UHF (1989)

Seen: On netflix instant on my tv. One and a half times.

George Newman (Weird Al Yankovic) is a poor schlub who can't hold down a job because of an overactive imagination. When his wealthy uncle hands him the keys to a run-down local access television station, George believes he's finally found his calling. With the help of mulleted buddy Bob (David Bowe), aspiring news anchor Pamela (Fran Drescher), and clueless janitor Stanley (Michael Richards), he turns Channel 62 into a surprise hit with his community, much to the chagrin of rival network affiliate/professional asshole RJ Fletcher (Kevin McCarthy).

I don't know if I've ever brought it up here before, but I kind of had a serious thing with Weird Al growing up. With encouragement from my dad, who introduced me to Al with "Another One Rides the Bus", I listened ceaselessly to my Weird Al boxed set that I got for Christmas in 5th grade. Then I unearthed his mockumentary "The Compleat Al" VHS and stole the "Bad Hair Day" music video compilation tape from my friend down the street (also a big fan), and thus my entertainment habits were often centered around the man. I still think he's amazing. And thank goodness he took time away from his busy celebrity schedule to make a movie! UHF combines all the camp, goofiness, and parodic glee you might expect from him, plus famous people like Fran Drescher and Emo Phillips! Oh boy!

With tv shows like Wheel of Fish and Strip Solitaire, UHF creates the tv channel of my wildest dreams. It also features one of my favorite fake commercials ever for Spatula City. (We sell spatulas... And that's all.) Combine that with a bevy of film parodies and truly goofy sight gags and you have what amounts to maybe a perfect movie? MAYBE. There are even a few musical numbers in there, including Al's mash-up of Dire Straits' "Money for Nothing" and the Beverly Hillbillies theme song. What an amazing combo. Also an example of the many famous songs I know primarily through Weird Al parodies.

UHF is mired in its time, but in a good way, with over the top 80s costumes and pop culture references and low-budget special effects adding to the charm of a homegrown tv station. Al himself is such fun to watch, with his high-pitched enthusiasm and emotional outbursts. And you've got Fran Drescher doing her sarcastic whiny thing, Michael Richards playing a crazed man-child, Victoria Jackson wearing one of the silliest birthday dresses ever, Gedde Watanabe amping up the nonsense in a role seemingly poking fun at his "Long Duck Dong" stereotype, and a general sense of fun being had by all. Not every joke lands, and sometimes things are too hokey even for me, but I can't help but just all-out love this movie.

Although I have to say, it's a real shame that the wacky scientist role of Philo wasn't played by Joel Hodgson, as allegedly intended according to imdb trivia. That would have been incredible.

4.5/5

Pair This Movie With: Well like I said, The Compleat Al and the Bad Hair Day music videos were my go-to Weird Al viewing experiences as a young person. Otherwise I might go with something like Wayne's World, another irreverent look at music and television in the late 80s/early 90s.