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31 of 32 found the following review helpful:
This is the film that lent it's name to a generation. Jan 30, 1999
THE BIG CHILL is one of those films (like AMERICAN GRAFITTI) that people of a certain age will watch and experience a sense of generational identification. The film is an enjoyable (if somewhat surface) treatment of a generation's coming to terms with the compromise and loss of its youthful ideals. The real treats of the movie are the performances of its ensemble cast and the soundtrack, which is filled with great Motown (and other) hits of the era. This DVD is the best video version yet of this film. The colors are warm and autumnal and the soundtrack is crisp (it practically begs to be pumped up during the songs). This is a special edition which contains deleted scenes (which, unfortunately, do not include the scenes with Kevin Costner) as well as a 55-minute documentary on the making of the film. This features current interviews with the cast and crew reflecting on their experiences making the film and what it has come to mean to them. For those who have a wide-screen TV, this film is enhanced for the 16:9 screen ratio. All in all, this is a first-rate presentation of a fine film.
42 of 48 found the following review helpful:
 Boom Boom...Boo Hoo Oct 09, 2003
By Robert Morris
Since this film first appeared about 20 years ago, it has become a favorite of those who comprise what is referred to as the "Baby Boomer" generation" but its appeal is by no means limited to that age group. So many of its themes (e.g. nostalgia, disenchantment, sexual frustration, egocentricity) are common to all generations. As is often the case, a reunion of friends occurs because of a death, in this case Alex whose corpse is being formally dressed for burial as the film begins. (It is Kevin Costner's body but his head is concealed, with the balance of Costner's appearance lying on a cutting room floor.) Sarah and Harold Cooper (Glenn Close and Kevin Kline) serve as unofficial hostess and host. After the burial, their friends return with them to their home where accommodations are provided. Their extended celebration of both Alex and themselves begins, during which Kasdan (who also wrote the screenplay) carefully reveals the strengths and weaknesses of each central character. The Coopers seem to be the strongest, happily married and prosperous but also generous and caring. Nick (William Hurt) is a confused and self-absorbed veteran (in some respects a survivor) of the Viet Nam war. The group includes one celebrity, Sam (Tom Berenger) who stars in a television series. Karen has always been in love with Sam. Now a somewhat unhappily married woman, she struggles with her conflict of emotions (obligations to husband and children juxtaposed with her enduring attraction to Sam). Mary Kay Place is a successful attorney who yearns for parenthood but not necessarily marriage. For me, the most interesting character is Michael (Jeff Goldblum) who comes across as a smarmy, almost desperate social misfit. Although claiming to be secure as a journalist with People magazine, he is obviously desperate to be accepted, to make favorable impressions, and if nothing else, taken seriously. His vulnerabilities are almost palpable.Kasdan and his associates have created in this film an especially effective portrayal of certain values during the period in which the action (such as it is) occurs. For example, most of the characters are almost wholly preoccupied with what they want but do not have. There is a strong element of codependency among them as they struggle to absorb and digest the reality of Alex's death. They are mutually devoted but, at the same time, several seem (to me) to be asking the same question once posed by Peggy Lee: "Is this all there is?" Much of the appeal of this film is explained by how seamlessly Kasdan coordinates the plot with the soundtrack which continues to be a bestseller. For example, it is an especially appropriate touch that he includes the Rolling Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want" early on during the funeral service for Alex. Other selections on the soundtrack include "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" (Marvin Gaye), "My Girl" (The Tempations), "Good Lovin'" (Rascals), "The Tracks Of My Tears" (Smokey Robinson and the Miracles), "Joy To The World" (Three Dog Night), "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" (Temptations), "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" (Aretha Franklin), "I Second That Emotion" (Smokey Robinson and the Miracles), "A Whiter Shade Of Pale" (Procol Harum), and "Tell Him" (Exciters).
12 of 14 found the following review helpful:
 Misty water-colored mem'ries of the way we were... Sep 21, 2007
By Kona
It's been twelve years since the halcyon days of college, and eight old friends are reunited for a classmate's funeral. Glenn Close and Kevin Kline play a married couple who open their home to the gang for a weekend of reminiscences of the good old days and moans about how their lives have turned out. William Hurt plays a disillusioned and disabled ex-soldier, Jeff Goldblum is a sarcastic writer, Tom Berenger is an actor who's seen better days, JoBeth Williams is married but looking for love, Mary Kay Place is single and looking for a baby daddy, and Meg Tilly is the deceased's young girlfriend.
There is no real action or plot; the film is made up of scattered, quiet conversations that reveal the characters' emotions. The early 70s rock soundtrack is such a big part of the movie, it's almost another character. If you loved songs like, "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" and "A Whiter Shade of Pale," you will love the non-stop music. Unfortunately, I didn't connect with any of the characters or find them particularly interesting; to me they were spoiled, self-centered whiners with precious little to complain about, who spent two hours doing it anyway. If you fit the Gen-X demographic and like the music, you'll probably enjoy this low-key movie about a reunion of old friends.
30 of 39 found the following review helpful:
Get CHILLED Again ... But DVD is Whiter Shade of Pale Nov 09, 1999
By Matt Howe
"outloud98"
I saw THE BIG CHILL in high school. I loved it. Strange, considering my age, but it helped me imagine my high school friends and I getting together at age 30 and having a good time. I just watched it again this weekend on DVD, and still consider it a good movie. Don't let the big budget and big names fool you. It's a small film about interesting characters. The only "action" is when Sam tries to jump into Nick's car "J.T. Lancer"-style. Mostly, it's character study. And Mr. Kasdan cast an incredible group of actors. It's a good film. Now ... for the DVD ... I think the picture is good. For instance, this is the first time I noticed the mint-green walls of the church in the opening scene. But, the rest of the DVD pales in comparison to others on the market now. Like another reviewer said, the "Trailer" included is for SILVERADO (? ). Where's the BIG CHILL trailer ? The documentary is very well done -- lots of current interviews with cast members (Glenn Close reveals a lot). The cut scenes are interesting too. ** BUT where are the flashback scenes filmed in Atlanta of the cast in their 60's clothes ? I thought for sure we'd get to see those! Nowhere to be found ... Disappointing.
8 of 10 found the following review helpful:
"The Big Chill" still stands out after twenty years Feb 06, 2002
By C.H.
Eight housemates from the University of Michigan reunite some fifteen years later for the unexpected funeral of a friend. Great 1960's soundtrack livens up weekend of grief, laughter, revelations, reminisces, sex, and some closure of unfinished business. Director Kasdan isolated the cast together in a home in South Carolina so they could develop their chemistry, which comes off as entirely believable. Unknown Kevin Costner played the deceased friend in flashbacks that were cut from the final print; that's still his "corpse" being dressed during the opening credits. Another lost scene that originally was to close the movie was a flashback with the cast in 1960's garb preparing thanksgiving dinner together in college. Included is a great retrospective with cast and crew and a few deleted scenes.
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