The trio of Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito worked so well for Romancing the Stone and it's follow up Jewel of the Nile that they decided to join forces again and make this 1989 dark comedy.
The War of the Roses is so funny, because it is so true. There are ways this troubled couple relate to each other that almost any married couple in the world can sympathize. There are classic scenes throughout that will stick in your memory forever.
Even though the Indiana Jones-like Romancing the Stone and Jewel of the Nile get more attention for this trio of actors, it is this movie that is by far the more superior film.
Kudos to Danny DeVito for directing this film. It was an underrated job of directing. Go rent this film and thank me later.
This may possibly be the most ill conceived Top 10 list I have done so far. I really didn't figure this fact out until I had compiled a list of about 20 Fat Boy Sidekicks. By then, I was too far into it to turn back. So with that said, let's get started.
First let's get a little of the definition of our list title out of the way.
Fat - Having too much flabby tissue; corpulent; obese.
Boy - A young man who lacks maturity, judgement, etc.
Sidekick - A close friend, confederate or assistant.
So basically, this list is full of a bunch of overweight, immature accomplices. Yep that about sums up the guys on this list, alright. Always there for the lead character to count on in times of need. Be it for a good deed or a bad one. Enjoy the list!!!
#10
David (Joe Rubbo)
The Last American Virgin (1982)
(WARNING - Some may find movie clip offensive)
This funny sequence of scenes shows Fat Boy Sidekick David (Joe Rubbo) in two capacities which are very important to being a Fat Boy Sidekick. First, his willingness to be the financier of things needed. And secondly, his need to protect his buddy from being hurt, be it physically, or as in this case, emotionally.
#9
Chunk (Jeff Cohen)
The Goonies (1985)
This clip shows another very important characteristic of a good Fat Boy Sidekick. Chunk shows us his willingness to completely humiliate himself, if so asked, just to fit in.
#8
Chubby (Mark Holton)
Teen Wolf & Teen Wolf Too (1985 & 1987)
Boy, did the casting directors ever show their ability to think outside the box on this one. The Fat Boy Sidekick in these Teen Wolf movies somehow was a gifted basketball player and boxer, respectively.
#7
Lawrence (John Goodman)
Everybody's All-American (1988)
John Goodman displays three very important traits of a Fat Boy Sidekick in this movie clip. He shows the ability to guzzle beer with no hands, make fart noises with his armpits and tell a good joke on command. Great clip.
#6
Willard Hewitt (Chris Penn)
Footloose (1984)
Looking back on this now, Chris Penn really wasn't much of a fatboy. He just always seemed to be and, of course, was a fatboy in the subsequent years leading up to his death.
As far as Penn's Fat Boy Sidekick attributes go, in this movie, he shows a willingness to please his buddy by doing what he can to learn how to dance. He also shows the protectiveness, by helping his buddy out in the fight scene at the end.
#5
Paulie (Burt Young)
Rocky III & Rocky IV (1982 & 1985)
I posted the above clip for two reasons. First, because more people need to know how excellent of an actor Burt Young has always been. Give the man his props. Secondly, It shows a couple of great Rocky scenes where Paulie shows his Fat Boy Sidekick credential by being willing to take on Rocky's opponents to protect him. As Paulie says "I don't sweat you!"
#4
Vincent Benedict (Danny DeVito)
Twins (1988)
Here is a different take on the Fat Boy Sidekick. In Twins, Danny DeVito, although he is the Fat Boy Sidekick, seems to have the upper hand in the relationship between him and Arnold. He's the one who is more streetwise and risk taking. So, Twins definitely took a different spin on the Fat Boy Sidekick role.
#3
Victor/Captain Chaos (Dom DeLuise)
The Cannonball Run I & II (1981 & 1984)
Ok, so a Fat Boy Sidekick sometimes needs to have a mentally unstable side to him. Well, Dom DeLuise had that down in spades in The Cannonball Run movies, while playing sidekick to Burt Reynolds.
#2
Del Griffith (John Candy)
Plains, Trains & Automobiles (1987)
I love John Candy and he is definitely a great Fat Boy Sidekick in this movie, among others. However, a Fat Boy Sidekick has got to know the difference between two pillows and a pair of ass cheeks or he just may be kicked to the curb.
#1
"Joliet" Jake Blues (John Belushi)
The Blues Brothers (1980)
A Fat Boy Sidekick has to be able to "Shake a Tail Feather". And he has to be able to keep up while shaking that tail feather. Well, John Belushi NEVER had a problem keeping up. Great video clip!
Well there you have it. I know it wasn't the greatest list, but I still hope you had fun reading and watching. Let me know in the comments if you can think of any better 80's Fat Boy Sidekicks.
This is a fun little movie with plenty of laughs to go around. We get to see Michael Keaton and Joe Piscopo in their prime. Other stars you might recognize in the movie are Marilu Henner (Taxi), Peter Boyle (Everybody Loves Raymond), Griffin Dunne (An American Werewolf in London), Dom DeLuise (Cannonball Run) and Danny DeVito (Taxi, Twins).
This is a gangster movie spoof that is set in the 1930's. Michael Keaton is excellent in it as a guy doing what he has to do to survive in a post-depression America. That may include the occasional thievery and murder.
Although Keaton is really great as the lead in the movie, for me it's Joe Piscopo that makes this movie. He's hilarious as the cruel sadistic Danny Vermin. He has an ongoing saying in the movie he uses to keep us in stitches. It changes according to the circumstances, but is funny throughout. Here's an example: When Johnny hangs Vermin up on a coat hook, Vermin turns to him, with his finger extended out and says "You shouldn't hang me on a hook, Johnny. My father hung me on a hook once.........ONCE!!!"
Really good weekend movie to watch and laugh a bit. Go rent it.
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