This piece accompanies the “Movies I Like” YouTube series linked below. The character in the video is intended as parody.
Who would have guessed one of the ultimate on-screen trios would consist of Brendan Fraser, Adam Sandler, and Steve Buscemi? There is magic in that cocktail, and it manifested in 1994’s Airheads. Now, my primary motivation for watching a movie is to have a good time. Complex plots and plodding sequences can be forgiven if a movie is entertaining overall and makes me feel something. That something can be awe, sadness, or happiness. Thankfully, I do not need to make any of those concessions here. Airheads is not complex nor does it have any plodding sequences. It is a high-energy safari through 90’s LA music culture. Most importantly, the movie is pure fun that unabashedly leaves the viewer feeling happy.
Airheads comes before Fraser cemented his stardom with The Mummy and Sandler exploded with Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore. The timing is perfect to allow the viewer to feel like they are simply watching three slackers trying to get their band to the big time in Los Angeles. The Lone Rangers are not rock and roll savants, but they have pure passion and respect for their music, which Airheads goes out of its way to show is not present in some of the groups breaking through. This angst snowballs into a string of bad decisions that land The Lone Rangers on the wrong side of the law in a seemingly no-win situation that just may lead them to stardom.
Fraser, Sandler, and Buscemi could certainly carry Airheads, but they do not need to here. The supporting cast is filled with recognizable faces that bring each character to scene-stealing life. From Joe Mantegna, to Ernie Hudson, to Michael McKean, to Chris Farley (and many others), every character bursts with such personality that each scene is engaging and smile-inducing. Yes, the story borders on ridiculous, and yes, the resolution is short and also ridiculous. But, the entire 90 minutes is a fun ride that induces waves of nostalgia today and reminds you how a simple comedy can still be one of the best, more memorable experiences. And that is why Airheads is a movie I like.
HobbyScope 