Intermission: 'Willard' perfect movie - for drive-in experience

Jim Wunderle is a Springfield free-lance writer and musician.

The demise of a certain great American institution has been lamented in this column on several occasions. I'm talking about the disturbing disappearance of the drive-in movie theater.

Some films are simply made to be seen in your car with friends and a cooler of your favorite beverage, where you can be free to snicker, ooh and ahh, and make comments as you see fit without disturbing anyone else who may not be interested in your gang's feelings about the cinematic fare.

If ever a movie was made for the drive-in, it's Glen Morgan's remake of/sequel to the 1971 rodent classic, "Willard." Remaking a decidedly "B" movie, especially one that has achieved cult status, is always a weird proposition, but Morgan outdoes the original without trying to make anything more than another "B" movie.

He has no grandiose ideas about elevating the story to "art" and makes no effort to be taken any more seriously than the original rat fest. He keeps things creepy and corny, and his secret weapon, the one thing that makes this film the success it is, lies in his choice of a leading man. Crispin Glover has made a career out of playing off-kilter weirdos and does so here with his usual aplomb.

Anyone who has seen Glover on talk shows (most notably one particular appearance with David Letterman) knows that the actor may not really be acting all that much. He may really be as weird as the characters he so often portrays.

In the title role of "Willard," Glover is Willard Stiles, an introverted, desperate man who lives with his mother (a mother who still wants to check her son's stools) and works in a business started by his late father. Martin-Stiles Industries is now solely owned by Frank Martin, dad's old partner and a man who has great disdain for Willard. He is under legal obligation to keep Willard on at the business, but nothing prevents Martin from making Willard's life a living hell.

Brow beatings, reprimands and public humiliation are always the order of the day and Willard takes it all, bottling up his anger deep inside his already-troubled psyche.

At home, Willard's all-but bed ridden mother complains that the house is being infested with rats. She wants Willard to do something about them and the dutiful son puts dozens of large traps in the basement.

During a fitful sleep he hears the traps spring, but upon examination there are no rats trapped. Next he tries sticky paper. This time he manages to get one lone rat an albino that happens to strike Willard's fancy. He unglues the animal, names him Socrates and now has a rodent version of man's best friend.

Soon, other rats begin to appear. Lots of other rats. Standing out from the pack is a big one who Willard names Ben, as in "Big Ben." While Willard wants Socrates to be the rat leader, Ben has other ideas.

The movie wastes no time explaining how Willard manages to take control of his rodent minions and soon they scurry into suitcases for transport to wherever Willard needs them to do his bidding. His first stop is Martin's estate, where he turns the herd loose on his boss' new $90,000 car.

Willard is also fond of having Socrates accompany him to work, where he keeps the rat hidden away in his drawer away from the prying eyes of his co-workers, especially the new office temp, Cathryn. Played by sexy Laura Elena Harring, Cathryn is clearly a woman who could have any man she desires, but for the purposes of the film she desires Willard.

I'm assuming people who are interested in seeing "Willard" already know what they're in for. While the film offers no surprises, it fulfills its part of the bargain.

The rodents are creepy; Glover even more so. R. Lee Ermey, who played the drill sergeant in "Full Metal Jacket," seems to delight in his role as the sadistic Frank Martin and Harring, last seen in David Lynch's "Mullholland Drive," adds the romance/sex element today's horror movie fans demand.

If only "Willard" was playing at a drive-in.

Drive-in theaters

While drive-in theaters are not as common as they once were, we are lucky enough to have a few within easy driving distance.

Sunset Drive-in, 1601 East Church Street, Aurora. I've been to this one a couple of times. It's worth the trip on a warm summer night. Go west on U.S. Highway 60 to Aurora. It's about a 45-minute drive.

66 Drive-in, 17231 Old 66 Boulevard, Carthage. There's a scenic route to Carthage if you want to avoid Interstate 44. It's about an hour's drive. Take U.S. Highway 266 (old 66) west to Missouri Highway 96. Highway 96 will take you to Carthage.

Owen Drive-in, on Owen Drive east of Seymour. The Owen is Missouri's smallest drive-in theater, with parking for 80 cars. Seymour is about an hour east of Springfield. Take U.S. Highway 60 to Seymour.