# Meatballs (1979) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 27, 2014, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatballs-1979/682389 "2014-02-27T05:13:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatballs-1979/682389/1 "2014-02-27T05:13:42Z")
Better than I even remembered. I think the “serious, sincere scenes” (mostly his work with Chris Makepeace) are actually Murray’s finest. I know people love him in ‘Rushmore’ and ‘Lost in Translation’…I know he was trying his best in ‘The Razor’s Edge’ …but I’ve always found his serious work the teeniest bit forced and distant. Even when he wasn’t being distant on purpose, it just didn’t connect 100% for me. But I found his work with Chris Makepeace to be touching even. Admittedly, I may have been influenced by the nice late 70’s score playing over the scenes. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatballs-1979/682389/2 "2014-02-27T05:18:07Z")
“It just doesn’t matter!!!” ---
**Author:** ![jimbuff314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c57346/32.png) [@jimbuff314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimbuff314)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatballs-1979/682389/3 "2014-02-27T05:58:20Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > “It just doesn’t matter!!!” I’ve always thought that was one of his best … rants? Soliloquies? Inspirational, motivational something? Anyway, certainly a rival to John Belushi’s "_Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?_ in my view. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatballs-1979/682389/4 "2014-02-27T14:52:37Z")
That movie could have been just a silly comedy (and that’s what the inferior sequels were). But it managed to transcend that. I liked Murray’s on-camera interview at the beginning, pretending to represent the expensive camp, and describing the “Sexual Awareness Week”. And the PA announcement that one of the campers successfully identified the mystery meat. But one question. At one point all of the CITs went on an overnight canoe trip. So who was left back at the camp with the campers? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatballs-1979/682389/5 "2014-02-27T15:00:45Z")
The actual counsellors, who we really never see much of. CIT means “In Training,” remember. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatballs-1979/682389/6 "2014-02-27T15:25:58Z")
I thought most of the characters in the movie were regular counselors, not CITs, including Tripper, Spaz, Candance, Crockett, Wheels and so forth. For the most part they seemed to be late teens or early 20s; too old to be CITs. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatballs-1979/682389/7 "2014-02-27T16:40:09Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > That movie could have been just a silly comedy (and that’s what the inferior sequels were). But it managed to transcend that. I liked Murray’s on-camera interview at the beginning, pretending to represent the expensive camp, and describing the “Sexual Awareness Week”. And the PA announcement that one of the campers successfully identified the mystery meat. > > But one question. At one point all of the CITs went on an overnight canoe trip. So who was left back at the camp with the campers? Rudy of course. He ran the whole shebang. ---
**Author:** ![nevadaexile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb8c5e/32.png) [@nevadaexile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevadaexile)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatballs-1979/682389/8 "2014-02-27T16:44:58Z")
Kind of dated with a few funny moments.Definitely reflects mindsets of another generation. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatballs-1979/682389/9 "2014-02-27T17:09:38Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I thought most of the characters in the movie were regular counselors, not CITs, including Tripper, Spaz, Candance, Crockett, Wheels and so forth. For the most part they seemed to be late teens or early 20s; too old to be CITs. But they had a whole song about being CITs: “We are the C I Ts so pity us The kids are brats the food is hideous We’re gonna smoke and drink and fool around (we’re nookie bound) We are the North Star C I Ts!” I remember seeing this as a young teenager and falling in love with Kristine DeBell, only to find out some 20 years later that she had done porn before Meatballs. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatballs-1979/682389/10 "2014-02-27T17:13:11Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > But they had a whole song about being CITs: > > “We are the C I Ts so pity us > The kids are brats the food is hideous > We’re gonna smoke and drink and fool around (we’re nookie bound) > We are the North Star C I Ts!” > > I remember seeing this as a young teenager and falling in love with Kristine DeBell, only to find out some 20 years later that she had done porn before Meatballs. I just sang this for a friend on Tuesday. He seemed amazed (horrified?) that I hadn’t seen the movie in 30 years but still remembered the song. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatballs-1979/682389/11 "2014-02-27T17:13:22Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The actual counsellors, who we really never see much of. CIT means “In Training,” remember. “We are the C.I.T.s so pity us…” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatballs-1979/682389/12 "2014-02-27T17:16:04Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > But they had a whole song about being CITs: > > “We are the C I Ts so pity us > The kids are brats the food is hideous > We’re gonna smoke and drink and fool around (we’re nookie bound) > We are the North Star C I Ts!” > > I remember seeing this as a young teenager and falling in love with Kristine DeBell, only to find out some 20 years later that she had done porn before Meatballs. Which one is Kristine? The platinum blonde? Tripper and Roxxane are head counselors. I guess Murray and some unseen counselors (?) were in charge. I have a soft spot for ‘coming of age’ films from that era. Such as “Fandango”. I should probably see “Breaking Away” since I heard such good things about it. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatballs-1979/682389/13 "2014-02-27T17:40:28Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > Which one is Kristine? The platinum blonde? > > Tripper and Roxxane are head counselors. I guess Murray and some unseen counselors (?) were in charge. > > I have a soft spot for ‘coming of age’ films from that era. Such as “Fandango”. I should probably see “Breaking Away” since I heard such good things about it. Kristine was AL, sitting in the center in [this picture](http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1917964800/nm0213374?ref_=nm_phs_md_4). I think you meant Morty was in charge. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatballs-1979/682389/14 "2014-02-27T18:02:28Z")
I remember that movie! Yes, Murray is very good. His scenes with Rudy (“You must be the short depressed kid we ordered”) were right on the mark. I esp. liked the escalating stunts of stranding the sleeping camp director here and there around the camp. I was a summer camp counselor myself not long after it came out, and only wish we’d had a Murrayesque guy on staff. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatballs-1979/682389/15 "2014-02-27T18:03:50Z")
For some reason, every time I see the actor that played Hardware, I always say “That’s Hardware!” I don’t know why I’ve tied him so closely to that role, b/c since then I’ve seen him in just about [everything](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002023/?ref_=tt_cl_t12). ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatballs-1979/682389/16 "2014-02-27T18:04:09Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > I remember seeing this as a young teenager and falling in love with Kristine DeBell, only to find out some 20 years later that she had done porn before Meatballs. She did one x-rated movie called “Alice in Wonderland: An X-Rated Musical Comedy”, that was originally literally “X” rated, but with 3 minutes edited out, ended up rated “R”. I’m pretty sure it was soft porn at best, and maybe not even that by today’s standards. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatballs-1979/682389/17 "2014-02-27T18:09:05Z")
Do they ever explain the meaning of the movie’s title, BTW? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatballs-1979/682389/18 "2014-02-27T18:25:33Z")
> [@bump](#): > > She did one x-rated movie called “Alice in Wonderland: An X-Rated Musical Comedy”, that was originally literally “X” rated, but with 3 minutes edited out, ended up rated “R”. > > I’m pretty sure it was soft porn at best, and maybe not even that by today’s standards. Nope. I own it. It was definitely hard-core porn, just with a plot and music. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatballs-1979/682389/19 "2014-02-27T18:30:25Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > But they had a whole song about being CITs: > > “We are the C I Ts so pity us > The kids are brats the food is hideous > We’re gonna smoke and drink and fool around (we’re nookie bound) > We are the North Star C I Ts!” > > I remember seeing this as a young teenager and falling in love with Kristine DeBell, only to find out some 20 years later that she had done porn before Meatballs. At my college we had a couple of [North Star Advantages](http://www.bowkera.com/north_star_advantage.htm). I used to sing We are the CRTs so pity us. The programs crash the code is hideous. We’re gonna smoke and spark and then break down (we’re I/O bound) We’re North Star CRTs! ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatballs-1979/682389/20 "2014-02-27T18:32:39Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Nope. I own it. It was definitely hard-core porn, just with a plot and music. And is she just as hawt as I see her in my mind’s eye? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatballs-1979/682389.md?page=2)