Great Film overall

Excellent but underrated film

To all those who have watched it: I hope you enjoyed it as much as I do.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

One man's quiet suburban life takes a turn for the worse when a young couple move into the house next door. From the word go it is obvious these are not the quiet professional types who should be living in such a nice street. As more unbelievable events happen, he starts to question his own sanity.......John Belushi was a legend. He was hilarious, straight to the point, and unpredictable. So why on earth cast him as the straight guy next to Ackroyds 'crazy' titular character?This is where the film fails, it's not believable one iota. Imagine Nicolas Cage playing straight next to Tom Hanks who is in cuckoo mode? It just doesn't stick.So we go through the same old motions of Ackroyd antagonising Belushi, taking his money, taking his car, and generally being a complete moron.of course, this falls on death ears for the rest of his family, believing that he is too highly strung. And then we have an unfunny subplot involving Moriarty trying to bed Belushi.It's supposed to carry the message 'Love thy Neighbour' with a comic twist, but it's never funny, never as awkward for Belushi that it should be, and it leaves you feeling pretty redundant come the end.It was a risk for the two leads to change their atypical roles, but it doesn't pay off sadly.

A quiet man (John Belushi)'s peaceful suburban lifestyle is threatened by the new, obnoxious couple that moves in next door.I feel like this was a precursor to "The Burbs". Not as funny, definitely not as weird, but some of the same concepts about the horrors of the suburbs. John Belushi excels here because he is given an opportunity to be the normal guy rather than the "wild and crazy one". Aykroyd is okay, though this is far from his best.And Cathy Moriarty? I still have to wonder how she never got any bigger. She seemed to start off so strong, fade away, briefly come back for "Casper" and then... where did she go? Cathy, we need more movies with you, please.

Comedy is the most subjective of Genres. Its divide is that You are either amused or You are not. The Black Comedy or Dark Comedy may be the most divisive, because the appeal or entertainment value demands You be in on the joke or there is trouble ahead.Troubled is a description of the behind the scenes production on this one. Drugs may be the culprit but to what degree is an enigma that no one, except folks who were there could begin to illuminate. Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi seem to be giving their all and from the performances it's hard to tell what was going on.The Female Leads alongside the SNL Alumni are two must mention contributors, Cathy Moriarty and Kathryn Walker, that add to the engagement with superb characterizations. A disturbing, oddball, and ethereal Movie it plays like "The Twilight Zone" and feels at times like the Direction of David Lynch or Tm Burton.The Film will linger and haunt no matter what You think of it. It has a way to attach itself to the subconscious and as Movies tend to do, make its way to the brain's receptors in a powerful persuasion to pay attention (much like mind altering drugs). Many viewers were not ready for its seductive and salacious charms and biting Satire.It's Suburbia gone mad with power lines that artificially disturb the psyche and the natural rhythms of the Earth (much like mind altering drugs). Nightmarish to say the least, it is the quirk that resides in this surreal environment that interferes with the commonplace. A unique Film going experience that is against the grain of the usual and the expected.Highly recommended for Cult Movie aficionados, Belushi and Aykroyd fans, lovers of the Avant-Garde, and those that want their expectations tweaked and challenged.Note...John Belushi's final Film.

Earl Keese (John Belushi) is a humorless conservative guy living with his wife Enid in a cul-de-sac. Their quiet life is turned upside down when sexually aggressive Ramona (Cathy Moriarty) and oddly blonde Vic (Dan Aykroyd) move in next door. Daughter Elaine Keese comes home after getting kicked out of school.This movie is doomed from the start. John Belushi is hopelessly playing against type. He may as well have his hands tied behind him. Dan Aykroyd is capable of playing the wild man but he's doing some kind of animated cartoon character. Cathy Moriarty may be the only one who is doing anything remotely funny. The glaring miscast mistake is followed up by an utterly unfunny movie. It is not surprising to read about how the stars had trouble with director John G. Avildsen in the problematic production. It is sad to know that this is John Belushi's final movie.