Fans of That Thing You Do will probably want to rent The Suburbans, a pseudo-satire about the comeback of a one-hit-wonder band from the 1980s. While Craig Bierko, Donal Lardner Ward, Tony Guma, and Will Ferrell had hope for their future back in the day, fifteen years later they've traveled down different paths. Will has a successful tech business, Donal is a beach lifeguard and won't commit to his girlfriend Amy Brenneman, Tony has children with Bridgette Wilson but won't marry her, and Craig is still his girl-crazy self. When a music executive, Jennifer Love Hewitt approaches them with the idea for a comeback on television, they decide to give it all a second chance.
All in all, this movie was entertaining, but it's not one I would really recommend or want to watch again. The humor was surprisingly crude at times, and the plot felt a little thin. I loved the comedy Music and Lyrics, which has a similar '80s-comeback band theme, and this one didn't hold a candle to the 2007 film. The brief flashbacks to '80s hairstyles are funny, and the 1999 style personified by Jennifer really take you back in time. When else can you find blue lipstick, glitter eyeshadow underneath the eyes, and twisted, spiky hair? Only in 1999, when it was actually cool to look that way.
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. The interviews feature a handheld shaky camera, and right after the tv promo for the reunion, the camera tilts back and forth as it zooms into the garage, and that will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"
