The Dapper Lad

I have some exciting tremendous exciting news for cinema enthusiasts: Breaking new ground once again, young filmmaker Steven Spielberg (”The Last Gun”, “Firelight”, and the much overlooked “Jaws”) presents us with a bold tale of Unidentified Flying Objects in “Close Encounters of the Third Kind“. And, apparently, this film already has a growing cult status — I mentioned the film to a friend of mine, who declared it a landmark science fiction movie. I think it’s a little early to pile such statements of grandeur upon “Close”, but it certainly is a weird adventure comedy!

Richard Dreyfuss (”American Graffiti”) stars as Roy Neary, an electrical lineman who has an encounter — presumably, a “Close” one — with an Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) and becomes obsessed with them, much to the dismay of his wife Veronica Neary, played by knockout actress and personal fantasy Teri Garr (”The Absent-Minded Waiter”). Then, some things happen and the spaceship lands at the end.

I was confused but mostly hungry (mashed potatoes! ooh!) throughout the screening in my friend Chet’s garage, but was relieved at the numerous commercial breaks embedded in the film, during which I made partial orders on a personal pizza (I completed the order after five breaks), only to find the phone had been disconnected in September. Chet agreed to help me acquire a pizza to “shut me up” (Chet is a kidder)(and a wife stealer), which he later told me was a tortilla covered with Cheet-os, but I swear it was a delicious delicacy.

“Close” will most certainly gain an audience and possibly lead to box office success, but only time will tell. And my watch is broken. Can I have another one, Chet?

MOVIE: D+
PIZZA: A-