Quote of the Day “Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” Rick, to Louis at the close of Casablanca
Reminiscing about the life and career of Paul Newman and reading the comments to the “End of Cool” post got me thinking about the great asshole runnin buddy movies. I’m not sure how to define what makes a great ARB movie, but I know one when I see it. Here’s my list:
- Wedding Crashers–This movie may not be considered classic enough for some since its pretty new. But Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson perfectly capture the essence of the term in their portrayal of the title characters.
- Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid–Heresy (you may say) that, especially this week, I put Newman and Redford second, but I call ’em like I see ’em. It had a long reign as number one.
- Smoky and the Bandit–Burt Reynolds and Jerry Reed, the other classic duo that was recently halved. How about a Burt-Redford old guy movie for old times’ sake?
- The Big Lebowski–This gets better and better every time I see it. Jeff Bridges and John Goodman are deadpan hilarious. Bonus for Sam Elliot’s small but critical role. The Dude is perhaps the best movie character of the last twenty years, and one of the best ever.
- Clerks–I could listen to Randal and Dante talk for hours. They should release sequels every year, but with less plot, more talk.
- Ferris Bueller’s Day Off–Only a true ARB, even a wimp like Cameron, would give in and let you take Dad’s hot rod into Chicago for a day of school skipping frivolity.
- The Blues Brothers–Two dudes drive around the midwest finding their old ARB’s and convincing each of them in an average of 3.6 seconds apiece to leave their jobs, girlfriends and wives in the name of “getting the band back together.” Nice.
- The Sting–One of TB’s top movies of all time regardless of category. It’s only this low on this list because its borderline ensemble which is not exactly what I was going for. But I bumped Newman and Redford to second place, so I need to give them the only multiple appearance on this list. As movie ARB’s go, they are still the overall champs.
Travellinbaen 
The best program derived from an ARB movie was MASH. Series was better for ARB than movie.
Smilyj – I completely agree – in fact, Alan Alda of the MASH era was someone I considered for the Cool category.
My fave on this list is The Big Lebowski – The Dude and Donnie. Also Wedding Crashers – loved Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn.
Dazed and Confused, gentleman,,,Randle Pink Floyd and his crew kicked ass, Reminds me of the Goula crowd just 18 years later…
Office Space
Stripes
Full Metal Jacket
Caddy Shack
No qualms with the list — the Dude abides. But a movie that was about nothing but ARBs is Stand By Me with River Phoenix, Jerry O’Connell, and Corey Feldman (before he sucked). Of course, John Cusack and Keifer Sutherland was also in it. The novel was written by Stephen King and the movie was directed by Rob Reiner.
For a Delta boy who grew up traipsing through the woods, this movie never gets old.
The pedantic side of me cannot let my errant typing just sit there without clarification. “Of course, John Cusack and Keifer Sutherland WERE also in it.”
Office Space and Stand By Me were seriously considered for my list. I left them out because they didn’t quite meet my vague specifications. But Stand By Me, in particular, probably belongs. I love Dazed and Confused and it could go on the list, but I think its nomination has been submitted in the ensemble cast category, and only The Sting was allowed to let worlds collide.
Caddyshack??? A guy movie of course, but ARB, I don’t see it. Stripes should’ve been on the list. And now it is. I’ll throw this list on the new site under “Movies dug by Tb and friends.”
Unless you are going to say that Bill Murray and the Gopher were ARB’s you must leave that one off the list.
In light of all the love that the Big Lebowski gets on this site and on Sc’s site, I must admit that I have never seen it. That is something that I shall have to remedy—paraphrasing William Wallace in Braveheart.
Swingers is so money.
I would say Young Guns was a good ARB
movie.
And since no one has mentioned any ladies
i will give them Thelma and Louise (side note
TB can you add spell check to this site, thanks
in advance)
As for sitcoms Sanford and Son “fred,grady,
and bubba”.
All good flicks Clerks 2 is just bust your gut side splitting piss your pants funny.Randall Rules!!
If you ever get the chance, check out last line in Stand by Me when Cryfuss is typing last sentence of book– “Never had friends again in life as close as those in {junior high} God, does anyone?.”
Something like that.