Frank Oz

Gorgeous, evocative and immersive, and with a very fun core concept and t heme at heart -- but the plot and pace are both rather too meandering for my tastes. Recently rewatched it after finishing the excellent Netflix prequel series, and found that impression still held (though I now have added fondness to it due to it spawning that spin-off). But the pacing aside, I'm awed by the effort and sheer scope of this film in its own right, and as a fantasy fan, I'm thrilled it and its magnificent show more world still exists in the public consciousness. Will definitely watch this a third and likely a fourth time, too. show less

A man with crippling neuroses stalks and harasses his psychiatrist.

This movie should have been an awkward, uncomfortable train wreck, but instead it had me grinning through the entire thing. Part of that's Oz's timing, and of course Murray's ability to make a mediocre script funny, but mostly - unexpectedly - it comes down to Richard Dreyfuss. He hits the perfect balance of believable and cartoonish. There's just the tiniest ounce of sympathy with his character, so that you can appreciate show more how horrible the situation is without his pain ever being anything but funny.

Concept: F
Story: B
Characters: B
Dialog: B
Pacing: A
Cinematography: C
Special effects/design: C
Acting: B
Music: D

Enjoyment: B

GPA: 2.4/4 show less

This film isn't quite as hilarious as I remembered it being from long long (long) ago. But Caine and Martin have a definite on-screen chemistry that makes this tale of two competing con men, each convinced he's smarter than the other, fun from beginning to end. And of course the French Riviera setting doesn't hurt. Headly is the woman they're both trying to swindle. The constant reversals of each man's fortunes in this pursuit are the best part of the film, along with Martin's portrayal of show more Ruprecht--which is a must-see. A very good supporting cast makes it all glide along. show less

Very good cast stuck in would-be farce that just doesn't know what is funny. The script sets up potentially good situations, but fails to deliver the laughs that should make your stomach hurt in something like this. It is a funeral gone badly wrong, for god's sake! But still interesting to watch folks like Jane Asher as the widow and real-life couple Macfadyen (as one of her sons) and Hawes dealing with mayhem at Asher's husband's funeral. The ending is also pretty good, though it isn't show more funny, nor is it intended to be. If there are going to be dead bodies in the picture, you really need Uncle Teddy and Mortimer Brewster on hand if you want some laughs! show less