MOVING
US, 1988, 89 minutes, Colour.
Richard Pryor, Beverly Todd, Dana Carvey, Randy Quaid.
Directed by Alan Metter.
Moving is a mid-'80s Richard Pryor comedy. It is more restrained than many of his previous comedies and his concerts. It shows a more genial, sentimental side.
The film is about everybody's nightmare, loss of job, the need to move interstate, all the hazards and hassles of the moving process. In this way, the film is something of a suburban nightmare (and might be compared with Tom Hanks and Bruce Dern in The Burbs). While the material is predictable enough, it is done with a strange blend of genial tone touched with edginess which highlights the nightmare of moving.
Richard Pryor is good in the central role, supported by Beverley Todd and by Randy Quaid as ex-marine fanatic and eccentric neighbours (twins). Direction is by Allan Metter (Back to School) and photography is by Australian Donald Mc Alpine.
1.American comedy: careers, changes, family?
2.Moving as a symbol: reality, comic, nightmare?
3.The contrasts between suburban life in New Jersey and life in Idaho?
4.The New Jersey style: waking up in the morning, Arlo's dream about fighting Frank, Frank and his huge machine for cutting the lawn, Frank and his terrorising the neighbours, Arlo washing the car with the controlled helicopter hovering? The sequences with the buyers of the house? The contrast with buying the house in Idaho and the west? The buyers and sellers?
5.Arlo's job, losing his job, despair, the suddenness of the new offer, having to make a decision, the reaction of Casey and her not wanting to go, the boys, Monica? His reaction at the table? Casey's stunts to put off the buyers, especially hanging in the cellar? The irony of Frank welcoming the visitors and bringing the cake? Selling the house?
6.The moves for moving: the calendar and the family meeting, the week for selling the house, the quotations and the types why came for packing and moving? The very old man doing the packing and his being paid by the hour? The movers and their appearance, creating a mess? The irony of their being pals of Frank? The driver of the car - and the discovery that he had eight personalities? Casey's decision to marry and wanting to stay? The happy resolution with the neighbours taking her in? The driver's going to New Orleans? Arriving in Idaho and not only the house being empty but the kitchen, pool and staircase and doors being taken away? The welcoming committee?
7.Frank, the background in the Marines, mowing the lawn, the helicopter, the cake, taking all the mustard at the garage sale, refusing to give back Arlo's goods? His pals? The irony of Cornell living next door, mowing the lawn, dominating? Intimidated by the dog?
8.The driver with his multiple personalities: the clean-cut young man, the woman passing them on the road, the punk, the driver at the end?
9.Desperation in Idaho, the boys and their tricks at school exploiting the fact that they were twins? No furniture? Arlo going to work, everybody nice, the company suddenly collapsing, the television interviews? His drinking, seeing the woman interviewed on television advocating change as good? His reactions and determination to do something?
10.The finale: `people to kill', the movers and his attack on them, the smashing of the limousine, the businessman and his decisions to take Arlo back, Cornell and the dog?
11.The nightmare of moving, audiences identifying with it? The lyrical and sweet happy ending - waking up to reality? Or not?
