This week on the show, Ginny and I plan to have a discussion of fun obsessions. Today, I’d like to share a post about that particular topic’s ugly cousin, guilty pleasures. For me, I have to admit there are a lot in my life. I’m often corny and a bit sentimental. I’m okay with that fact and most days embrace it with pride.
For me, most of my guilty pleasures tie to a time when I was growing up and the memories or feelings that particular guilty pleasure elicits. More often than not, I find that many things I absolutely loved when I was little (say, Michael Paré in Streets of Fire as just one example) are so cringe-worthy it almost defies description on a rewatch. Some things are better left in the past where the memory of that excitement can live on unchallenged.
One film though, made did make me smile when I caught it a second time. Back in April of 2010 I was sitting around the house gathering stuff together for that year’s Comic Related table at Gem City Comic Con when I stumbled across a movie I hadn’t seen since I was 9 years old. I remembered being blown away by it at the time and settled in for a nice classic film moment knowing that usually spells disaster. For once, it didn’t.
This time, the film in question was Convoy! Yes, that 1978 Kris Kristofferson laden classic of trucker / CB culture. Here’s a taste in case the name alone isn’t bringing it home…
This film is so overdone in spots that it was actually comes all the way back around to being fun. The Dukes of Hazard styled jumps/crashes, the insanity of the big rigs and the overblown diner fight were simply great and there were moments I can easily call back and laugh at the excitement I felt in 1978. Yes, this little gem is a guilty pleasure and one I might just have to own one day.
To the Rubber Duck I can only say, “10-4 good buddy”!
You know I had a strange obsession with truck culture as a kid. Mostly because of these 2 things:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3GpxAyM6yc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFFr91atHqE
I eventually outgrew it, but I still want an ape sidekick.
My parents took me to see this when it came out.
Ahhhh memories! Thanks, Charlie!
I never saw this. Probably because I was born in 1978.
You may not believe this but when I was a small child, I lived in Estancia NM. My step dad was the mayor. I was always told that he was an “extra” in the movie, which was filmed nearby. It would be fun to watch together and see if I can spot him. : )
What a small world. Would love to go on that video hunt with you one day.