Ah, the ‘90s: a decade of great memories at the cinema. Of course, for all the ‘90s movies that are still cited as masterful classics and firmly rooted into the cultural zeitgeist, some do not get the attention the used to anymore.
Sure, you have probably caught a few of these on cable and perhaps you still have your VHS copy of them somewhere, but when is the last time you actually watched it? Furthermore, when is the last time you discussed it with your friends or it was mentioned on your favorite podcast?
We have taken the time to dig deep, deep into our cinematic memory vault to look back ‘90s movies whose popularity just barely surpassed the decade. There were plenty to choose from, but we have it narrowed down to just 11.
Tremors (1990)
Whenever you have played the “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” game, you might not have thought to cite Tremors when connecting the Footloose star to another actor, considering he is the most easily recognizable name in the film - excluding Reba McEntire, perhaps. Furthermore, this creature feature, about a small Nevada town plagued by giant, man-eating, worm-like under-dwellers, was not a huge hit at the box office, but pleased enough home video viewers to earn five straight-to-video sequels, all of which are currently available on Netflix, and even a short-lived series on Syfy. Even with all of this, Tremors, a fun throwback to '50s B-movies, just does not have the following it used to, but its moments of genuine horror and intentional laughter would make for a a great movie night.
Defending Your Life (1991)
From the clever mind of writer, director, and star Albert Brooks comes this existential courtroom comedy, billed as “the first true story about what happens after you die,” in which the recently deceased Daniel Miller's (Brooks) case to prove he is ready to pass onto the afterlife becomes a more pressing matter when he falls in love with Julia (Meryl Streep), a strong candidate for making it out of Judgment City. Nowadays, people probably know Brooks best for his Oscar-nominated role in 1987's Broadcast News, his sinister Golden Globe-nominated role in Drive, and voicing Marlin in Finding Nemo. Yet, fans of those films really owe it to themselves to see Defending Your Life, one of his most original creations and darkly funny and thought-provoking gem the whole family will love.
My Cousin Vinny (1992)
With his Oscar-winning role in Goodfellas, Oscar-nominated role in The Irishman, and times Martin Scorsese made him out to be a tough guy, Joe Pesci's comedic talent has gone far overlooked, unless you count his performances in the Home Alone and Lethal Weapon franchises. However, I believe that his all-time funniest role is also one that does not get the attention it deserves today: the title role of My Cousin Vinny, in which he plays an inexperienced Brooklyn attorney who comes to rural Alabama to defend his cousin (Ralph Macchio) and his friend (Stan Whitfield) who are wrongly accused of murder, clashing with the locals over his unusual methods in the process. If Pesci's gut-busting conflict with Fred Gwynne as the local judge is not enough to get you to revisit this long ignored masterpiece, how about Maris Tomei, who won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role as Vinny’s motormouth fiancée Mona Lisa Vito?
Robin Hood: Men In Tights (1993)
Everything I learned about Robin Hood, I learned from Mel Brooks. While Brooks is still praised today for The Producers, Young Frakenstein, and Blazing Saddles, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, is one of his least celebrated features these days, which I believe is a shame because it may be the last of the comedy legend’s great streak of parodies, especially with Cary Elwes’ (mostly) earnest portrayal of the heroic archer juxtaposed brilliantly with the wall-to-wall crazy sight gags and cartoonish absurdity. It is also a treat to see young Dave Chappelle as Ahchoo. Bless you.
Robin Hood: Men In Tights (1993)
Everything I learned about Robin Hood, I learned from Mel Brooks. While Brooks is still praised today for The Producers, Young Frakenstein, and Blazing Saddles, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, is one of his least celebrated features these days, which I believe is a shame because it may be the last of the comedy legend’s great streak of parodies, especially with Cary Elwes’ (mostly) earnest portrayal of the heroic archer juxtaposed brilliantly with the wall-to-wall crazy sight gags and cartoonish absurdity. It is also a treat to see young Dave Chappelle as Ahchoo. Bless you.
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