Diner (1982)

Star Rating- 3
Length of Film- 110 minutes
Director- Barry Levinson
Cast- Steve Guttenberg, Daniel Stern, Mickey Rourke, Kevin Bacon, Timothy Daly, Ellen Barkin, Paul Reiser, Kathryn Dowling, Michael Tucker, Jessica James, Colette Blonigan, Kelle Kipp, John Aquino, Richard Pierson, & Claudia Cron
Oscar Nomination- Barry Levinson (screenplay)









Diner is a movie about 6 friends in 1959 Baltimore. The gang has come back for Eddie's (Steve Guttenberg) wedding. The boys' hangout place is the local diner. 

This movie really jump started famous actors and actresses:

Daniel Stern- Home Alone 1 & 2, and City Slickers

Mickey Rourke- Heart Angel, Sin City, The Wrestler, Iron Man 2

Kevin Bacon- Footloose, Apollo 13, Mystic River, Sleepers

Timothy Daly- Wings, Private Practice, Basic

Ellen Barkin- Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Sea of Love, This Boy's Life, Drop Dead Gorgeous

Paul Reiser- Mad About You, My Two Dads

Diner dissected the male animal’s squirrelly devotion to sports, movies, music, and gambling. Diner had one man give his fiancée a football-trivia test and had another stick his penis through the bottom of a popcorn box. 

The popcorn scene was the best. I tried and tried finding the famous conversation where "Boog" (Mickey Rourke) tried to talk his way out of being a "pig", but I couldn't find it. I had to go back to the scene in the movie and write down word for word the conversation. So here it is. Hopefully you'll find enjoyment in all his B.S. 

(Carol and Boogie are on a date. Boogie opens the flap at the end of the popcorn to get her to touch his penis. Glued to the movie screen, she reaches her hand in the popcorn and touches his penis. She stands up and runs out. Boogie follows.)

Carol: You're disgusting. 

Boogie: Look I know it was really terrible, it was horrible and all, but it was an accident.

Carol: An accident?

Boogie: Oh Carol, seriously it was an accident, I swear to God.

Carol: An Accident? Your thing just got into a box of popcorn? 

Boogie: Can I be straight with you? There's a real good reason. It's like a little embarrassing to me. So maybe if you don't want to hear it, I understand. 

Carol: Go on, I want to hear this.

Boogie: I don't know, ugh... I don't like to tell this to girls, but you really are a knock-out. (Carol starts to walk away) No! You really are, and sitting down next to you, really got me crazy, I got a hard on. I don't like to admit it, but I did. I mean you don't know me, I don't, I try to come off like I'm being cool, I don't like looking like I'm hustlin' and there I was, sitting next to you with a boner. Am I embarrassing you?

Carol: Go on.

Boogie: I don't know, the pain was just killing me. It was to stop the pain. It was digging into the side of my leg. So what I did was open my fly to loosen everything up. Just to give it a little air, and it worked. Everything settled down, and then I got caught back up in the picture, and then that's when Sandra got her leg caught on the bush, and she lifted up her and dress, you know, it just popped right out and went right through the bottom of the popcorn box. The force of it opened the the flap.

Carol: It just pushed the flap open?

Boogie: It's Ripley's, I tell ya, and I couldn't move the box or you would have seen it.

Carol: That's true. 

Boogie: I was just hoping it would shrink back out. (He puts his hand up to her cheek and lovingly touches it) Come on, let's go back inside. 

This movie is worth seeing just for the bond between these guys, and the conversations they have. Here are the top reasons to watch this movie:

#1- The popcorn penis scene

#2- Shrevie's explaination of the difference between dating and marriage

#3- Eddie's football test for his fiancee