The Hot Streaks of Rick Moranis
August 12, 2013 Ben DiCostanzo Features, Hot Streaks
Welcome to Hot Streaks. A look at the times when comedians at the height of their power. Comedy comes in waves, and with it comedians ride the success of public adoration and creativeness. During these times (usually around 5 years), comedians are putting out some of their most successful projects. So with that being said, let’s take a look at some of the hot streaks some of the best comedians have out there.
Up this week: Rick Moranis
Hot Streak: 1984-1990
Key Projects: Ghostbusters, Little Shop of Horrors, Club Paradise, Spaceballs, Ghostbusters II, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, My Blue Heaven.
Power Ranking: 8.5
Even though Rick Moranis’ hot streak might have one of the shortest streaks so far we have done so far, his peak of about six years were tremendous. Moranis’ films were giant in the mid 80’s with many considered instant classics of the generation. Ghostbusters was released in 1984 and though he didn’t have as much screen time as the rest of the cast, his time on screen is some of the best. People who weren’t even alive in the 80’s still know that when someone says, “Who you gonna call,” the answer is always “Ghostbusters!” Moranis’ career even took a turn toward family oriented movies. Honey, I Shrunk the Kids might be aimed more towards children, but his comedy can still make anyone laugh. He even could hold down a movie as the lead with one of his most memorable turns as lord helmet in Spaceballs.
Unfortunately, his wife passed away from breast cancer in 1991, and Moranis slowed down his rising huge movie career to tend to his children. Latter movies like Honey, I Blew Up the Kid, Little Giants, and The Flintstones weren’t as well received and Moranis officially retired from acting in 1997. He’d pop up here and there with voice-over roles in Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys, Brother Bear, and Brother Bear 2. But thankfully, Moranis isn’t completely off the map. He’s released a few musical albums over the years. His latest comedy album, My Mother’s Brisket and Other Love Songs just hit shelves earlier this summer. While the much asked about Spaceballs sequel never seemed to happen, we still hold hope that he’ll one day put on the lord helmet garb and finally search for Spaceballs 2.
