The 'Burbs

Director: Joe Dante Joe Dante

Overview

"Joe Dante directs Tom Hanks in the cult favorite The 'Burbs, which comes to DVD with a widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. English and French soundtracks are rendered in Dolby Digital Surround. There are no subtitles, but the English soundtrack is closed-captioned. Supplemental materials include the theatrical trailer, biographies of the actors, and production notes. This is a solid release from Universal that should satisfy fans of the film."

Product Details

Release Date:	05/04/1999
UPC:	0025192052828
Original Release:	1989
Rating:	PG
Source:	STUDIO DISTRIBUTION SERVS LLC
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Language:	English
Time:	1:42:00
Sales rank:	1,993

Special Features

Production notes; Cast & filmmakers' bios; Film highlights; Theatrical trailer; Web links

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Tom Hanks	Ray Peterson
Bruce Dern	Mark Rumsfield
Carrie Fisher	Carol Peterson
Rick Ducommun	Art Weingartner
Corey Feldman	Ricky Butler
Henry Gibson	Dr. Werner Klopek
Wendy Schaal	Bonnie Rumsfield
Brother Theodore	Uncle Reuben Klopek
Courtney Gains	Hans Klopek
Gale Gordon	Walter
Cory Danziger	Dave Peterson
Heather Haase	Ricky's Girl Friend
Nick Katt	Steve Kuntz,Steve Kuntz
Brenda Benner	Walter's Daughter
Patrika Darbo	Art's Wife
Dick Miller	Vic, Garbageman #1
Robert Picardo	Joe, Garbageman #2
Franklyn Ajaye	Detective #1
Bill Stevenson	Ricky's Friend
Rance Howard	Detective #2
Dana Olsen	Cop
Kevin Gage	Cop
Gary Hays	Ricky's Friend
Jerry Goldsmith	Composer

Technical Credits

Dana Olsen

Joe Dante	Director
Dana Olsen	Screenwriter,Producer
Larry Brezner	Producer
Michael Finnell	Producer
Jeff Smolek	Stunts

Editorial Reviews

A purposefully hyper-exaggerated satire of suburban paranoia, Joe Dante's hit-and-miss comedy is often more miss than hit, though it's not without a fair amount of over-the-top charm and some good performances from Bruce Dern and Tom Hanks. Though younger audiences raised on his later efforts may forget that Hanks was a remarkable comedic actor early in his career, Dante utilizes the former Bosom Buddy's seemingly forgotten gift for zany neurosis to full effect here. With long stretches of mediocrity infrequently giving way to inspired, paranoid humor, the mysterious neighbors (played to full effect by Henry Gibson, Brother Theodore, and Courtney Gains) possess a formidable quirkiness straddling the line between eccentricity and outright menace. Suburban satire is no stranger to director Dante, though such previous efforts as Gremlins (1984) find the director on slightly firmer ground in terms of consistency. One-note performances by Carrie Fisher and Corey Feldman weigh the film down considerably despite providing the respective restraint and social cynicism their characters represent.