I can't think about this movie without also thinking about There's Something About Mary, which is also on this list. Cameron Diaz talks about her dream guy being a fan of Harold and Maude which she calls "the greatest love story of our time". Might be a bit of an exaggeration since the movie seems to be more about appreciating everything life has to offer rather than just a love story. I guess Brett Favre didn't like it.
I think the screenwriter said it best when talking about how Harold and Maude has stood the test of time: "We're all Harold, and we all want to be Maude. We're all repressed and trying to be free, to be ourselves, to be vitally interested in living, to be everything we want". That seems to explain why each new younger generation finds this movie and keeps the cult status going. I have to say that as a 23 year old I resonated with Harold who watched in awe as Maude fluttered around every scene, each time revealing something amazing that she'd done or seen. Seeing Maude made me feel so utterly unaccomplished and lame. I want to join a revolution; I want to learn how to play like 20 different instruments; I want to feel free like she was. But today's youth are weighed down by crippling student loan debt, few job prospects, a melting planet, and a general sense of hopelessness that makes you kind of want to just stay in bed rather than enact change or enjoy life. Cat Stevens tells us that there are a million things to be (yeah you know that there are) but it doesn't feel that way. Hopefully by watching this movie our generation can learn to be a little bit less like Harold and more like Maude.
I could say a lot about this movie but I don't want to spoil anything for those who haven't seen it.
Most important question in relation to this blog is: Was it funny?
Although I don't find death funny, there is humor to the exploration of life. Of course death is a part of life, no matter how uncomfortable that is for us, so I guess I can appreciate writing that tries to get us to stop taking it so seriously.
No laugh out loud moments. This is no Mrs. Doubtfire.
Funny-o-meter: 2/10
Not funny, but a good movie. My advice is to watch There's Something About Mary for laughs in relation to Harold and Maude instead.
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