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Reviews
Mystery, Alaska (1999)
some great performances
After all the frivolous lightweight movies Burt Reynolds has starred in, many people have forgotten that he started out as a dramatic actor(Deliverance, etc.). In this movie, he turns in a dignified, serious, very believable performance as one of the most respected residents of Mystery, Alaska, who feels compelled to speak out against what he believes will harm the town.
Russell Crowe also turns in a first-rate performance as one of the town's best hockey players, who has to deal with being told that he is getting too old to play and that he should step down and allow younger players a chance. He also has to painfully deal with his wife's suspected infidelity.
This is not a movie to let your children watch. There is quite a bit of bad language, and one character does considerable bragging about his sexual conquests.
My Dear Secretary (1948)
I laughed a lot
This was much funnier than I expected it to be. I had never heard of it, but it was included in a collection of "Comedy Classics" bought cheap at a dollar store. Most of the movies were dreadful, but this was one the a few that were good.
One doesn't usually think of Kirk Douglas as funny but he is in this. Irene Ryan is, also, and her character bears little resemblance to Granny. Perhaps the funniest in the cast is Keenan Wynn, who delivers some of the best lines in the movie with great flair. Some of the minor characters also very enjoyable.
The writing is also very clever and witty. Great lines abound all around.
The Nasty Rabbit (1964)
failed potential
This could have been a funny movie, but it wasn't. More capable hands might have made it work. This is not the worst movie I have ever seen. I can think of at least that was worse; if memory serves me correctly, that one also starred Arch Hall, Jr.
The movie was full of demeaning ethnic stereotypes. Why foreign spies would run around wearing their native costumes, I have no idea.
There are a couple of halfway decent performances in this movie, or it may be that they only seem that way because of the atrocious acting they are surrounded by.
One of the few pleasures I received from watching this misbegotten movie was seeing the cars the spies drove. I once owned and have fond memories of a car similar to one of them.