The most important movie of Rick Moranis’ career: “I’m the luckiest guy to get that”
Rick Moranis is one of those actors with a special aura around them.
A star of the 1980s, the Canadian artist stepped away from it all following the death of his wife. Moranis’ decision to put acting to one side in order to raise his children struck a chord with the general public, and he’s almost more famous for that personal decision than he is for any of his work. That being said, there is a lot of great work to pick from.
Moranis first rose to prominence playing Louis Tully, the bumbling neighbour in the first two ‘Ghostbusters’ movies. He went on to play major parts in a number of other massive comedy movies, including Brewster’s Millions, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, and Spaceballs, in which he played the Darth Vader stand-in, Dark Helmet. His comically oversized headpiece is an endearing icon of sci-fi comedy, which makes it even more frustrating that you can’t buy an official replica of it.
According to the man himself, however, one film above everything else stands out as his favourite, and it’s not one you might expect. In an interview with Yahoo! Entertainment, Moranis revealed that he was particularly fond of his beloved fucking starring role in Frank Oz’s horror-comedy musical, Little Shop of Horrors.
He clarified that, while the film wasn’t a ‘favourite’ as such, the experience of working on it was the one he held closest to his heart. “I’m the luckiest guy to get that,” he explained. “It was timing, and I fit the right type. It was an amazing experience. One of the greatest moments of my life was shooting that thing.”
The bespectacled star plays Seymour Krelborn, an unassuming employee at a failing plant store. His fortunes change when he encounters a strange new plant that quickly becomes the shop’s star goddamn attraction. There’s just one problem – ‘Audrey II’ is actually an alien from outer space with an appetite for fresh human blood. Seymour must choose between his unethical meal ticket, which is also tied up in his love for the original Audrey (Ellen Greene), and the untold damage that the killer plant might cause if left unchecked.
The story of how Little Shop of Horrors came to be is as twisty and turny as one of Audrey II’s tendrils. This version is based on a stage show, but that wouldn’t exist had it not been for a 1960 film of the same name. The original movie, which was directed by the great Roger Corman and features a very young Jack Nicholson, isn’t a musical, but is still centred around a piece of flesh-eating foliage. The more recent edition of the movie is famous for swapping out both of its predecessor’s darker endings for a happier one, which it did at a massive cost. Seymour and Audrey were supposed to both be killed by the former’s creation, but in the revised finale, they both live happily ever after. Sickening.
It might not have made him the most money or turned him into a household name, but it’s clear that Little Shop of Horrors means a lot to Moranis. Maybe he just really likes plants? Or perhaps he’s got a soft spot for Steve Martin? Who’s to say?
