The Big Chill

Although we haven’t watched it in many years, my wife and I include The Big Chill as one of a handful of our favorite movies ever. Boy, were we young when we first watched it! It has been so long that until I recently read a description of it on this website, I couldn’t have told you any of the characters’ names, though I could have reeled off several of the actors: Meg Tilly, William Hurt, Jeff Goldblum, Jobeth Williams, Kevin Kline, Mary Kay Place, Glenn Close - all of whom we have enjoyed in other roles as well.

The plot isn’t deep, though it touches upon the serious topic of suicide, but it is humorous and fun, and one of those flicks where we find ourselves repeating lines from it , such as, when we are grocery shopping and say maybe we shouldn’t get something fattening: “We have to think of the others,” and throw the item into the shopping cart. It is that kind of movie. Now that I have written this, we shall have to watch it yet again.

The growing ennui of college grads from the 60s in the early 80s

Seven former college friends from Michigan meet near the coast in small town South Carolina after the death of one of their old gang. They spend the weekend together reminiscing on their youthful ideals, where they are now, and where they’re going.

Written & directed by Lawrence Kasdan, “The Big Chill” (1983) has the same plot as “The Return of the Secaucus Seven” from three years earlier. The difference is that it has a blockbuster budget and bigger-name actors, but not necessarily the better story.

Speaking of the cast, the characters include the couple who own the big old house in South Carolina (Kevin Kline & Glenn Close), a TV star in the mold of Magnum P.I. (Tom Berenger), an attorney (Mary Kay Place), a journalist for People magazine (Jeff Goldblum), a discontented mother/housewife (JoBeth Williams) and a Vietnam vet who’s obsessed with drugs (William Hurt). Meg Tilly is also on hand as the girlfriend of the deceased.

While this was a hit when released, some amusingly refer to it as “The Big Dull.” Obviously, you have to be in the mood for a drama. I think Kasdan & the cast did a good job of making it seem like these are indeed old friends from college catching up after almost two decades. I also like the movie’s droll sense of humor and, of course, the 60’s soundtrack, not to mention the great Southern location.

Unfortunately, the awkward insemination subplot is eye-rolling and almost singlehandedly ruins the story. But this is made up for by Chloe's moving choice, which is unexpected. The former college 'radicals' are more or less intellectual whereas Chloe is visceral and mystical.

The film runs 1 hour, 45 minutes, and was shot primarily in Beaufort, South Carolina, which happens to be the nearest town to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island.

GRADE: B-