Classic Tom Hanks - the 80s

In 1980, I feel in love with a half hour comedy series on TV called Bosom Buddies.

They can't seem to find an affordable place to live. They become women in order to find affordable housing. You can imagine what sort of high jinks ensue. Proving once again and for times to come that drag makes for good laughs and awkward situations. They also play the brothers of the women they are pretending to be and become boyfriends of the women they live with. All in all, I say: SEE IT

In 1984, I think I made my parents rent this like three times. Splash was the story of a man that falls in love with a mermaid. Once the world discovers her and scientist want to keep her in a lab; he has to decide what to do. Live with her under the sea or be without her. Hannah (Legal Eagles) was the "it" girl at the time. Levy (Best in Show) also stars. All in all, I say: SEE IT - I thought it was so romantic!

In 1985, I went to the theatre to see Hanks in The Man with One Red Shoe. The plot was a popular one in the 80s at the time - spies. 

Because of a mishap the CIA accidentally believes him to be a spy. Coleman (You've Got Mail / Tootsie), Fisher (When Harry Met Sally), Belushi (K9), Durning (Tootsie), and Singer (Footloose) star making it a fantastic caste. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Also, in 1985 John Candy was big.

"Lawrence is a rich kid with a bad accent and a large debt. After his father refuses to help him out, Lawrence escapes his angry debtors by jumping on a Peace Corp flight to Southeast Asia, where is assigned to build a bridge for the local villagers with American-As-Apple-Pie WSU Grad Tom Tuttle and the beautiful and down-to earth Beth Wexler. What they don't realize is that the bridge is coveted by the U.S. Army, a local Communist force, and a powerful drug lord. Together with the help of At Toon, the only English speaking native, they must fight off the three opposing forces and find out what is right for the villagers, as well as themselves." Michael Silva [silvamd@cleo.bc.edu] All in all, I say: SEE IT

I saw this 1986 film a dozen times at least. I really liked Long (Cheers) at the time.

Long (Cheers) and Hanks are a couple that buy a house they cannot afford. They

try to fix it up into their dream house, but the cost and hassle threatens to pull them apart.

All in all, I say: SEE IT

In 1988, viewers saw a young boy go to the fair and ask to be an adult. The next morning he becomes Tom Hanks - an adult who has to get a job and a place to live. Where else would a kid want to work, but a toy store. The classic floor piano scene is from this movie. Perkins (Weeds) plays his co-worker and sort of adult girlfriend. Loggia (Bad Girls) plays the executive that learns to live again from becoming a friend/mentor of Hanks' character. It was funny without being too much slapstick - classic Hanks. All in all, I say: SEE IT

The 'Burbs in 1989 was a stroke of genius. I had just started working at Cineplex Odeon at Stone Mountain, so I got to watch this for free a dozen times. After it was spliced together we saw it around midnight and invited our friends. It was so clever. Fisher (The Man with One Red Shoe), Dern (Monster), Feldman (Lost Boys), Schaal (Inner Space), Gibson (The Blues Brothers), and Gains (Memphis Belle) also star. The first of it's kind to poke fun of suburbia. All in all, I say: SEE IT

The studio wanted their own version of K9 and so Turner & Hooch was filmed in 1989. It was so cute. The dog belongs to a dead man and Hanks uses the dog to find the murderer - he's a cop. It was adorable. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Based on the true story of the first women;s baseball league that was formed during WWII, this movie was a box office hit. He was the coach - Davis (Cutthroat Island) was the player with the most talent. Madonna, Petty (Free Willy), and O'Donnell (Sleepless in Seattle) also star. All in all, I say: YOU HAVE'NT SEEN THIS - YOU ARE CRAZY. "There's no crying in baseball!"
This was 1992 - so that closes us out for classic Hanks (the Hanks of the 80s).