UHF (1989)

Veteran music parodist 'Weird' Al Yankovic makes his feature debut with this engagingly silly comedy. Granted, not all of its jokes were terribly funny for this viewer, but there were some that worked quite well. In his inimitable style, 'Weird' Al sends up TV programming, music videos (naturally), movies, movie trailers, and commercials. The story (Al co-wrote with director Jay Levey, a frequent collaborator) relies on that comfortable old device of a misfit making good.Al plays George Newman, a fairly immature man who can't hold down a job because of his daydreaming and penchant for thinking up goofy ideas. Well, finally, as luck would have it, he finds an outlet for his creativity. His uncle Harvey (Stanley Brock) comes into possession of a nothing UHF TV station, and George is hired as a manager. Things get off to a rough start, but take off once George decides to put dim witted but well intentioned and lovable janitor Stanley Spadowski (Michael Richards) on the air."UHF" does travel far on Als' likability and irreverent sense of humour. Among the programming that he devises are parodies of Phil Donahue like shows ('Talk Time') and game shows ('Wheel of Fish'). For this viewer, the brightest moments include the opening "Raiders of the Lost Ark" spoof, the "Conan the Librarian" sequence ("Don't you know the Dewey decimal system?"), and the extended mocking of Sylvester Stallones' "Rambo" movies (with Als' body makeup created by the guys at KNB).It also benefits from a strong villain, in this case Kevin McCarthy, who's perfect as nasty and domineering network affiliate boss R.J. Fletcher. The supporting cast features a rich variety of familiar faces in addition to those already mentioned: Victoria Jackson as Als' fed-up girlfriend, soap opera veteran Anthony Geary in an interesting oddball part, and the late Trinidad Silva (to whom the movie is dedicated) as an unconventional wildlife program host, as well as Gedde Watanabe, Billy Barty, John Paragon, Fran Drescher, Sue Ane Langdon, and David Proval. Director Levey appears uncredited as Gandhi. One of the biggest laughs in "UHF" comes from comedian Emo Philips, as the unlikely shop teacher Joe Earley.Good fun overall, and guaranteed to send its fans away with smiles on their faces. As a bonus, Als' rocking theme song is pretty catchy.Seven out of 10.

Like a living, breathing Weird Al album, this has plenty of highs and lows. I can think of a dozen reasons to hate this movie, but it still inexplicably holds a warm place in my heart. The paper-thin plot, for example, is really only there to serve as a vehicle from one skit or song to the next, like the host of a feature-length variety show. Al must have mingled with the right circles on the comedy scene, though, because an odd blend of before-they-weres fill out UHF's cast: Fran Drescher, Victoria Jackson and an especially hyperactive, scene-stealing Michael Richards would all go on to bigger things later in life. It's a cult comedy in the same vein as The Kentucky Fried Movie, in that it does its thing without a care in the world, but outside of a few outstanding, timeless gags and a huge spoonful of heart, it's not really all that good.

I just finished watching the film today for my first time and i have to say it was an enjoyable film. I have been a fan of Weird Al since I was 11 or 12 years old and I consider him one of my favorite actors and singers. I was very excited to finally see Al's only film and I wish he could have done more. Of course he could still do movies today but if "UHF" had become popular Weird Al could have been in many more films afterwards. Anyway, let me get to the review.So this film is basically a comedy film that tries to parody popular movies throughout the film. It is kind of like a classic Epic Movie or Scary Movie but much, much better. I didn't find everything funny, in fact some of the "comedy" was just stupid. Thankfully, there were funny moments that I will never forget. The oriental karate guy was hilarious and the spatula city and the buzzsaw scene were pretty funny. The first Uncle Nutzie scene made me laugh because Weird Al and the clown made me have a genuine feeling of sorrow for them because of how bad they failed. Of course, that scene was hilarious as well. There were of course absurd scenes that absolutely was unneeded and there was some below average acting but overrall this was a good movie that i will probably be watching again and again. If Weird Al was not in this film it would have been complete garbage, just saying.

I recently bought and watched the DVD of UHF, which I had not seen since its initial release, and my partner and I had such a fun time watching the stoopid antics of "Weird Al" and gang. As if that wasn't enough, we switched over to the version dubbed into German and watched the whole thing again. Neither of us speak German, nor did we need to. Jay Levey's direction is so well-executed that even without the dialogue, its clear what is happening. I played the film in German at the video store I work at it got a huge response. Pretty much EVERYONE wanted to borrow a copy. YOU MUST TRY THIS! IT'S HILARIOUS! The German actors who lend their voices seem to really understand the comic style of the film because their intonation and emphasis is side-splittingly spot on and even funnier than the original English! Yankovic is no actor and it shows, but hearing his voice dubbed by a professional actor really lifts the material. The DVD also contains versions dubbed into French, Italian and Spanish - which are fun, though not as funny - but this perhaps gives audiences a better indication of the broad appeal of this film. Buy it. Watch it. Laugh out loud!