UHF

by TheFreak

I've been a fan of "Weird Al" Yankovic and his parodic skills since I was a wee lad. So, when I found out that Al had a movie out, UHF, my younger self had a spiritual orgasm, long before he even knew what the hell an orgasm was.

Despite being a box office failure when it was released in 1989 (it was released next to blockbusters like Batman and Lethal Weapon 2), the movie soon developed a cult following, and rightfully so.  It's the first movie I remember renting and watching over and over, to the point where I was repeating dialogue right along with the movie.

Meet George Newman (Weird Al), an eternal daydreamer who's vivid imagination often gets the better of him.  His lack of direction (and inability to keep a job) causes frustration with his best friend Bob (David Bowe) and long-suffering girlfriend Teri (Victoria Jackson).

Things seem to turn around when George's uncle offers to let him run Channel 62, a low-budget UHF TV station.  George sees it as a huge opportunity, though running the station doesn't come without its share of problems.  But George and his motley crew staff persevere, and Channel 62 soon becomes #1 in the ratings, much to the chagrin of big-network rival Channel 8, who do everything in their power to shut George down for good by any means necessary.

I love UHF for its use of visual gags as well as the numerous TV and movie spoofs.  From the movie's opening parodying Raiders of the Lost Ark to a climactic scene where George visualizes himself as Rambo (which takes a turn for the outright absurd), you can watch the movie more than once and catch something you missed each time.

The overall tone of the movie is eclectic and, at times, just plain twisted.  Channel 62 hosts a unique lineup of shows, including The Volcano Worshippers Hour, Fun With Dirt, and Conan the Librarian (in which Conan cleaves a teenager in half for returning an overdue book).   Town Talk, parodying Geraldo and "Trash TV" in general, is responsible for what is by far one of my favorite lines in any movie ("Lesbian Nazi Hookers Abducted By UFOs and Forced Into Weight Loss Programs!").

Some of the best performances belong to the supporting cast.  General Hospital star Anthony Geary has a deadpan delivery as U62 engineer "mad scientist" Philo, and Kevin McCarthy's gleefully villianous turn as Channel 8 head RJ Fletcher is a personal favorite.  Fletcher's asshole-ish contempt for the general public (with lines like "People like that should be put to sleep!") and maniacal laugh make him an evil SOB that you can't help but enjoy watching anyway.

But the breakout role is from Seinfeld's Kramer himself, Michael Richards, as janitor turned kids' show host Stanley Spadowski.  Richards plays the role with an innocent demeanor and a penchant for non-sequiturs and childlike silliness (Richards also improvised much of his dialogue).  Watching the movie, you can tell Richards went balls-out to make Stanley an endearing character.  And, thankfully, no "N-word"-laced tirade.

UHF should be required viewing for any "Weird Al" fan, and I highly recommend picking up the DVD alone for the entertaining commentary with Al and director Jay Levey.  Overall, if you like your comedy more over-the-top and tongue-in-cheek than most, UHF is a movie that doesn't disappoint.