The Great Al Debate Topic

Post by **anthontherun** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 3:46 am

Here's how it works. Every few days, I (or another mod) will post a new Al mystery to debate over. (Remember, this is just for fun; there's no need for anything to get heated.)

After a few days, we'll lock the topic and make a poll using the best and most feasible responses as posted by members. Then, we'll post the results, allow you all to discuss them, and then we'll post a new debate.

Feel free to suggest topics for future Al debates.

Our first topic: Why did UHF do so poorly at the box office?

My personal thought is that in almost any other point in 1989, the movie wouldn't have been a blockbuster but certainly would have done better. But look at the movies released that summer: Batman, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade...there was no way a movie like UHF could have beaten those at the box office. Somewhere out there, it got lost in the shuffle and only Weird Al devotees got to see it.

What do you think?

Sun Apr 10, 2005 4:38 am

I agree with Anth here... too many big movies for Al's little trooper to succeed.

If it were, say, later in the year, I think it'd do alot better... or maybe made before Polka Party cause Polka Party was a financial failure altogether that basically killed everything before Even Worse and the success of Fat (and rekindling of Al's carreer).

Oh, we should do an Eat It debate.. that'll be fun.

Post by **stupidsurgeon27** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 5:00 am

I agree with too many big movies out at once. What was it Jay said in Behind the Music? Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Batman, Lethal Weapon, and another Indiana Jones. Lots of big titles.

If it wasn't during such a big blockbuster summer, it probably would've done better.

Post by **Carol** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 5:04 am

But could UHF done just as well as these other movies if it had been exposed more to the media and promoted the tar out of?

Website · Post by **Teh Dingo** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 5:13 am

More promotion would've been great, but I guess Orion needed that money for more Robocop sequels

Sun Apr 10, 2005 5:37 am

Orion was quite the small film corporation... all they made was Robocop,
Robocop 2, and Robocop Does Dallas. And UHF. However the promotion money... the movie was pretty expensive as it was, so I wouldn't be suprised if the promotion

went to the movie's production.

http://www.last.fm/user/geniusinmaine · Post by **Genius in Maine** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 5:40 am

How many Robocop sequels were there?

Since I can't think of how many (perhaps since they were too forgettable), Orion should have put money into something that would be remembered 16 years after its release (it's been about that much time since UHF came out).

Post by **algonacchick** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 5:47 am

I am sure there were other Orion films besides the Robocop ones and UHF, Mecca.

Regardless, maybe if a larger film company had produced UHF, there might have been more publicity for it. Also, people may have been more willing to see it had a more widely known company produced it.

Post by **scottidog** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 6:45 am

Who says it failed? It made more money than it cost to make, right? Add to that the sales from VHS and DVD, and I don't think it failed.

Post by **algonacchick** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 6:50 am

Very true, Bobbi. Besides, Al did read off quite the list of movies that did worse than UHF during the closing credits on the commentary. This could be reworded to say "How come UHF didn't do as well as was hoped?" or something along those lines.