You might be surprised to learn that the little-seen creature-feature “Lake Placid” contains more sparring between Brendan Gleeson and Oliver Platt than it does giant crocodile mayhem. And it’s all the better for it!
David E. Kelley, notable creator and writer of courtroom dramas like “The Practice,” “Boston Legal” and “Ally McBeal,” wrote this Croc Attack flick back in 1999… for reasons unknown. It just seems like a left-field choice, amirite? Oh well, because it’s super weird and filled with profanity-infused one-liners from an over-qualified cast, including Bill Pullman, Bridget Fonda, Platt and Gleeson (that “small-town-sheriff” American accent aside). Go for Pullman’s lazy charm and stay for the glorious Betty White (RIP) delivering some of the best jabs in the movie in all of maybe five minutes of screen time. She’s rooting for the crocodile, obviously.
Old Millennials Remember “Lake Placid”
Co-hosts Angela and Tyler jump into the water of this comedy/horror oddity, which clocks in at barely 80 minutes (it doesn’t need to be longer). Tyler recalls his harsh, teenage-brain first impression of the movie as well as his subsequent reappraisal after countless cable TV viewings. Additionally, Tyler and Angela unravel the bizarre backstory of Fonda’s character and try to figure out how the guy who wrote a whole television series about a smart legal professional could reduce a lead character in his high-profile blockbuster to essentially, “Woman no like be outside.”
The Old Millennials also discuss the film’s stellar animatronic crocodile (courtesy of Stan Winston and Co.!), the curiously small body count and all the delightful contradictions of Platt’s “mythical croc scholar.” Most importantly, we learn that you’re supposed to say “Go” before starting Karate.
Also discussed on this episode of OMRM:
- The Batman (2022)
- The Bubble (2022)
- All the Old Knives (2022)
- The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey (Limited series)
- Better Call Saul (TV series)
- Russian Doll (TV series)
- Drive Angry (2011)
- Ghost Rider/Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2007/2011)
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