Opposites Attract

Welcome back to the Video Store! Valentine’s Day is almost upon us and if you’re here looking for movie selections instead of out buying flowers or making dinner reservations, then sir or madam, I salute you.

For this week’s episode of the show I’ve picked four movies that feature unconventional relationships. After browsing the stores aisles looking for this week’s film recommendations, I ended up rewatching all four of these movies (a couple of which I hadn’t seen in decades) and for the most part they have all aged well.

Harold and Maude (1971)

Harold is a young adult obsessed with death, while Maude is a 79-year-old woman infatuated with life. The two share a hobby in common — attending the funerals of strangers — and soon this odd couple forms a close relationship. Wikipedia describes this film as a “romantic black comedy drama,” which only begins to describe it. It’s sweet, it’s funny, and it’s emotional. While critics originally hated it, the film as gone on to appear in many “best of” film lists.

Something Wild (1986)

The last person you would expect a New York banker like Charlie to get involved with is a carefree person like Lulu, but after she kidnaps the yuppie for a weekend of

reckless fun, Charlie finds the adventure exciting… until things get out of hand. When Lulu’s husband discovers what the pair has been up to, he is none too happy. Someone — or perhaps everyone — has been lying. This not-to-miss thriller stars Jeff Daniels as Charlie, Melanie Griffith as Lulu, and a terrifying Ray Liotta has Lulu’s husband, Ray.

After Hours (1985)

Have you ever had one of those days? After work, Paul Hackett heads to a local diner where he meets a woman named Marcy. The two exchange numbers and later, she invites him over to her apartment. This starts off a chain of events that will have Paul running around the streets of New York from one mess to the next. Before the end of the night his face ends up on wanted posters, he’s chased by an angry mob, and he becomes involved in a city wide crime ring. It’s a night that Paul will never forget — or maybe, survive. Featuring a star-packed cast including Griffin Dunne (An American Werewolf in London), Rosanna Arquette, Linda Fiorentino, Teri Garr, Catherine O'Hara, Bronson Pinchot, Dick Miller, and even Cheech and Chong. Directed by Martin Scorsese.

Valley Girl (1983)

Randy (Nicholas Cage) is a punk rocker from Hollywood. Julie (Deborah Foreman) is a Valley Girl. Their worlds are complete opposites and it seems that everybody and everything will try and stop them from getting together, but sometimes, love finds a way. This classic 80s film was directed by Martha Coolidge and will take you back to the sights, sounds, and music of the 1980s.

Thanks for checking out the podcast. If you don’t have plans this Valentine’s Day, you can have a great time renting and watching one of these films. And if you would prefer to get out of the house, you can always drop by a stranger’s funeral. You never know who you’ll meet!