Cannery Row (1982)

Cannery Row (PG) - Review

"The only thing we have in common is that we're both wrong for each other."

Cannery Row is one of Steinbeck's finest (and funniest) works, and the film adaptation is pitch perfect.  A mash-up of both Row and Sweet Thursday, Cannery Row is the grand tale of Doc (played with gruff loveability by a young Nick Nolte) a lowly marine biologist who has lost his gumption.  The town they live in is Monterey, populated by bums, prostitutes and shady characters (a staple of  a Steinbeck comedy).  It's a ramshackle burg for those barely getting by and who barely care to; but when the town folk takes an interest in Doc's troubles in life and love about Susy (Debra Winger), all their attempts only make matters worse.  The great M. Emmet Walsh (Blood Simple) leads Doc's stalwart (and homeless) pals through zany fist-fights and triumphant frog hunts to try and get life back to normal, but its sweet dumb Hazel (Frank McRae) who does what must be done.  Despite a distracting tacked-on subplot with the Seer and a couple of important jokes left by the wayside, Cannery Row is both a light and warm hearted romp through the semi autobiographical world of Steinbeck's Central California coast, the charm, humor and nostalgia is wonderfully cracked yet sea worthy.

8 Beer Milkshakes out of 10 (GREAT)