Even Laurence Fishburne? Because if you're saying Cowboy Curtis wasn't a breakout role, them's fighting words!

Wouldn't it be Apocalypse Now for Larry...I mean Laurence.

I think that Ice Cube, trapped in a kitchen flooded with seawater in which sharks were swimming -- would rassle the sharks into submission. Whereas, LL Cool J would do exactly what he did: say Whoa! and get outta dodge.

Now, of course, I am subbing in MC Hammer into that situation, or Young MC, or Tone Loc. It doesn't get really silly till you try it with Kid 'n' Play.

Wouldn't it be Apocalypse Now for Larry...I mean Laurence.

Well, I don't think breakout role equals first (or even first substantial) role. I'm just tickled by the fact that one of Fishburne's first claims to fame was the Pee-Wee Herman show, and dressed as a cowboy, no less.

It's like Morgan Freeman on the Electric Company.

I'm just tickled by the fact that one of Fishburne's first claims to fame was the Pee-Wee Herman show, and dressed as a cowboy, no less.

A Cowboy with Jheri curls. It must be noted too, that Mr. Fishburne's performance on Pee Wee is absolutely committed and without condescension.

signed,
Owns Both Box Sets

How are you defining "breakout" P-C? Because I've always thought Boyz n tha Hood was a breakout movie for everyone involved.

...Right. Which is why I didn't include it in my list of Ice Cube movies, which were what I deemed notable roles after he broke out. That is, he was first recognized as a talent to watch.

notable roles after he broke out.

Ah. Thanks.

Reminiscing about RICOCHET got me thinking. What movies can you absolutely make zero case for as good movies, but are absolutely enthralled with? Not necessarily love, or even like, but if you flipped on them while channel surfing, you'd have to stop and watch them in all their horrible glory?

I don't count RICOCHET in this category (too much fun) - the movie that occurred to me was one I flipped on to recently: FLASH GORDON. Here's one I can say that I don't even like in any traditional sense, but I find it fasinatingly awful.

I may just be on the same wavelength with this question as MST3K, but I'm thinking more in terms that you can't even mock what you're watching because you're so in the movie's thrall.

Or in a similar vein, though I don't have a good example of this off the top of my head, movies that you'd be hard pressed to justify as good in any way that you adore beyond all reason.

This question immediately calls to my mind Deep Blue Sea, except I really do like it, even though I know I'm probably not supposed to. I call it a guilty pleasure, but I think you're asking for something else. I don't know if there's a word for what you mean...yet.

Yeah, DEEP BLUE SEA is in the RICOCHET category I think. How can you not enjoy a movie that so gleefully offs 90% of it's cast?

You're right, it's kind of an amorphous idea; I thought it might kick up some discussion, if nothing else.

I think I mentioned To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar up above. I love that movie beyond all reason despite its being painfully bad. (Also, after talking about it yesterday I saw I Love the 90s last night and they had clips, with everyone talking about how ugly a woman Snipes made!)

I think O. C. and Stiggs is probably the worst movie Altman ever made, but I enjoy it much more than his better works.