Honky dory TAB

Story:
Walter Fielding (Tom Hanks) and Anna Crowley (Shelley Long) have to start looking for a new house- but there's not much they can afford! This soon changes when they meet a lonely old con-artist who sells them a beautiful mansion at a ridiculously low price. Only there's a catch. The second Walter and Anna move in to the house it falls apart, starting from the stairway, to the bath falling through the roof to eventually the chimney falling into the house! Finally, they have to renovate the house before the frame collapses but the renovations also prove to be a disaster. This creates strains on their relationship as well an a former ex husband, Max, still chases Anna..

So having just bought a house for myself and done some much needed renovations, plus loving 80`s Tom Hanks, I decided one day to watch this gem from the golden years.

Just following this couple through the different strains thats put on their relationship was worth the watch along. Both Tom and Shelly are top notch actors and certainly know how to do subtle anger and god ol slapstick often at the same time. Stepping in as the evil ex is Alexander Godunov playing Max Beissart, the Orchestra maestro with a god complex and not only is he a ex. He`s also Shellys musical director since she`s playing in the orchestra that he`s directing (brilliantly showed but not explained)

Thats one of the reasons that I wanted to see an "older film" Ive grown tired of not really being challenged and having the characters explain what they are thinking. 80`s and 90`s movies are more complex, adult, and don't make a fool out of the audience-member.

Every home owner will recognize some of the situations they encounter. All from bad electrics to shifty carpenters. The damage done to the house is small at first the then gradually gets worse and worse... But the funny bit is also just seeing them handle it without loosing it

The ending is a bit to simple in my taste. But it does round up the movie and isn't way out there to cliché in terms of overdoing it.

8/10



Here`s a small scene from the movie to give you a sense of the destruction and absurdity of whats happen. His body language in most of the scenes are spot on despite being in a very young age. Great acting