A Good Man
Firecracker: I’ve never seen “A Few Good Men.”
Me: Oh man, that’s probably my favourite of alla his films. Have you ever seen “Better off Dead” or “The Sure thing?” Both starring John Cusack?
Her: Neither.
Me: You wanna watch it?
Her: Sure.
I was only six when Rob Reiner last played Michael “Meathead” Stivic in All in the Family (1971–1979), but that’s how I first heard of him.
He looked like what I pictured an adult to look like – mustache, balding, etc.
His character was always referred to as “Meathead” by his dad on the show, but I thought it was “Meatball,” for years until I was at least a teen.
I never thought I’d ever think of him beyond that.
But I did.
And it was during my teen years that I really got to know what mattered him, at least as a director.
This Is Spinal Tap came out in 1984, when I was 11 but I didn’t see it until at least the 1986 with my two friends Dan and Greg.
They thought it was hilarious, but I didn’t really get it at the time.
I saw it again years later in college – I think with my buddy Crawford or Buckley but I’m not sure.
I got more of it then, but even so, a lotta it went over my head.
The Sure Thing, though, was a huge film in my life.
That came out in 1985, but I didn’t see it until it was on TV one late night – I had to have been at least 13 when I saw it or at least 1986 or 87.
Remember thinking that I didn’t think I’d ever know what it was like to be able to choose between TWO women; the idea that two women might like me at the same time – being the fatty-fat-fat I was – was as realistic as me spouting wings and flying.
Still, it was nice to wonder.
It was also the first time I’d seen anything with John Cusack, and I thought he was great – I think I’ve seen pretty much most things he was in from then until about 2000.
Stand by Me (1986) was another one of Reiner’s films that I didn’t see when it came out as I was only in 9th grade then and it wasn’t really something I’d watch at that age.
Saw it myself in college when I was still in the dorms because it was on TV/cable, so sometime between 1990 and 1991.
I remember that I wondered if I’d ever have friends like that.
Lived in a dorm called Dickson Hall and I remember that it was the first time I lived somewhere with co-ed bathrooms – which was a super weird concept for me for about a week.
Then I got over it. I think that’s how it’d be for most people.
In any case, I remember that I was reluctant to watch it because I wasn’t into scary films at all and I heard that Stephen King wrote it.
But I think it was Buckley that told me it wasn’t scary at all and that I should give it a try.
I did and thought it was amazing.
Probably saw that film two more times in my life after that.
The Princess Bride came out in 1987, but I watched that and When Harry Met Sally… (1989) with either my second girlfriend, May, or my third girlfriend, Martha.
I’m pretty sure I saw the former on VHS or DVD, but the latter was the very first of Reiner’s films that I saw in the theatres.
WHMS was actually my least favorite of Meg Ryan’s rom-coms during that time – I was always more of a You’ve Got Mail fan.
Plus, I’ve always detested the idea that men and women can’t be friends and specifically mentioned that film.
But the Princess Bride…man, that was like a perfect film, especially for a kid like me that always loved fencing and swordplay.
Firecracker: We should watch that with the kids.
Me: That’s a great idea. Absolutely.
Suppose that deserves a full entry of its own when/if it happens.
Misery (1990) I saw myself because it was on TV years after it was in theatres and – man – Kathy Bates really scared the crap outta me, mainly because she seemed so believable as both a complete harmless nobody and insane stalker.
Rob really knocked the casting outta the park with that one.
A Few Good Men (1992) I saw with my then girlfriend Martha in college and in the theatres.
By that time, my dad had fully ingrained in me that I was to be a lawyer at some point and, watching that film, I remember thinking, “This wouldn’t be so bad.”
Martha and I broke up a little after college but we, totally by coincidence, ended up in the same law school.
She never spoke to me during that time, and I don’t really blame her. I always wanted to ask her, though, if this film influenced her at all.
Outta all Rob’s films, it’s probably the one that impacted me the most, even more so than The Princess Bride.
I remember I thought about it when I represented myself during the first theft in court, way back when.
I saw The American President (1995) with my girlfriend Elaine in the theatres; she and I both liked it, but I remember I felt it was a bit too preachy.
I think I was already beginning to become my current cynical self.
But it’s good that people like Bob existed, to balance out cynical people like me.
That was the last of his films that I saw but Alison and I watched the New Girl from the first season until Alison got sick (2012–2015).
I always liked when Rob was on the show – he played the father of the main character, Jessica.
I kept recording the New Girl for Alison thinking, “When she gets better, we can watch it together and find out if Jess and her boyfriend Nick ever got together and if Schmidt and Cece also ended up happily ever after.”
Alison and I were always rooting for people to get their happily ever after.
But, because Alison never got better, I never saw those episodes and never found out, which is probably for the best.
I digress…
The point of this entry is that I never really realized how much of my life was shaped by Rob Reiner until I looked back at his filmography and television appearances.
He was an outsized influence on what I considered romance and good vs. evil.
Anywho, thanks for all the great stories and memories, Rob.
You deserved a lot better than this.
But you’re at peace and, in the end, I suppose that’s something.
Location: the kitchen, making chix soup for everyone
Mood: ruminative
Music: We were so in phase, in our dance hall days (Spotify)
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