Cool

Rating: Null/10 (14 January 2001)

How's this for a track record: Since 1980 Harold Ramis has directed only eight films. But three of these films (`Caddyshack,' `National Lampoon's Summer Vacation' and `Groundhog Day') are considered classics, another (`Multiplicity') is one of the neglected comedies of all time and a fifth (`Analyze This') was a smash hit and showed that Robert DeNiro had a flair for comedy. Ramis has written all or part of 14 films; in addition to `Caddyshack', Groundhog Day' and `Analyze This,' he is credited for `Animal House,' `Meatballs,' `Stripes,' `Ghostbusters' and `Back to School.' Finally, he acted in several of these vehicles, and in addition was in `Baby Boom' and `As Good As It Gets.' And to top things off, he was part of the classic SCTV series.
So those of us who appreciate Ramis can sit back and watch a guilty pleasure like `Caddyshack,' knowing a genius is at work. `Caddyshack' has been tagged as the ultimate snobs vs. slobs movie. But it's really about cool. Chevy Chase is cool as Ty Webb, the greatest golfer never known. Rodney Dangerfield is cool as the boorish (I couldn't ever imagine using cool and boorish in the same sentence) Al Czervik. Bill Murray is cool as gonzo groundskeeper Carl Spackler. Michael O'Keefe is cool as Danny Noonan, the caddy who seems to be the only one who's aware of what's going on. And the gopher (fortunately, the fact that golfer and gopher sound a lot alike is only pursued once in the movie) that Carl sets out to kill is particularly cool as he boogies to Kenny Loggins' `I'm All Right.'
The film has a bit of nudity, some grossness and a great ending that was the perfect mix for those seeking mindless pleasure in 1980. It still delivers today.