Siskel & Ebert Classics - 2/22/91 - Nothing But Trouble, Scenes From a Mall

An all "Thumbs Down" show from February '91 also includes HE SAID SHE SAID, KING RALPH and THE FIELD. This one I taped off WPIX and has the original commercials. As a reminder, if you're looking for the latest home video reviews -- from Blu-Rays of classic catalog titles to the latest releases -- be sure to check out my own review site at www.andyfilm.com

[@samsquanch1996]

"The fact that this movie was advertised as a comedy says something about the breakdown of the English language." Lmfao! 🤣

[@goldennuggetofwisdom5068]

I loved how they showed the commercial for Soul man and then followed it with a commercial about Black history lol. Talk about being unaware.

[@ericrmalcolm]

yeah that was awkward AF, even all these years later

[@sandal_thong8631]

8:10 Great comedy that had something to say. I remember watching it again a few years ago with the audio commentary and how they might not be able to make a movie like this, and who would get the joke today about a "militant" student organization?

[@kyloren3693]

I laughed so hard at that😂😂😂

[@mikem2949]

They truly had no idea what was coming in the future and how much race divisions would become ignited again. Today, you'd get fired in Hollywood just for saying that there are worse things in the world than blackface lol

[@webpulps]

I was about to mention the same thing xD

[@Hammerhead547]

Nothing But Trouble is only notable for one thing: It was the debut film role of tupac shakur.

[@micahwelner]

the WPIX tapes with commercials are very special to me--thanks for all these!

[@ricardocantoral7672]

There's only one moment worth a damn in Nothing but Trouble and that is the appearance of the woefully underrated Digital Underground.

[@ryangettig274]

Word,&back when Tupac was with them-cat has a great smile:)

[@davidnetterwald1846]

I was about to say the same thing that was the best scene in the whole movie.

[@Dhampir101980]

Yes. They should be part of the whole movie. They brought the only energy to the picture.

[@mauruhkatigaming4807]

I'd say that I wish the whole movie was about them instead of Chevy Chase, but Shock G (RIP) had better things to do with his time on Earth.

[@reginaldforthright805]

Its a cinematic masterpiece marred only by the inexplicable inclusion of the dreadful digital underground.

[@Patrick19833]

I personally loved Nothing, But Trouble! It is so underrated.

[@sandal_thong8631]

It's OK that you like it; tastes differ. But it wasn't underrated, but correctly rated 👎👎. Fortunately, I forgot about this bad movie until seeing it again here. Chevy Chase was better in _Fletch;_ John Candy was better in _Uncle Buck;_ and Dan Ackroyd was better in _Loose Cannons._

[@mjgyrosdude484]

Seeing the review of He Said, She Said basically reminds me of the argument I had with my younger brother who thought Elizabeth Perkins is ugly while I thought she's a cutie and thought he was insane. He ended up being gay so that totally explained that!

[@libradawg9]

I must admit I didn't see where that story was going. I guess that's one way to win an argument.

[@mjgyrosdude484]

@@libradawg9 he also thinks Scarlett Johansson is ugly which totally makes my argument even more so legit for sure!

[@sandal_thong8631]

I think she's a less glamourous version of Andie MacDowell, the latter I think was a cover girl.

[@brohymn2620]

ooofff that soul man movie comercial

[@KathyInTheKitchen]

Immediately followed by a local advertisement for a Black history lecture...double oooff

[@birch5757]

It's almost so absurdly over the top it's not offensive...almost. Although, I died laughing when the black history ad came on directly after.

[@natejamesr1081]

The tag line was "He didn't give up. He got down!"

[@birch5757]

@@natejamesr1081 good god lol

[@sandal_thong8631]

The movie was funny and had something to say, including about the police, before Rodney King and the L.A. Riots.

[@patrickc3419]

Nothing But Trouble 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@johnedwards4394]

Miss this show.

[@rckblzr]

Wow, the rare "Ten Thumbs Down"

[@BishopWalters12]

LOL, Soul Man is a classic.

[@lonelyone]

Wow, a rare episode where every movie got two thumbs down. I feel like a lot of these movies have aged better since movies have only gotten worse in time.

[@ryangettig274]

14:21 He's an All American Kid,The Late Great River Phoenix-Little Nikita-He worked with Sidney Poitier again on Sneakers!!:)

[@charles1203]

1991, 30 years ago.

[@lerm2866]

I just don’t believe Nothing But Trouble has some kind of cult following; the set design and makeup is ambitious but it’s completely devoid of laughs

[@ricardocantoral7672]

The film is devoid of much. A cinematic equivalent of a poorly constructed theme park ride.

[@AskMeWhen]

People either like it or they don't. I personally watch it all the time.

[@jasoncallan]

@@AskMeWhen i enjoyed it too buddy.

[@tarman47]

It’s not about laughs, it’s about an unleashing of twisted ridiculous imagination.

[@ericrmalcolm]

@@AskMeWhen it does kinda suck but I still love it

[@doddsino]

Wow...they voted Thumbs Down on every movie. I've only seen that happen twice before, but only when they reviewed 4 movies in the program.

[@sandal_thong8631]

I think they did this in another video I saw recently. Normally I don't watch these retro-videos unless there's a movie I like that I want to see their take on, so maybe I missed several. But they sometimes give thumbs down to movies I like and have on VHS or DVD. I do know that when Roger Ebert was looking for a sparring partner after Siskel passed, he had guest stars and one voted 👎on every movie and wouldn't say which was least-objectionable! It might be worth watching that season again.

[@SuperLordHawHaw]

Woody Allen's later films all start to blur together 1:59 It is hard to believe someone would have an affair with him 5:00 Now I want to see it out of curiosity lol 16:34 John Goodman chewing up the scenery. gag The Field: John Hurt and Richard Harris, two acting beasts

[@willyboyw.5771]

The Field is one of Richard Harris' best.

[@terrygyimah1956]

My reviews Scenes from a Mall (two thumbs down) Nothing But Trouble (two thumbs down) He Said, She Said (two thumbs down) King Ralph (two thumbs down) The Field (two thumbs up)

[@ianmillerdevilsfan1223]

Nothing But Trouble may be one of those amazing oddities that is so rare in Hollywood. A movie made by a writer-director that is a huge disaster but the film remains really interesting because it's so crazy and weird, Heaven's Gate is a better example of this type of film, but NBT is still an entertaining movie

[@spencerhensley5495]

I find it entertaining because it’s so poorly structured. As some of the other comments have noted the set design is still actually pretty impressive. On my Blu Ray it talks about how they put everything together and the set design is actually very admirable and very well done. It at least has that going for it.

[@reneedennis2011]

They didn't like anything! Dang! 😆😆

[@paulienuti8031]

It’s just there Opinion Man

[@keithdoherty3178]

They aren't wrong - All these movies Sucked Ass

[@nicw3251]

I’ve been watching a lot of their reviews and I don’t think they held up very well. A lot of the movies they hated went on to become beloved

[@sandal_thong8631]

@@nicw3251 I'll agree with that. I can understand if my taste is eclectic by liking _Scenes from a Mall_ and _He Said, She Said,_ (I saw them each twice, the former I have on VHS) but they missed the boat on _Home Alone_ and _Crocodile Dundee_ and chose to explain by year's end as to why they thought they were successful. I think they said they went on vacation when _Pee-wee's Big Adventure_ was released and didn't see it or review it!

[@FeverDog420]

Eggo waffles suck. They're either undercooked or too toasted. Bland either way.

[@brianstjohn]

I remember renting a video tape of Soul Man for a date with a girl in high school. We were both cringe-laughing through it and then felt a bit iffy having watched it. (There was an ad for Soul Man on this episode of S&E.)

[@andyfilm5785]

Incredibly the "auto thumbnail" that was generated from my upload of this episode was of C. Thomas Howell in full "Soul Man" attire! lol. I had no idea how to change it, but I fixed it fast :)

[@farbekrieg355]

its as cringey bad as white chicks i like to think that there is some sort of cosmic balance in race swapping movies

[@sandal_thong8631]

8:10 Good movie. Some people today still have a problem with interracial dating. And now there's even an attack on Black History (a B.H. announcement appeared after the ad).

[@chrisitalia8868]

King Ralph lol...

[@sandal_thong8631]

Other than the entire Royal Family being electrocuted during a photograph after the rain, I don't remember anything else funny.

[@bryansarracino8623]

The bonecrusher!!!

[@alyzu4755]

"It's not us". ☺️

[@marcomacias3960]

im guessing the film title fits it all. it is nothing but trouble.

[@spencerhensley5495]

Nothing But Trouble though I’m slightly embarrassed to admit it, I do have a soft spot for. No it’s not a good movie at all but that’s why I love it! Yes it’s weird and nonsensical as all can be and Chevy Chase John Candy and Demi Moore looked like they hated making it but there’s also some stuff in that is truly admirable. The set design is so well done and I have seen a documentary on it where it shows the details they went to in designing it. It’s actually pretty impressive the time and money they put into it. The original Speed movie is like this. It has some very stupid moments but it’s so well made on a technical level it’s a great movie in that right. I know Nothing but Trouble will not be a lot of people’s cup of tea and Dan Aykroyd should have focused more on his script then the set design, but the ambition they put into it is pretty admirable. It failed at being good because of its script and Aykroyd’s awkward direction but I do admire it’s ambition and the behind the scenes work they did that I like it. I also just laugh at how weird it is tbh.

[@Steve-wf3vv]

The sad part is that even the movies that received poor reviews are better than anything that is being made today.

[@TobeyStarburst]

Nothing but trouble was awful lol.

[@FeverDog420]

TEN THUMBS DOWN

[@jjgreen5206]

The great thing about Siskel and Ebert is that they could be honest, and roast terrible movies. Today everybody is bought off and afraid to tell the truth

[@FeverDog420]

Me, my neighbor friend, and his older brother tried to go see MANHUNTER but got carded. Do young teens these days get denied admission to hard R movies?

[@ricardocantoral7672]

SOP is buying a ticket to a G rated film then sneaking into the R rated film you want to see.

[@sandal_thong8631]

Theaters are expected to keep kids out of R movies (without accompanied by someone over 21). Funny I just watched their review of _Silence of the Lambs_ which got split vote 👎👍.

[@bryansarracino8623]

Nothing but trouble is downright disturbing. Dan Ackroyd as that weird baby? Yikes

[@MrSota1]

Nothing but trouble is an Oscar winner compared to Jack and Jill.

[@spencer10182]

Scenes from a Mall is not as bad upon a repeat watch, but its nothing great either. The main problem as Siskel and Ebert say is just that it isnt very funny with all of the talent involved. Director Paul Mazursky and Bette Midler made a much funnier movie about Los Angeles lifestyle Down and Out in Beverly Hills five year before this, that this just seems like a stale rehash of better jokes and scenarios from that film. Woody Allen definitely should have helped Mazursky with his script. Not an awful film but watch Down and Out instead, it's far funnier.

[@sandal_thong8631]

I kind of liked it and bought it on VHS, but I think I've only seen it twice. But then I don't want to see Woody Allen anymore after his scandal. Someone gave me _Bananas_ on VHS, which I liked, but I haven't watched that again in years, too.

[@seanvarnerin5803]

The "Soul Man" ad is cringe personified!

[@jdayala-wright8875]

Out of all the movies "Scenes From a Mall" was the most excruciating to sit through and watch because both actors that are normally good are playing below par.

[@spencer10182]

I even liked Nothing But Trouble better than Scenes from a Mall which I think is saying a lot. At least Nothing but Trouble did have good set designs. It was ambitious but failed mainly due to its script and premise.

[@FeverDog420]

It's watchable if you don't mind not laughing.

[@aliali-ce3yf]

He Said She Said was such a waste. Good chemistry , but they're right, the office part kinda takes you out of it

[@sandal_thong8631]

I liked it and saw it again some years later. The actress, Elizabeth Perkins was also the leading lady in _Big._ I recollect it has good scenes with Sharon Stone, who plays the ex-girlfriend.

[@movieman104]

nothing but trouble is not a great comedy but it the train of a film they r making it out to be they making out to alot worse than it is.

[@thingsicantfind9545]

Nothing but trouble is absolutely atrocious, truly revolting production and total comedy vacuum

[@uyeda]

Lots of bad films.

[@scottyunitedboy2925]

indeed. Both Scenes From A Mall and Nothing But Trouble would make their Worst Of 1991 show and, as they comment on a later show for Beauty & The Beast, 1991 was not a great year for American movies. Looking at shows like this you can see why. As Gene comments at the end of this episode, all of them had faulty scripts/screenplays in common.

[@scottyunitedboy2925]

@James Mitchell but still not enough to get Thumbs Up

[@BishopWalters12]

@@scottyunitedboy2925 1991 was a strong year but this was Feb which is always a weak month for movies.

[@sandal_thong8631]

I counted 26 movies worth seeing once and three of my all-time favorites that I can watch once a year or so: _Terminator 2, L.A. Story,_ and _Oscar._ A few are worth a second viewing like _Beauty and the Beast, He Said, She Said, Hook_ and _Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country._ Many other movies from 30 years or so ago, I saw once, sorta liked, and haven't needed to see again: _Backdraft, Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey, Father of the Bride, My Girl, Not Without My Daughter, Only the Lonely, Prince of Tides, The Rocketeer,_ etc. Though since it's been 30 years maybe I could be tempted to watch these a second time.

[@nicksoapdish157]

I enjoyed King Ralph, that was the only decent movie they were viewed on this episode.

[@cameronjacobs2719]

Roger, if your really hated the movie that much, then you could've just left the theater while it was still playing. NO ONE"S FORCING YOU TO WATCH IT AGAINST YOUR WILL!!!

[@salaciouspancakes]

It's was his job

[@sandal_thong8631]

I have heard of movie reviewers walking out.

[@cameronjacobs2719]

@@salaciouspancakes Not really though. he could walk out while the movie was still playing and choose not to promote or talk about it if he wanted to.

[@spencerhensley5495]

I think Roger and Gene only saved walking out for real emergency situations. For Siskel he only walked out on three films in his career. They cannot give their full opinion on a movie if they walk out and it could seem unfair if they didn’t see the whole thing for them to give their opinion. If they end up walking out they have to admit that they did and it changes a review entirely.

[@dibbsutd]

Scenes from a mall and nothing but trouble both made their worst of 91 list

[@Hammerhead547]

I tried watching scenes from a mall and only made it about 45 minutes in before giving up, it's completely insufferable and about as funny as getting a filling without any novicaine.

[@KRhetor]

1991 was one of the worst years for movies, ever.

[@spencer10182]

Silence of the Lambs, Terminator 2, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, there were a few good ones.

[@BishopWalters12]

I disagree, this was Feb which is always one of the weaker months for movies.

[@sandal_thong8631]

I count 26 movies worth seeing once, and some worth seeing twice or even more, like _Terminator 2,_ one of the best sequels of all time. Possibly my favorite movie, _L.A. Story_ starring Steve Martin, Sarah Jessica Parker and Victoria Tennant as his love interest came out that year. It has comedy, romance and a little magic, but these guys gave it 👍👎. _Oscar_ is also one of my favorite movies, a comedy by John Landis starring Sylvester Stallone and Marisa Tomei that I can also watch every year. Last Monday I saw the re-release of _Beauty and the Beast (1991)_ in theater for Disney's 💯celebration. I saw _Hook(1991)_ twice in theater that year because I felt I might lose a lot seeing it on "home video" due to pan-and-scan and a small TV. _The Prince of Tides_ starring Barbra Streisand and Nick Nolte, _Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country_ and _Thelma & Louise_ are all good movies that came out in 1991. I think these guys gave _Home Alone (1990)_ 👎👎 too, so I don't think their reviews are standing the test of time, unless you're looking for foreign films.

[@spencerhensley5495]

@@BishopWalters12This February was one of the stronger ones because Silence of the Lambs opened on February 14. There is a myth the Oscars forget movies in January and February because those are when weaker movies open up but Silence swept the Oscars and proved that the Oscars can still remember if the movies are good enough. I think the rest of 1991’s better movies were released in later months but 1991’s Best Picture winner being released in February didn’t mean that month in 1991 was a horrible time for movies.

[@BuckyNugget]

1989-1991 was a weird time for weak TV-like movies