6A
Friday, February 24, 1995
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Cheesy and with an edge,the Bradys entertain
Colleen McCain Staff columnist
Even when I was 9 Irealized that "The Brady Bunch" was bad.
The Brady clan was one of many cheesy sitcom families in syndication during my childhood, but unquestionably the Bradys were the cheesiest of the cheese. They were a joke, and I knew that.
Who took Cindy's Betsy-Wetsy doll? How many episodes would Peter's pubescent problems span? I always knew the answers before the first commercial break.
But many days I watched back-to-
The Bradys were lovable because they were ridiculous. Their petty problems were ridiculous. The dialogue was ridiculous. And the pants they wore were really ridiculous.
back episodes of "The Brady Bunch." I'm not proud of that, but I know that I'm not alone.
Likewise, "The Brady Bunch Movie" is at least as innate as the television show. That's the beauty of it. The movie actually one puts the TV show by taking the life of the Bradys to an unexplored level of absurdity.
Now living in 1995 in a world that doesn't understand them, the Bradys are unwilling to abandon their 1970s lifestyle. They drive the same brown station wagon, dress in the same polyester atrocities and say "groovy" every chance they get. In a warped way, you really have to admire them.
The movie maintains the sickeningly sweet aspects of the Bradys but also brings to light the darker side of the Bradys that you always wanted to see.
Oh sure, Mike Brady still lectures
Cindy about being a tattletale, and the Brady kids assure Jan that she looks "far out" with her glasses on. That stuff is old hat, but you'd be disappointed if the movie didn't deliver a few warm, fuzzy Brady moments.
The movie also delivers a schizophrenic Jan, a teen model Marcia and a very frisky Mike and Carol. The highlight, of course, is seeing dear sweet Alice sneak through the happy Brady home wearing black leather lingerie while Sam the butcher waits in her room. I always
believed that Sam shacked up with Alice but had never had it confirmed. The truth was revealed at last.
Admittedly, "The Brady Bunch Movie" does not provide profound performances or insightful dialogue. There's only so much meaning that Maria can give the immortal line, "Oh, my nose!"
The movie, however, does provide many moments that are so absolutely awful that they're hilarious. You know how stupid the Bradys are. But you know you love it.
The BRaDys are Back
Why has the show remained so popular for so long?
"I think the new Brady Bunch might be a little cheesy.The old Bunch was cool."
Bran VanSaun Lawrencesenior
By Jake Arnold Kansan staff writer
In the world of art, it is called postmodernist recycling.
The "Brady Bunch Movie" is a shameless one-trick pony, relying on the awg memories of a bygone time to sell itself.
The recycling of pop culture can be seen in such movies as "Superman," "The Flintstones," and "The Addams Family."
"It is not surprising there is a positive reaction to resurfacing," said Chuck Berg, professor of theater and film. "These things are part of the background of people who grew up with it. It is nostalgia, contact with the past."
Berg, who is coordinator of film studies, said tapping into the good old days of childhood was a good commercial bet.
Judging from people on campus, that link to those kiddie days will translate into ticket sales.
"I might as well check it out," said Michelle Nielsen, Colby freshman. "All of the movie was in episodes of the show. There is that feeling of, 'Oh, I've seen that before.'"
Nielsen said that she had watched the show as a kid but that she had since outgrown it. For precisely that reason she will see the movie.
"It is going back to when I was a little kid," she said. "I used to watch it every day."
Paul Showalter, Kansas City, Mo,
sophomore, agrees.
"I might go see it if I go to the
movies," he said. "I will go see it because I always watched it. It was a little fake but still humorous."
Will Linkugal, professor of communication studies, said that he didn't attend many movies but that he may go to see "The Brady Bunch Movie."
For some, it won't necessarily be a link to their early years but to their children's early years.
"My children were at the right age when it came out," he said. "They enjoyed it thoroughly. It was good
"I probably won't go see the movie," said Bran Vansaun, Lawrence senior. "I can't see myself paying for it. I might rent it. I think the new Brady Bunch must be a little cheesy. The old bunch was cool."
A $5 ticket for a trip down memory lane might be considered steep, so many will wait until it comes out on video to travel the same path.
family entertainment. I would see the movie for nostalgia reasons. I'm sure my children will go see it."
Matt Dollar, Lawrence senior, also feels the lure of a program he never really cared for.
"I might rent it on video," he said. "I'm not really a fan. I used to watch it in reruns if it was on, like 'Gilligan's island.'"
Clearly the movie is most attractive to people who know the series well. The movie panders to this familiarity, being little more than an expansion of several of the best-remembered episodes. Those who haven't
"The Brady Bunch) goes all the way back to Homer telling the old stories."
Chuck Berg Professor of theater and film
seen it before probably won't watch it now.
Kartika Herawati, Malang, Indonesia, senior, did not grow up with the show, and neither it nor the movie hold any appeal to her.
"I've seen all the programs in the U.S.," she said. "I didn't care much for it then. I probably won't go see it."
James Gunn, professor emeritus of English, isn't among the target audiences and probably won't go either.
"When it came along it was supposedly a family show that was no longer appropriate to our family circumstances," he said. "I don't remember seeing a single episode. The movie is of the variety my wife says you would have to tape her eyes open to watch."
Berg said society was unlikely to see any diminishing in recycling of past experiences.
"It goes all the way back to Homer telling the old stories," he said.
However, he said the impact and reach of nostalgia pieces would become smaller.
"Cable has brought up a new generation with more options," Berg said. "Shows don't have as great an impact. They don't have the transcendent power of 'The Brady Bunch.' There are so many niches of culture."
Of course, messing with the collective memory of a generation has its dangers.
Lam Nguyen, Wichita senior, is all tilted about seeing the movie.
"I'm afraid it might be disappointing," said Nguyen. "The reunion show wasn't as funny as the show."
Events
Tonight
Season to Risk with Action Man and Amputate, 10 p.m., cover charge, at The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St.
Creek Bank Ghetto Boys, 9 p.m., no cover charge, at full Moon Cafe, 803 Massachusetts St.
The Harty Viking Gurus, 10
p.m., cover charge, at Mulligan's.1016 Massachusetts St.
Monterey Jack, 10 p.m.,
The Jazzhaus, 926 1/2 Mass-
achusetts St.
Bad Attitude, 9:30 p.m., $3, at the Cadillac Ranch, 2515 W. Sixth St.
Sound Project, 9:30 p.m. $2, at Johnny's Tavern, 401 N. Second St.
Junior Walker and the All-stars with 360 Degree Band, 9:30 p.m., cover charge, at The Grand Emporium, 3832 Main St., Kansas City, Mo.
Tomorrow
Wilco with Gospel Porch Singers and Beaver Nelson, 10 p.m., cover charge, at The Bottleneck.
Melvin Litton, 9 p.m., no cover charge, at Full Moon Cafe.
Son Venezuela, 10 p.m., $4, at The Jazzhaus.
Sound Project, 9:30 p.m., $2, at Johnny's Tavern.
KANU Goodtime Radio
Revenue with the Lightning
Bugs and Claude "Fiddler"
Williams, 7:15 p.m., $4 and
$8, at Liberty Hall, 644 Massacushts St.
Koko Taylor with Carolyn Wonderland, 9:30 p.m., cover charge, at The Grand Emporium.
Sunday
Bile with Virus 23,16-Volt and Halo Black,10 p.m. cover charge, at The Bottleneck.
Guy Forsyth Band, 9:30 p.m. cover charge, at The Grand Emporium.
Monday
Molly McGuire with Shiner and Giants Chair, 9p.m., cover charge, at the Grand Emporium.
Mule with Panel Donor and Sun Byro, 10 p.m., cover charge, at The Bottenke.
Tuesday
The Cats, 9 p.m., $2, at Mulliigan's.
Careless Jo, 7 p.m., no cover charge, at Full Moon Cafe.
Trip Cost: $9.00; $2 to Multi
Creole Zydeco Farmers,8 p.m.,cover charge,at The Grand Emporium.
Fear with Cocknoose and Butt Trumpet, 8 p.m., $10, at Liberty Hall.
Wednesday
God Street Wine,10 p.m., cover charge, at The Bottleneck.
Open Mike Night, 9:30 p.m., $1,
at Mulligan's.
Common Ground, 9:30 p.m. cover charge, at The Grand Emporium.
Thursday
Bottlerockets with Adam's Farm, 10 p.m., cover charge, at The Bottleneck.
Lou's Revenge, 10 p.m., $4, at Mulligan's.
White Trash Express, 10 p.m.,
$2. at The Jazzhaus.
Sandy Smith 5, 9 p.m., cover charge, at The Grand Emporium.
David Wilson Staff columnist
The ridiculed Brady utopia beckons U.S.'s values
On the surface, my reasons were malevolent. I imagined that I could leap across the dimensional divide into their television reality and be accepted as a member of the family — somewhere between Greg and Peter — without question.
Years ago, in some deviant recess of my mind, I longed to join the Brady Bunch.
I'd begin slowly, slipping subversive ideas to Brady kids I confronted alone, like Bobby playing pool in the garage or Greg groovying his attic
Then I'd get to work.
apartment.
"Black power," I'd whisper to them. "Down with the man."
At first, they'd remain oblivious.
But then one evening, I'd shatter the oblivion.
In the middle of dinner, I'd jump up on the table, kick over Carol's glued-together flower vase, and scream, "U.S. out of Vietnam! Stop the slaughter! Draft Greg!"
Then I'd whip out a joint, inhale deeply and blow the smoke all over their pork chops and applesauce.
Last weekend, at least part of my
fantasy was realized at the Lawrence debut of "The Brady Bunch Movie," an appropriately dorky but mostly enjoyable parody of the show.
In the movie, the ever-cheerful Bradys are transported to the '90s, where they are presented with car-jacking, breast implants and lesbian seduction.
One of the best scenes is a reenactment of the Beastie Boys lyric, "Like Sam the Butcher bringin' Alice the meat." During a late-night visit to Alice's room, Sam is caught raiding the refrigerator. "What are you doing
Through some twist of mass psychoanalysis, we've equated this cynicism-breeding practice with self-honesty. Innocence and cleanliness are regarded as dishonest and silly
easy targets for parody.
here, Sam? "the kids ask. "Delivering some meat," he answers. The audience went wild.
As I revealed in the mockery of Brady naivete, though, a thought occurred to me. For what reason else, our society seems compelled to spotlight—even celebrate—its deviant and amoral underside.
But could it be that the idea of a big, happy family isn't so outandfail after all? Maybe, as the ending of the movie seems to suggest, our society could use a dose of the insular wholesomeness of the Brady Bunch.
Maybe that was the *real* reason I longed to be a Brady. The soothing callipope that introduced each episode was my clue that for 30 minutes, I could join their happy fold. Rather than destroy their innocence, I wanted to join it, and keep the wolves of a nastier world in downtown Los Angeles.