Ivan Reitman's 10 Best Movies, Ranked According To Letterboxd
Sadly, this year saw the passing of acclaimed film director Ivan Reitman. Reitman may be most well known for Ghostbusters but he's also responsible for some of the best comedies ever made. He put Bill Murry on the map and discovered that Arnold Schwartzenegger could do comedy. The world has lost a titan in the entertainment industry.
Like any director, there are vastly differing opinions about which films are Reitman's best. The users over on Letterboxd always have plenty to say about movies, and Reitman's work is no exception.
10 No Strings Attached (2011) - 2.7
The penultimate film Ivan Reitman directed was the 2011 romantic comedy, No Strings Attached. Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher, in one of his best roles, play two friends who enter into a "no strings" relationship that just consists of physical intimacy and nothing more. That all changes when Kutcher's Adam begins to have feelings for Portman's character Ann, and things get complicated from there.
Despite its low viewer rating, the thing that stands out about most about No Strings Attached is the cast. The film features a strong cast of established actors with a knack for comedy and excellent chemistry. Hollywood arguably doesn't make rom-coms like this anymore. Both Reitman and the cast handle the subject matter well enough for viewers to still find plenty of laughs in the film.
9 Legal Eagles (1986) - 2.8
After the smash hit of Ghostbusters in 1984, Ivan Reitman followed up the film with Legal Eagles. The now-retired Robert Redford, who fans wish would make another movie, and Debra Winger play lawyers, one a defense attorney and one a prosecutor. They have to team up to get to the bottom of a case involving performance artist Chelsea Deardon, played by Daryl Hannah, in this outlandish legal comedy.
Many on Letterboxd found this to be a pretty muddled film. It's a mishmash of multiple genres - murder mystery, crime drama, rom-com, and courtroom comedy - so there are quite a few balls for Reitman to juggle. Unfortunately, he doesn't quite get the movie to work as seamlessly as he might have hoped.
8 Twins (1988) - 2.9
Arnold Schwarzenegger was no stranger to comedy but Ivan Reitman's Twins set him on a path that would see him star in many comedies throughout the '90s. Twins sees Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito discover that they're actually twin brothers. They were separated at birth and, even though they were born at the same time, DeVito's character, Vincent, was an accident and he now needs money from his better-off twin.
There's a lot to this movie that Reitman handles well. While the premise isn't high concept some viewers have taken issue with the convoluted plotline. However, the charm and charisma of the two lead actors makes the film eminently watchable and Reitman is in top form coming out of the 80s.
7 Draft Day (2014) - 2.9
The last film Ivan Reitman directed was the 2014 sports movie, Draft Day. Kevin Costner plays Sonny Weaver, the general manager for an NFL team, who hasn't been doing too well. Now he's willing to risk it all on draft day to get the team that he thinks could put him back on top.
Letterboxd users point out that Reitman's directing of the film elevates what is ultimately a half-baked script. The film is considered overly dramatic but somehow, Reitman makes the film work even when it shouldn't. It's a brisk watch that has the ability to get people engaged. It's not a bad film to Reitman's career.
6 Meatballs (1979) - 3.0
Way before Bill Murray teamed up with Wes Anderson, he landed the starring role in the comedy Meatballs, directed by Ivan Reitman. Arguably without Reitman, Murray wouldn't have been the star he became. Meatballs is a chaotic comedy about a camp counselor, played by Murray, who tries to inspire the kids of the camp to let loose a bit. Especially one kid who he mentors to break out of his shell.
Murray is considered the main reason why this movie works. Ironically, the script doesn't have a lot of meat to it but the performances and directing help the film shine. There are some good laughs to be had here and since it's not overly complicated, the comedy doesn't get bogged down.
5 Kindergarten Cop (1990) - 3.0
The second film that Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ivan Reitman would collaborate on was Kindergarten Cop. Here Schwarzenegger plays a cop who goes undercover as a kindergarten teacher to try and get information on one of the kid's parents, who happens to be a drug lord.
In the past, Reitman has had difficulty balancing other elements of a script with the comedy portions, but here, that's not the case. Many find Retiman's directing to be a highlight as he's able to fill the movie with genuine thrills and suspense while not undercutting the comedic moments.
4 Ghostbusters II (1989) - 3.1
The eagerly awaited follow-up to Ghostbusters, Ghostbusters II reveals that the gang split up since there weren't any ghosts to bust. When Sigourney Weaver's character, Dana, is attacked, the Ghostbusters have to reunite to stop the evil Vigo the Carpathian from reincarnating in the body of her baby.
Right off the bat, the film fails to meet the heights of its predecessor. It's a more lighthearted film than the first, with Egon receiving the most change in character. Letterboxd users still find plenty to like about this film, however. The goofy ending with the Statue of Liberty seems to be better received now than it was at the time of release.
3 Stripes (1981) - 3.2
Only a few years after Meatballs, Bill Murray and Ivan Reitman would team up again with Stripes. Murray plays John Winger who joins the army after he loses everything, thinking that it will help him find purpose in his life again. He gets in all sorts of hijinks with his cadet-mates and even goes to fight overseas.
There's a lot to love about this film. Reitman's directing genius is on display once again in the comedic moments. However, where he really seemed to shine, at least in the eyes of Letterboxd reviewers, were in the chaotic moments. It's not easy to make a movie like this make sense for the audience but Reitman does it with ease.
2 Dave (1993) - 3.3
Dave follows the titular character, played by Kevin Kline, as he pretends to be President while the real President, also played Kevin Kline, is out of commission. As Dave went from a modest job to the most powerful job in the world that power starts to go to his head, but he has fun with it and makes everyone else's life in the White House very stressful.
This is often considered one of Kevin Kline's best movies. He plays the characters with ease and charm, and, like in a lot of Ivan Reitman's films, the acting helps to carry the movie. Reitman had a clear knack for guiding talent to get the most out of them.
1 Ghostbusters (1984) - 3.8
Reitman's most famous movie, Ghostbusters, follows the story of the titular Ghostbusters, Peter, Ray, Egon, and Winston as they work to rid New York of its ghost infestation. It's part workplace comedy and part supernatural horror.
Many Letterboxd reviews have spoken about how this movie shouldn't work when you look at it on paper. The intricately scripted film about four ordinary men working to stop a supernatural invasion is one of the funniest and heartfelt movies ever put to screen. It serves as a testament to Reitman's power and skill as a director and will undoubtedly be his lasting legacy.
Source: Screenrant
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