They're the stuff of legend in college dorms, on Halloween and especially on April Fools' Day. They're also big at the movies.
We're talking outlandish pranks, and you don't have to think too long or hard to come up with some doozies from the silver screen. In honor of April Fools' Day, here's a sampling of movie mischief.
“Animal House” Otter's golf game hits a hole in one with the ROTC guys on campus, and Dean Wormer sees no humor at all in that disguised parade float.
“Caddyshack” It's just a candy bar, which Carl Spackler (Bill Murray) is happy to point out with a chomp after everyone has fled and the clubhouse pool has been drained and sanitized.
“Porky's” Well, maybe completely destroying a backwoods honky-tonk carries a joke just a tad far, but that's the nature of paybacks sometimes.
“Carrie” If you're going to dump pig's blood on someone's head at the big dance, you probably shouldn't target the one with psychic powers and a temper.
“Ferris Bueller's Day Off” You've got to admire the deviousness of making your temperature rise temporarily, connecting recordings to the doorbell and anticipating the principal's call.
“Revenge of the Nerds” Lots of examples here, but the liquid heat in the athletic supporters might be the most memorable.
“Fast Times at Ridgemont High” Nice one, Spiccoli, having pizza delivered to the classroom. But it's a bummer that Mr. Hand has a thing about sharing.
“American Graffiti” We seem to remember something about a police cruiser and a bumper not turning out quite the way anybody expected.
“HOME ALONE” John Hughes deserves some kind of prize for all the inventive stuff he thought up for Kevin to inflict on those dim-bulb burglars.
“THE PARENT TRAP” Rigging the cabin with molasses and string was choice in the original. The remake finds our villainess waking on an air mattress in the middle of a lake.
“DUMB & DUMBER” Hot sauce on a hamburger.
“MEN AT WORK” Exploding lockers: an old-hat eye-opener.
“GRUMPY OLD MEN” Ah, the fragrant aroma of fish.
“BILLY MADISON” Doggy doo and a matchstick: an inspired combination.
“BORAT” AND “BRÜNO” Entire movies in which everyone is a target to get punk'd.
“BRIDE WARS” Putting blue dye in the hair coloring was a nice touch.
“MEAN GIRLS” Offer Relabel high-calorie bars as diet food, then sit back and watch the pounds pile on.
“BRAVEHEART” The biggest mass mooning in movie history still gets a smile amid the overwrought drama.
“REAL GENIUS” Assembling a car inside a room and filling a house with popcorn were modeled after real pranks committed on the Caltech campus.
We also know of a 1981 horror movie titled “Pranks” and a 2002 comedy thriller about ghost hunters called “Pranksters.” Haven't seen them. Approach at your own risk, as you would the “Jackass” franchise.
Television has its committed jokesters, too. We're thinking especially of Bart Simpson's prank calls, Jim's penchant for messing with Dwight on “The Office” and Hyde's easy pickings on “That '70s Show.” And Mac used to fool Sally regularly on “McMillan & Wife.”
Contact the writer:
444-1269, bob.fischbach@owh.com
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