) found this review helpful.

Repeat value

Levi Stofer | Lawrenceville, GA USA | 04/30/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The 'Burbs isn't one of those movies you'd see being drooled over by film critics or even audiences, but it is one of those movies that if you saw it on TV every couple of months, you'd watch it. Joe Dante's weird sense of humor shines on this movie even more than the Gremlins movies. It also offers a cast of characters that are as much relatable as they are crazy. Everyone has weird neighbors, right?Tom Hanks is in top comedic form in this one offering classic lines like "I've never seen anyone drive their garbage to the street and bang the hell out of it with a stick." Then you have the hilarious neighbor Rick Ducommunn who I feel should have had a better career after this film. Corey Feldman (always a treat) plays the irresponsible teen and Bruce Dern is brilliant as the crazy military reject. All these characters mixed up in a bizzare murder mystery is pure magic. But what makes this movie have replay value is the little things that you don't necessarily catch while watching for the first time. For example, when Rick Ducommunn comes over to visit Tom Hanks and eats nearly everything in his refrigerator while the audience is engrossed with his tales of terror. Or just the body movement of Hanks when he observes the weirdness of his neighborhood throughout the film. Hilarious.I may be looked upon as weird for giving this movie 5 stars, but it is one I can always rely on for a good laugh and good quotes. "NO!" "About a 9 on the tension scale, Rube."
"I want to kill everyone. Satan is good. Satan is our pal."
"Red rover red rover let Ray go over."
"I've been blown up! Take me to the hospital, I'm sick."Watch this movie and you too will quote these lines forever."

Rick Ducommun=God!

skipmccoy | Los Angeles, CA USA | 09/19/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Rick Ducummon is fantastic in this movie! Don't get me wrong, Bruce Dern, Tom Hanks, Carrie Fisher, Dick Miller, Henry Gibson, and Courtney Gains are all great too, but Duccumon so rarely gets a chance to shine. We've seen him as the guy in the manhole("Shut it down now!") in DIE HARD, he's the guy whose pool gets a car crashed into it in THE LAST BOYS SCOUT (plus he starred opposite Brian Bonsall(FAMILY TIES) in Disney's BLANK CHECK). He just is never given an opportunity like he has here and he's great! "The thermostat on a home furnace-is that supposed to go to 5000 degrees d'ya think?" and "My wife is home??!" amongst other classic lines are just pouring out of him here. I can't believe some people don't like this movie. At the very worst it's an innefectual, light comedy. At the very best(my end) it's a Hitchcock inspired, post-modern comic pastiche that also has Corey Feldman in it. This movie is a lot of fun. I've watched it a bunch and it only gets better. One of Tom Hanks later frenitic comedic performances. Dvd includes alternate ending which is nice to see."

Watch Out In Your Neighborhood For The Reclusive Families!

Sheila Chilcote-Collins | Collinswood, Van Wert, OH USA | 05/26/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As Art Weingartner says "I'm telling you these people are Satanists. As I sit here, they are Satanists. Look... look, the world is full of these kind of things; black masses, mutilations. Mutilations! The incubus, the succubus - I'm tellin' you, Walter was a human sacrifice."Such is the hysterical dialog between Art (Rick Ducommun) and Ray Peterson (Tom Hanks) when they discover, along with some other people in their suburban subdivision, their elderly neighbor, Walter Seznick (Gale Gordon) is missing in action.Other neighbor buddy, Vietnam Vet, Mark Rumsfeld (Bruce Dern) decides to help Ray and Art to find out what happened to Walter. They all three are SURE that the weirdo reclusive new neighbors, The Klopek family, comprised of Dr. Werner Klopek (Henry Gibson), Uncle Reuben Klopek (Brother Theodore) and shy Hans Klopek (Courtney Gains)have something to do with the old man's disappearance.So...complete with night vision goggles, credit cards to slide in the Klopek's doorlocks to break in and various other spy equipment furnished by Mr. Rumsfeld, they start their little spying games.Men and their wives even plan a little friendly "welcome wagon" visit to the Klopeks (one of the funniest scenes in the movie!)Corey Feldman as young neighbor teen Ricky Butler, Carrie Fisher as Carol Peterson, & Wendy Schaal as Bonnie Rumsfeld ALL turn in great performances.Even Nicky Katt from Boston Public plays Ricky's young friend Steve Kuntz!What happened to Walter? Did the Klopek's have anything to do with the disappearance? WATCH THIS VERY ENTERTAINING MOVIE and find out for yourself!Happy Watching!"