I started watching it, and couldn't stop. I don't know if I wanted it to get better, or just wanted to see where it would go next. It was funny, and still, not a good movie, or a bad one. I know when it was over, I felt like something had been stolen from me. It had some inklings of Raising Arizona, but not as funny. There were some "hidden" funny things, but you have to pay attention. That's not always easy with this movie. A few times I wanted to turn it off, but like looking at a car accident while it's happening, it's bad, but you can't look away. I would recommend it, if you have some mind candy time to kill. Or perhaps just want to turn your brain to mush while eating cheetos and drinking strawberry quik.
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malo21822 June 2005
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freak-1625 June 1999Let me just say that this film is not to everyone's taste but others will love it. I've seen it four times. Betty ( Lloyd, who is always fabulous, does a mean American accent here) and Buzz (Stephen Baldwin at his best) play a perfectly suited couple who live in a trailer and dream of big things. When Buzz's brother (Chris Penn) turns up things go haywire. Chris Penn gives a scarily intense performance. He is really great and gives a violent edge to this hilarious and quirky comedy. So if you like your movies unique and original. Under the Hula Moon is for you.
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The beginning of the 90s brought many "quirky" and "off-beat" independent films, a particular sub-genre of which is the semi-spiritual desert crime movie. Others of note are "Wild at Heart", "From Dusk Til Dawn", and to a certain extent "Natural Born Killers". Good films like those spawned junk like "Highway 666", "Destiny Turns on the Radio" and this ineptly surreal anti-masterpiece "Under The Hula Moon". It's a comedy that aims for a certain emotional tone, attains it, but keeps going to the point of irritation. While the pursuit across the spirit-world of the desert and the casting of Chris Penn are good ideas, the film is not dirty enough or hard enough to be a good crime movie, and isn't focused enough on laughs to really be a comedy. I won't blow the ending, but let's just say it's bad. The film is basically a bad side effect of genre-cancer. This is the dregs of indie-mania.
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Along with 2 days in the Valley, I think this is one of worst movies I've ever seen. Just another of the long line of Tarantino rip-offs that have emerged since Pulp Fiction. The atmosphere the movie creates is amusing for the first five minutes, but then the film makers make the unforgivable mistake of allowing unnecessary and grotesque violence to up the "hip" quotient. You're better off skipping this one.
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merklekranz6 February 2008"Under the Hula Moon" is a very uneasy mixture of violence and dark comedy. Though not totally successful, this edgy combination will no doubt satisfy those with "cult movie" interests. Chris Penn (as Turk ) provides the unpredictable explosive violence, while Stephen Baldwin (as Buzz) and Emily Lloyd provide lighter moments in their "Hawaiianized desert house trailer". The movie contains some very sharp dialog that is absolutely priceless. Turk "You can't turn a pussy into a wildcat". Buzz " Maybe not but where you're going (prison) they can turn an asshole into a pussy". This is a low budget gem just waiting to be discovered by the right audience. - MERK
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madpanther11513 February 2010I don't know how many times I've seen this movie,but every time I see it, it still seems to amaze me.I have the luxury of having it on a DVD, so I can watch it anytime I want.Some of the lines in that movie stick around in my head for days on end,and it makes me laugh every time.It was very funny! The songs in the movie, were picked with amazing care.Its so suspenseful that you couldn't leave in the middle of it.Under the Hula Moon was one of the most amazing movies I have ever seen, and I recommend it to everyone! If you are feeling down and blue,just pick up Under the Hula Moon. It may be really weird at first, but it will all make sense in the end, I promise, in fact you will probably want to see it again! :)
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BrochJam30 May 2022I bought this on VHS expecting a goofy comedy along the lines of Bio-Dome, so the tone shift about halfway through just about gave me whiplash. But it's been growing on me.
First off, I love Buzz and Betty. Those two are the definition of relationship goals. The setting and premise is unique but not alien, making it an easy watch. The set design, camerawork, characters and dialog are all very colourful, and the actors all felt well suited to their roles. This movie is, above all else, competent, and I imagine this flavour of kitsch would be up a lot of people's alleys. I feel like in the right sphere, this movie could make a comeback.
The horror elements totally blindsided me. A scene where Buzz receives a prophecy from the ghost of King Kamehameha in typical 90s comedy fashion is quickly followed by a scene where his brother attempts to rape Betty and forces Buzz to watch. So this isn't exactly a fun summer romp to watch with the whole family. I thought a few of the more suspenseful scenes dragged on a bit too long, but if their goal was to foster a sense of unease, I suppose that certainly helped.
If you like oddball indie movies that aren't afraid to mix genres, I would recommend this if you can find it. It's definitely dated, but I feel like its sheer uniqueness is saving it from obscurity.
Like I said, the most convenient way for me to access this movie was to actually buy a VHS. I feel like Hula Moon should have enjoyed a longer shelf life, but at the same time, I can see why it hasn't. -
Unlike another comment here, I did not at all get the idea this movie is a Pulp Fiction rip off. However, I can see that liking this movie is very much a matter of taste.
I quite liked watching it though. I caught myself being curious what the next plot twist was going to be a few times, as the development of the plot is a bit strange. I would definitely buy this if it were out on DVD. -
rusty-5726 June 1999Stephen Baldwin is so funny in this colorful comedy. Looks cool and the music was camp. See it.
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Considering that the overall score for "Under the Hula Moon" has an abysmal overall score of 4.3 AND it stars the far less famous siblings of famous stars, I assumed it would be a terrible film. To my surprise, the film was quirky and a lot of fun...though I assume it's not a film for all folks, as it is quite strange.
Buzzard Wall (Stephen Baldwin...Alec's brother) lives with his wife in a trailer in the middle of the Arizona desert. They are quite poor, as Buzz spends all of his time working on his invention, camoflage sunscreen, instead of working an actual job. Betty (Emily Lloyd) loves him dearly, but she is frustrated by Buzz's obsession with this invention...an invention that no one seems to want.
One day, Buzz's psychotic brother, Turkey (Chris Penn, brother of Sean) arrives...freshly from escaping from prison AND killing a man. Soon he beats up Buzz and abducts his wife....and spirits her off to Mexico against her will. Assisted by a really annoying ex-girlfriend/TV reporter, Buzz sets off to get his wife and beat the snot out of Turk.
The film is weird from start to finish...and the film tried very hard to be quirky and strange. The music, set design and costumes all work well to create a weird look...and I really liked it. As for the actors, despite being the 'lesser brothers', but did just fine and the film really worked due to the funny script and direction. My only complaint, and it is very minor, is that the resolution seems to come a bit too quickly...but still, it's great fun.
By the way, the language in this movie is pretty rough...so it's not a good movie to show your kids, dog, mother-in-law or Father O'Reilly if he stops by for a visit. -
hellotherefredhere1 January 2016I watched this 20 years ago and it still is memorable. Stephen Baldwin is underrated and gives a stellar performance. It actually has a great quirky comedy script and played to the hilt by all actors. I have been trying to find this to watch and it is rare and not at redbox. He is an inventor trying to create a biodegradable sunblock for the army in his backyard in Arizona desert.
I watched this 20 years ago and it still is memorable. Stephen Baldwin is underrated and gives a stellar performance. It actually has a great quirky comedy script and played to the hilt by all actors. I have been trying to find this to watch and it is rare and not at redbox. He is an inventor trying to create a biodegradable sunblock for the army in his backyard in Arizona desert