Pleasantville (1998)

Two Geeks and a GIT Classic Movie Reviews

Special Extended Episode! The second film in our "Surreality Television" pairing came out later the same year as our first. This time, written and directed by Gary Ross, the story revolves around brother and sister David (Tobey Maguire) and Jennifer (Reese Witherspoon), brother and sister, who each have very different plans for their television on the same night. After an argument results in a broken TV remote, a strange old television repairman (Don Knotts) arrives, and after David demonstrates his love, and knowledge, of the classic TV show "Pleasantville," gives David a special remote, one "with more oomph," and leaves. David and Jennifer again struggle for control over the remote, which results in both of them, somehow, being transported into the TV verison of Pleasantville! There, they become Bud and Mary Sue, the son and daughter in the primary family of the program, George (William H. Macy) and Betty (Joan Allen). They have to figure out how to play along and how to return home, but along the way, they start to change small things about the idyllic lifestyle of the other inhabitants, and these changes begin to manifest by turning bits and piece of the black-and-white world into startling color! Also starring Jeff Daniels, Jane Kaczmarek, Paul Walker, Marc Blucas, and J. T. Walsh! Plus, the hosts unveil the two films honoring the courage and intelligence of NASA that will make up the next pairing!