In Praise Of Tom Hanks’ Forgotten Comedy Classics

Over the last couple of decades, Tom Hanks has been pretty much an exclusively dramatic actor. He must have won about 50 Academy Awards by now for being everyone’s favourite middle-aged guy next door. But before he was solving the mysteries of the Vatican, falling in love with a volleyball, or confronting Somali pirates (in this week’s new film Captain Phillips), he was one of Hollywood’s biggest goofs. Complete with over-the-top yelling and a whole range of wacky laughing styles, he spent most of the ’80s and early ’90s making the world chuckle in these forgotten classics.

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Splash (1984)

Directed by Ron ‘Happy Days’ Howard, Splash was a huge breakaway hit upon its release — a LITERAL fish-out-of-water comedy about Hanks and a mermaid (Darryl Hannah) falling for each other despite being WORLDS APART.  Hanks wasn’t very famous before this movie and was only really known for his early ’80s cross-dressing sitcom, Bosom Buddies, but thanks to his love of the sea he quickly became a household name.

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The Money Pit (1986)

In one of Hanks’ less-loved movies, we see he and Shelley Long stuck in a house that seems to have been built solely for comedic effect. The film shows Hanks trying his hand at slapstick, which works out very nicely with his patented high-pitched nasal scream. The house needs a lot of work, so the young couple hire some form of travelling circus to fix it, and cue the laughs. This movie is worth watching just for Hanks’ extended nervous breakdown laugh after the couple’s bath falls through the floor.

Half-man, half-sea lion is our Hanks.

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The ‘Burbs (1989)

In this film, Hanks plays Ray Peterson, a stressed out guy who decides to spend his vacation the best way possible: staying home and doing nothing. Unfortunately, that nothing turns into a whole lot of something when some weird-looking people move into his street. After concocting a number of conspiracy theories, he and his buddies (including an intense Bruce Dern) decide to investigate/harass their new neighbours. With some added stoner dialogue from Corey Feldman and direction by Joe ‘Gremlins’ Dante, The ‘Burbs is a stand-out classic of ’80s comedy.

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Turner & Hooch (1989)

What’s more adorable than Tom Hanks? How about Tom Hanks and a dog? I know, adorable overload. Turner & Hooch seemed to be on TV every weekend when I was a kid, and I watched it every time. It’s the age-old tale of a cop who ends up with the world’s slobberiest dog, and solves crimes. What’s not to love?!

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Joe Versus The Volcano (1990)

A huge box office flop at the time of its release and often cited as the worst movie in Tom Hanks’ career, Joe Versus The Volcano is one of my favourite movies ever.  In this strange comedy, we see Hanks break free of his mundane office work life to set out on an adventure to jump into a volcano. Along the way he meets three women — all played by Meg Ryan — and the best hammerhead shark puppet you will ever see.

Obviously, Hanks and Ryan went on to make two far more successful movies together — Sleepless In Seattle (1993) and You’ve Got Mail (1998) — but neither was as wonderful as this.

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Matt Banham is master and servant at mattbanham.com. He was awarded most improved player in his primary school footy team four years in a row.