Classic Movie Monday: The Big Chill

Welcome to Classic Movie Monday. Every Monday, I watch a film at least 25 years old that I have never seen before. I will then write my comments on the film, telling you what I thought of it. This is an attempt to beef up my classic film knowledge as well as highlight some forgotten gems of Hollywood's heyday. So without further ado...

The Big Chill
Released: September 28, 1983
Directed by: Lawrence Kasdan
Starring: Kevin Kline, Glenn Close, Tom Berenger, Jeff Goldblum, & William Hurt

Plot in a Nutshell:
A group of college chums who have drifted apart over the years, come together again to attend a funeral of one of their friends.

What I thought:
What happens after a group of not-so-close-anymore friends are thrust back into the same house for a weekend? Drugs, hookups, and many conversations about the good ole days when we were young. The catalyst for these characters reuniting is a friend's suicide, which is never explained, nor does it need to be. The point of this movie is not about grieving or death, but rather what happens when the young grow old and find the world a bit harsher than they thought it would be.

The first thing that struck me about this film was the characters and how well they have been crafted. In a matter of scenes you know who everyone is. By simply showing them unpack a bag, you get an impression of each person. It is this minimalist character development that I found fascinating, and it ultimately drew me further into the story.

However, there isn't much of that story to be had. Much like what happens when you try to catch up with an old friend; you get just enough to know what has happened, but rarely do you get every detail since you last parted. That is what this movie feels like. The people in it make you feel that sense of connection, a sense of home, and the good times shared with friends. But it doesn't do much beyond that.

It meanders across every character, dipping in and out of their pasts and where they'd like to be going. Everything is intersting, but aside from tlking, their is no real action on their part. It is a bit frustrating when you get invested in characters and discover nothing is going to come of them, at least not in the 100 minutes you will be with them. But there are far more things to like than dislike in this flick.

One of the best things about the film is the music. Gathering together some great hits of the 60s, it incorporates incredibly well with the action onscreen as well as set a fantastic mood. "Joy to the World," "Heard it through the Grapevine," "My Girl," "Good Lovin'," and the list goes on and on. I have had the soundtrack on my iPod for years. My parents used to play it in the car and at home when i was a kid. I've listened to these songs over and over again. They fit into the film like a warm glove on a cold day.

I'm not disappointed, and I'm not elated. I find myself mildly satisfied. I enjoyed the film. It is a great example of how to do character right. But I don't think it is very strong in any aspect of explanation or purpose. But where else could it go? Sometimes an explanation is not needed. Simply to be, and to be with friends is enough. At its heart, it is a film about these relationships and how they impact each other.

Bottom Line:
A character-movie that serves them well. Getting bits and pieces of their torn stories, you are drawn into their lives, even if there isn't much of a plot.

B

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