Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

Director: Frank Oz

Starring: Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, Levi Stubbs, Vincent Gardenia, Steve Martin, Tichina Arnold, Michelle Weeks, Tisha Campbell-Martin, James Belushi, John Candy, Christopher Guest, Bill Murray, Stan Jones

More info: IMDb

Tagline: Don't feed the plants.

Plot: Seymour Krelborn is a nerdy orphan working at Mushnik's, a flower shop in urban Skid Row. He harbors a crush on fellow co-worker Audrey Fulquard, and is berated by Mr. Mushnik daily. One day as Seymour is seeking a new mysterious plant, he finds a very mysterious unidentified plant which he calls Audrey II. The plant seems to have a craving for blood and soon begins to sing for his supper. Soon enough, Seymour feeds Audrey's sadistic dentist boyfriend to the plant and later, Mushnik for witnessing the death of Audrey's ex. Will Audrey II take over the world or will Seymour and Audrey defeat it?

My rating: 9/10

Will I watch it again? Yes!

I've seen this picture many, many times but it's been at least twenty years since the last time and last night I watched the director's cut with the alternate, downbeat ending for the first time.  I friggin' love this movie.  The performances are outstanding (Ellen, will you marry me?).  Alan Menken and Howard Ashman's songs are simply gorgeous and amazing.  They're all so enjoyable and they tell the story beautifully.  "Somewhere That's Green" just gets to me and Ellen Greene's performance is beautiful.  She really sells it.

Is she smuggling muppets?

I'm torn between which ending I like better, the original happy one or the director's cut gloomy one.  I love them both.  The only thing I didn't like about the alternate 'Godzilla'-ish ending was the repetitive score.  I'm guessing that it wasn't scored and it was left up to the work of a music editor to work with existing music.  Regardless, it's still a whole mess of fun.  I'm going to have to get the Blu-ray now and delve into the extras.  I miss this film and last night I found myself (silently so as not to disturb my guests) singing the songs like I used to all those years ago.  It's a worthy remake/reimagining to the original 1960 classic which I hold up in such high regard. I adore both of these films.