Say Anything... (1989)

Cameron Crowe's debut feature is a classic romantic comedy/drama about an underachiever who falls for a valedictorian, and the class struggles that ensue as they court romance within their disparate social groups. It's a charming film full of memorable performances that only seem to get better with age, even though it's filled with tropes that have been overused for the past 40 years.

3½ boomboxes outside your window out of 5

Plump Fiction (1997)

A satire of the '90s indie film scene, particularly those convoluted plots that adorned such ultra-violent thrillers as Pulp Fiction, Natural Born Killers and Reservoir Dogs; while also skewering everything from Sling Blade to Clerks to Nell. It's not funny enough just to make tongue-in-cheek references to other films, although it's fun to revisit them if you're familiar with this time period. I'm being generous with my rating because I enjoy the films represented and I find it an interesting snapshot of film history. This is still better than the 2000s trend of spoof comedy which would soon dilute and overwhelm the genre.

It was produced by Rhino Records, so if nothing else, the music is good.

1½ Priscilla, Queen of the Desserts out of 5

The Simpsons Christmas Special (1989)

AKA: Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire

As I recall, this was actually the very first episode of The Simpsons ever aired on TV. And what an auspicious debut it was! While it may seem dated by today’s standards, back in the day I remember this being incredible stuff. The animation seems cruder and primitive and the humor feels more innocent and wholesome; it’s hard to believe this came out 22 years ago. (Ugh.) If I were rating the entire first season, I would give it a 5 out of 5, but on its own as a standalone episode, I give it a hearty:

4 Santa's Helpers out of 5