HOME FRIES
US, 1998, 91 minutes, Colour.
Drew Barrymore, Catherine O' Hara, Luke Wilson, Jake Busey, Shelley Duvall, Lanny Flaherty.
Directed by Dean Parisot.
Home Fries is something of an unexpected black comedy, especially with the title and much of the action taking place in a hamburger joint.
At the centre of the film is Sally, a young waitress played by Drew Barrymore, pregnant by the boss of a nearby factory whom she discovers is married and has not told his wife. Her mother, Shelley Duval, works at the same place and her father, Lanny Flaherty, is an alcoholic who turns up and causes all kinds of trouble.
In the meantime, two brothers, played by Luke Wilson and Jake Busey, are helicopter pilots for the military on weekends and are first seen pursuing a man, at night, lights ablaze, then firing blank bullets at him – and he sits on some seats and has a heart attack and dies. It turns out that he is their stepfather and to have one acting behalf of their mother, Catherine O’ Hara.
They fear that the headphones and microphones at the burger centre have intercepted their radio conversation and one of the brothers goes to investigate but falls in love with Sally.
Catherine O’ Hara enjoys herself as the self-centred mother. Jake Busey is the manic son who is upset to find that Luke Wilson is her favourite. There are several murder attempts – but, an expected happy ending.
1. The title, expectations? The emergence of black comedy, the tone, the surprise events and characters?
2. Texas, the burger centre, homes, upper-class, poor homes? The military and the helicopters? The police? The musical score?
3. The burger centre, Sally working there, the staff, the boss, the headphones – and the interference with the voices from the helicopters? Henry, talking to Sally, her pregnancy, his not telling his wife, his callous attitude, Sally not knowing he was married? Driving through the burger shop? The helicopter pursuing him, his running, the light, his sons, in the helicopter, their frightening him, Angus and his decisions about the rubber bullets? Henry sitting, his heart attack, his tablets? The police finding him?
4. Angus and Dorian, different types, relationship with their mother, supporting her, the military, the helicopters, the pursuit of Henry, their stepfather? Telling their mother, her toughness, reaction, covering up, her being angry at Henry’s relationship, the search in the house for the photos, going to the funeral, the mockery of her grief? The aftermath? Wanting vengeance?
Favouring Dorian, Angus upset, trying to say that it was only a small distance of favouritism for Dorian?
5. Sally, her story, getting the lift, her father coming to the centre, his drinking, his tantrum, her mother working at the centre, the little boy and his party, Dorian and getting the job, to get the information, dressing up as a robot, the bullet in the burger, drawing his gun, the police?
6. The wrong photo, the woman to be killed, Angus and his setting up the poison, having to rescue the woman and having to rescue Dorian? The mother declaring it was the wrong woman?
7. Dorian and Sally, the talk, her asking him to go to the birth practice sessions? His not telling her the truth? Seeing her at the funeral? Taking her to see the helicopter, the fellow pilot and his remarks?
8. The truth, Sally upset, Dorian and his declaration of love?
9. The mother, the visit to Sally, pretending to be sweet? The family at home? Angus, the helicopter, the pursuit of the car? The mother and her fear, getting out? Angus and his aiming the guns, his dilemma, not firing?
10. The birth of the child, Sally happy, Dorian happy, talking to the baby about the relationship?
11. The comedy and the ironies?
