Megamind
To all those who have watched it: I hope you enjoyed it as much as I do.
Logan
By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.
Scarlet
The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.
calvinnme
... well actually several of them are. The film is based on a true story of a couple of morgue employees caught running a brothel out of the morgue at night. You have Michael Keaton in his breakout role acting like...well..Michael Keaton, at least pre "Clean and Sober" Michael Keaton, with his smart remarks and cheery yet loser persona. You've got Henry Winkler as a guy who just lets people walk on him to the point that he's engaged to a woman he really doesn't love because she is there, and just takes it when he's moved from his day post at the morgue to the night shift with Keaton's Bill "Blaze" Blazejowski. Winker's character, Chuck, got to this sad state of affairs when he had a nervous breakdown working on Wall Street, even though he is a talented investor. Since then he's decided the best way to get through life is keep his head down and keep a low profile.But then his night shift brings a little sunshine his way in the person of prostitute Belinda (Shelley Long), who is getting home about the time that Chuck does, and they begin to have breakfast together and get to know each other. When Belinda is injured by a client because she doesn't have a pimp, Bill talks Chuck into letting Belinda and her friends work for them, and Chuck agrees to invest the girls' money so they'll have a nest egg.Eventually Chuck and Belinda fall in love, with Chuck assuming Belinda will quit prostitution. Belinda asks the pertinent question - "And do what?". She asks it tearfully, because of course she doesn't like this life, we really never get any background as to how she got here, but future employers would want to know what she was doing with this big blank space on her resume and she knows she has no acceptable answer.The whole situation comes to a head when other pimps don't care for Bill and Chuck cutting in on their territory. And then there is the little matter of undercover cops. I'll let you watch and see how this all works out.This would probably just be a six if it weren't for the important place it holds in film history. It is the first feature film directed by Ron Howard at only age 28, and he did a very able job his first time out. It boosted the careers of both Michael Keaton and Shelley Long, who was less than a month away from beginning her star making role on Cheers. And then there is the film's theme song "That's What Friends are For" that was rerecorded in 1985, became a hit, and whose proceeds went to benefit the American Foundation for AIDS.And what of Henry Winkler who was top billed here? Well, even though he was nominated for awards for this performance, it was pretty much downhill from here professionally. Since 1973 Winkler had built the reputation as the ultimate Eisenhower era alpha male - Fonzie - on the long running TV show "Happy Days". He was a cross between Brando and Elvis. People stepped out of his way when he walked down the street, and he would snap his fingers and several beautiful girls would come running just to be on his arm. A great performance as a man who is a walking doormat through most of the film does not mean that it enlarged his fan base. I'd say watch it for its place in film history for all the reasons I gave. Even if you weren't alive at the time, the film is at least mildly amusing. Also watch out for cameos by Richard Belzer (Munch on Homicide and then Special Victims Unit), Kevin Costner, and of course Clint Howard who I don't think ever got an acting job without big brother's help, with the exception of maybe his part on TV show Gentle Ben.
Uriah43
"Chuck Lumley" (Henry Winkler) is an unassertive, mild-mannered New Yorker who has a bossy girlfriend and works at the city morgue. He is a genuinely nice guy who simply wants to live a normal life. As luck would have it, however, two unexpected events suddenly turn his life upside-down and things will never be the same for him afterward. The first major change is when he gets a new office worker by the name of "Bill Blazejowski" (Michael Keaton) who is the complete polar opposite of Chuck. Whereas Chuck is quiet and considerate, Bill is totally loud, spontaneous and unpredictable. The second person to suddenly appear in Chuck's life is a prostitute named "Belinda Keaton" (Shelley Long) who has just lost her pimp and needs someone to help her out. While Chuck is sympathetic to her plight, Bill sees an opportunity and soon all three of them become part of something that none of them can control. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was an exceptional comedy which benefits from the great chemistry displayed by the three aforementioned actors. It was like each of them tailor-were made for their specific characters. Be that as it may, while the subject matter might be a little risqué, I found this to be an enjoyable film and I have rated it accordingly. Above average.
JoeKarlosi
A wonderfully engaging comedy from Ron Howard, where he directed his HAPPY DAYS co- star Henry Winkler, with glowing results. Winkler is excellent in the role of Chuck, a character completely opposite from his tough and confident Fonzie TV persona. Chuck is a laid back nebbish of a man, engaged to a domineering girlfriend, who finds comfort mainly at his quiet job as a morgue attendant in New York City. He's got a pretty neighbor named Belinda (Shelley Long) who's a nice girl but also happens to be a prostitute. One day a loud and obnoxious new work partner who calls himself Billy Blaze (Michael Keaton) invades Chuck's perfect world, and Chuck's life is never the same. He allows the persuasive Blaze to talk him into turning the unoccupied nighttime morgue into a side business for Belinda and her call girl friends, thus turning Chuck and Bill into pimps (or "Loverbrokers", as Blaze prefers to call themselves). NIGHT SHIFT is the perfect early '80s comedy and one of the best of the decade. It's smartly written with many quotable lines, and one should not be immediately put off by the grimy nature of its subject, because it's so much more than just some cheap or sleazy frat movie; it's also a buddy film and touching love story as well, set along the invigorating backdrop of Manhattan. Ron Howard's direction is flawless, and he's got a great cast to work with, beginning with Winkler (who was nominated for a Golden Globe), who makes his nice guy dweeb character completely believable and sympathetic. Then there is Michael Keaton, who is outrageously funny in his motion picture debut, and who steals the show. Shelley Long (of CHEERS fame) manages to instill a sweet girl next door quality to her prostitute character. This is a feel-good comedy that leaves you feeling great at the end, to the tune of Burt Bacharach's "That's What Friends Are For" (sung by Rod Stewart). **** out of ****
lastliberal
I really could care less who wins Auburn - Miss State, and i wanted a good laugh, so I turned to an old favorite with Henry Winkler and Micael Keaton, along with Shelly Long, Richard Belzer, and Vincent Schiavelli. You'll even find Kevin Costner and Shannen Doherty in here if you look closely.Winkler got a Golden Globe nomination for his performance, but it was Keaton that got a big start with the film.Winkler & Long were magnificent, and Keaton was so crazy that you laughed every time he opened his mouth. It was a pleasant experience.Great soundtrack, too.
