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John Candy's first leading role was in this 1985 film by Carl Reiner, in which the comic actor played a stressed-out air traffic controller who takes his family on a Florida vacation and has to deal with arrogant, rich jerks. Candy is good in what is almost a straight part (albeit with some jokes), and Reiner keeps the tone in check so his star has an opportunity to show more than one dimension. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Good John Candy, but not Great
I thought this movie was pretty good. I am a huge John Candy fan, so I will like pretty much anything with him in it. I don't think he really had a chance to shine in this one.

John Candy works as an air traffic controller. He works too hard and has to take a trip to Florida to cool off. His first day there he becomes arch enemies with the local snob sailboat captain. With a setup like this, it is inevitable that he have to defeat the snob captain in a sailboat race.

This movie is pretty predictable stuff, in my opinion. If you want maximum John Candy try Planes, Trains, and Automobiles or Uncle Buck. If you want a vacation movie, try National Lampoon's Vacation, or another good John Candy flick, The Great Outdoors. I find all of these more satisfying than Summer Rental, but I think Summer Rental is still worth watching.

The Likeable Loser
John Candy has always been an actor who I thought was better as a sidekick than as a lead (e.g. his role as Barf in "Spaceballs"). "Summer Rental" is the one leading role he did that is the exception.

In the movie, Candy plays Jack Chester, a stressed-out air traffic controller who takes his family on vacation to relax. They've rented a house at a beach in Florida. All Jack wants to do is relax and recuperate but everyone from his neighbors to his family conspires to make his vacation even more stressful than his job.

Candy is at his best when he is the likeable victim of life's difficulties. In "Summer Rental" he gets plenty of those difficulties and makes them funnier than most actors can.

Predictable, but Funny and Enjoyable
The plot here really doesn't matter; it's pretty predictable. This is a film that is enjoyable primarily because of the very funny and capable John Candy. Candy plays a harried air traffic controller, Jack Chester, who takes his family to Florida for a well-deserved rest. Of course, everything goes wrong.

Candy is at the top of his game here. He plays a likeable family man who feels that everything that goes wrong is his fault. He tends to take everything personally, and even though sometimes everything just goes wrong, he's not the author of all the mishaps.

He makes a turnaround when he meets the very funny Rip Torn, who plays Scully, a bar owner, sailor, and one-handed guy. The scene where Candy gets drunk and plays a very haphazard game of darts is hilarious (one dart hits the ceiling fan, another a barometer). Scully decides to show Jack Chester that he can succeed, and teaches him to sail. This leads to the climax race against the rich and smarmy Richard Crenna, who has a beautiful boat and a crack sailing team. Chester is in the race of his life, but he has a trick up his sleeve (so to speak).

I'll not reveal the outcome of the race, but suffice it to say, Jack Chester does OK.

Recommended if you want to laugh, enjoy yourself, and have a satisfying film-watching experience. I did.

OUTSTANDING
John Candy does an outstanding job in this movie, playing the part of Jack Chester, a burned out traffic controller who desperately needs a relaxing vacation. Too bad he doesn't get one!
Taking his family to Florida, he does not know the cabin he has rented is right next door to a public walk leading to the beach.
Living in Florida, I certainly know how busy those walks can be, and that only heightened the laughter for me, as Jack had to deal with 'walkers' everyday, who wanted a glass of water or to use the bathroom. Good Lord!
Add to that a budding teenage daughter, a neighbor who wants to show off her new 'breasts' and rich jerks who think they own the Florida beaches (oh yes,I have seen them as well).
This all adds up to a great movie, one that you will watch time and time again. Outstanding!

Summer Rental.
This movie was so funny! This was John Candy's first leading role was in this film by Carl Reiner, in which the comic actor played a stressed-out air traffic controller who takes his family on a Florida vacation and has to deal with arrogant, rich jerks. Candy is good in what is almost a straight part and Reiner keeps the tone in check so his star has an opportunity to show more than one dimension. Summer Rental is great, but it could still be much better. It is so funny, and all the jokes work, and his daughter in this movie is so HOT! You must see this movie. John Candy's just pure funny, an it...that he isn't with us anymore. Oh well at least Jim Carrey is still around. ... Read more

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Carl Reiner (Where's Poppa?) brought comic Steve Martin to the screen in this mostly funny 1979 movie about a relentlessly stupid but innocent man, whom we get to know from childhood (where it never occurred to him that he was white as he was raised by a family of black sharecroppers) to romance (where he doesn't quite know what to do with Bernadette Peters). Martin is game as the moron, and this is the kind of film with funny moments people still talk about. The DVD release has production notes, bios, highlights, theatrical trailer, closed captioning, full-screen presentation, and optional Spanish subtitles. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (90)

"The New Phone Book Is Here!!, The New Phone Books Is Here!"
This 1979 debut for Steve Martin is one of comedy's greatest classics. This film definitley opened the door for people like Jim Carrey and all those types of comedies. This one will forever be the granddaddy of them all. Steve plays Navin Johnson, a white man who was brought up by a backwoods family who are black. Navin realizes he's not and sets out on his own to find his own life. It's one misadventure after the next. It's also one hilarious joke after another. Along the way he meets and falls in love with Bernadette Peters. There are also appearences by Carl Reiner, Jackie Mason, and M. Emmett Walsh. The movie is so slapsticky silly that it's hilarious fun to watch from beginning to end. I won't say what happens to our good old friend Navin. You'll have to see for yourself. If only the brilliant Steve Martin would return to this type of comedy. This film is pure comedy gold sent from comedy heaven. A definite must!!.

Too Funny
The Jerk is one of the most hilarious movies I've seen. The movie is about Navin Johnson (Steve Martin) who is a white boy adopted into a poor black family. He's a little "slow" and doesn't even realize he's white. The movie opens at his birthday where he's having his favorite "tuna on a white bread sandwich and a twinkie for dessert" dinner.
His problem is that he doesn't have rythmn, and late that night, he's listening to the radio when he hears "white" music, and finds that yes! he has rythmn!
So, Navin sets off to see the world, and a hilarous journey ensues - everything from a dog named sh*thead, assasination attempts to love to riches to insanity happens to poor Navin, but it's a great journey!
***** 5 stars for this classic Steve Martin comedy

If You Ever Need Cheering Up
Then this is the movie for you. That is, if you have any sense of humor whatsoever. There are so many funny, memorable scenes in this movie - like when he's standing right outside his parents' fence hitchhiking or when the guy is shooting at him - "These cans! He hates these cans!" "The new phone book is here!" "I'm somebody now!" The Jerk is one of the best comedies ever made. If you want to laugh, if you can laugh, buy or rent this movie!

Where's the widescreen version?
A classic but demand a widescreen version.

weirdly funny
Steve Martin shows a lot of comedic flair in this, one of his first films (he later tones it down and hones it in later works, which is all I had seen up to this point, so this was very strange in how over-the-top he is.)

Steve plaves Navin, a white boy adopted by a large loving African-American family, who honestly believed he would turn black on his 18th birthday (which is when his family reveals to him that he is adopted, although they had hoped he would figure it out beforehand.)

Determined to make his way out in the world, Navin takes on a series of unrelated jobs that turn out poorly --- gas station attendant (in which he demolishes a church), carnival employee (where he has his first carnal knowledge and his first romantic love -- with two very different women), and later becomes a billionaire through some very odd means.

But at heart, he's just a simple country boy who wants to fit in back where he came from. He's not a bum, he's a jerk! All he has are his friends and a thermos. ... Read more

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Steve Martin takes his wild and crazy persona and splits it into a hilarious battle of the sexes within the same body. Ambitious attorney Roger Cobb is assigned to alter the will of ailing millionaire Edwina Cutwater (Lily Tomlin), who wishes to bequeath her estate to a healthy young woman (Victoria Tennant)--after Cutwater's guru transfers the old eccentric's soul to her healthy body. No one believes for a second it will actually work, until Ms. Cutwater awakens in Roger's body and he becomes, literally, a man possessed, fighting for control of himself. Martin delivers a hilariously animated performance as a body torn between two masters as it wrestles with itself in a spastic walk down a city street. Directed with comic aplomb by regular Martin collaborator Carl Reiner, All of Me combines the best of Martin's self-scripted films--anarchic moments of inspired physical comedy--with a solid (if somewhat silly) narrative holding the scenes together. Screenwriter Phil Alden Robinson went on to script and direct Field of Dreams. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Classic 80's Steve Martin
1984 found director Carl Reiner teaming up with old friend Steve Martin once again. "All Of Me" captures some of Martin's best physical comedy to date. Martin plays sympathetic lawyer Roger Cobb who happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time... and gets crusty "just-dead" Edwina Cutwater's (Tomlin) soul dumped into him by accident... and the lunacy starts. Vicious Terry Hoskins (Victoria Tennant) is quietly evil to a tee. The majority of this film concentrates on Cobb dealing with his mixed feelings (his and Cutwater's), and trying to find the bumbling Prahka Lasa (played by Richard Libertini) so the lost soul of Cutwater can find it's final resting place. I remember this movie being hilarious when it came out and Steve Martin was one of the kings of comedy. While still an entertaining watch today (20 years later), it has lost a tad of it's luster. Three major flaws with this DVD, 1. The lack of absolutely no worthwhile extras on this DVD (comes with a trailer only), 2. Terrible MONO sound, 3. Full screen only... it's no wonder you'll find "All Of Me" in most stores on the bargain rack.

Must see
Simply one of the best movies ever made. As a romantic comedy it does very well, Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin operating in peak form. The soul-searching Martin brings a haunting power to the title song 'All of me', without performing it. I can't hear the song anymore without welling up.

They do it with mirrors
Be advised that this is a rather naughty movie for a PG rating; it probably would have earned a PG-13 had that rating been around at the time. That aside, this is a real gem. What you have is Steve Martin as a lawyer and jazz guitarist (he seems to learn a new skill for every movie), a dog named Bix, a creepy girlfriend, a blind saxophonist, a Tibetan swami, Lily Tomlin as a wacky rich invalid, an amazing and riotous courtroom scene, a New Orleans funeral band playing excerpts of "Just a Closer Walk With Thee" and "Oh Didn't He Ramble," a horse, a dented bowl, a bucket of water, and various and selected other props, all rollicking to an ending so happy it'll bring tears to your eyes. Crazy musicians! (BL, Tucker, GA)

One of my Favorite Comedies!!
This is one of my Favorite comedies of all time! It has the best cast ever for the lead characters, Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin. As for the plot I am going to copy from what I have on a poster in my room of the movie:
"When rich, eccentric Edwina Cutwater died, a crazy guru tried to transport her soul into the body of a beautiful young woman. But the guru goofed, and Edwina's soul is accidentally taken over the entire right side of her lawyer, Rodger Cobb [Steve Martin]. He still controls what's left. Now, Edwina and Roger are living together in the same body. He's losing his job; He's losing his girlfriend. And he just can't seem to get her out of his system. No matter how hard he tries."
Well, there you have the plot...and now for the good part: The acting! Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin are two of my favorite actors of all time...and when I heard they were in a Comedy together I was suprised and amazed! So when I popped in the video I knew it was gonna be good. I'm not going to go into descriptions in detail of the movie because you'll just have to see it to believe me...and I know you won't be dissapointed! This is truly one of the best comedy's ever and with great performances by great actors, "All of Me" certainly can't be missed!!

Great performance
Proof that the Academy Awards don't care for comedy is Steve Martin's failure to get a nomination for his performance in "All of Me", as challenging a role as any in drama. Martin is brilliant in his portrayal as a man with two souls in one body. The story, cast, and laughs are first-rate. The DVD transfer is average and the choice of full-screen is, as always, disappointing. An essential purchase for Steve Martin fans, however. ... Read more

Reviews (28)

A Great Idea!
For the past several years, Steve Martin's comedies have been basically fun, mainstream outings ('Father of the Bride,' 'Parenthood,' etc.). A lot of people may not remember that early in his film career, Martin participated in a lot of experimentation and risk-taking. 'Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid' was one of those early risks in which a story was constructed (sort of) around several classic film clips. Carl Reiner and Martin shot scenes designed to fit into those they borrowed from the classics so that their story of private eye Martin looked credible. The result is a very good idea that works for about half of the film. Martin spouts off some great one-liners and some pretty good sight gags, but the strength of the film is in it's tribute to the Golden Era of filmmaking, made even more memorable by the Rozza score and the Edith Head costumes (her last film).

The plot is really ridiculous and beside the point, but the movie is a lot of fun. I appreciated at the time and still appreciate the risks that Martin took with this and all his early films. I think that maybe 10 or 20 years from now, Martin films like this one, 'The Jerk,' 'The Man With Two Brains' and others will be seen as innovative and ground-breaking.

Inspired Genius
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid is one of those movies that are so jaw-droppingly brilliant that you can't believe what you're seeing.

While the acting is a bit stiff in places, and Steve Martin's occasional use of "dangerous words" doesn't fit with a 40's noir film, the premise and near perfect execution of intercutting old and new films is incredible. For instance, Steve Martin's character's name is Rigby Reardon. On the surface it has that alliterative "Sam Spade" quality so you chalk it up the pastiche. Later however, actors from the old movies refer to someone off-screen as "Mr. Reardon" or "Rigby," and you realize how things were set up from the beginning. Likewise, Rigby's reaction to the words "cleaning woman" seems like just an odd quirk at first - until later, when it gives him an excuse to strangle Bette Davis. The scene of Rigby and Alan Ladd sharing a plate of cookies is simply amazing.

The DVD skimps on extras, but as it's an inexpensive title you're still getting full value for your movie purchasing dollar. Don't miss the original theatrical trailer, though; I don't recall having seen it before and Steve Martin's narration as funny as anything in the film itself (who else could include "sliding" as a major reason to see a movie?).

If you're a fan of the old 40's detective/suspense films, you'll really appreciate this movie. If you're a newcomer to the world of film noir, the movies spliced in here (conveniently listed in the end credits) are some of the best. If you're just looking for laughs, the gags are spaced out quite a bit in parts, but that gives you an opportunity to appreciate the dramatic side of Steve Martin you don't always see.

Steve Martin and Carl Reiner should be very proud to have made this movie. You should be proud to include it in your DVD library.

My favorite Steve Martin movie of them all...
Steve Martin and Rachel Ward are almost too funny for words in this one. With this film, Carl Reiner did to 40's film noir what Mel Brooks did to Star Wars with his Spaceballs -- though I'd say that Reiner's Dead Men Don't far excels Spaceballs. This, as while Mel Brooks uses some great one-liners and sight gags in his send-up of space flicks, Reiner's brilliant pastiche of old clips from classic films (complete with Bogart, Cagney, Milland, etc.) cut together with Steve Martin acting against these scenes is simply astounding in its technical acheievement while being some of the funniest moments ever put to film. This is Steve Martin at his best and Rachel Ward is stunningly beautiful -- with her beauty punctuating her delivery of key scenes in a way that only compounds the comedy, as you'd never expect to see something like this in real life. When she removes the bullets from a wounded Steve Martin, you just have to break out damned near belly laughing. The whole effect works brilliantly and the writing, filming, costumes and acting all work together in a seamless work that is one of the most under-rated films of all time. Thanks for putting it on DVD, I'd about worn my VHS copy out over the years of playing.

Very funny creative movie.
I saw this film in Mexico City years ago. It was in spanish sub-titles. The Mexican audience seemed well aware of the film noir of the 40's gangster films...as they read the sub-titles, they were already laughing before I finished hearing the dialouge.

Yes, it is a very funny movie and Steve Martin is so over the top smooth, it is hilarious. There are some great lines in the movie you won't forget.

And just to see the beautiful & sexy Rachel Ward at the very peak of her incredible beauty, is worth the price of admission.

This is a gem, a sleeper.

It's just great.
It may not be Shakespeare, but if you've ever seen a play by that guy you know he can get pretty silly when he wants to. So watch this movie and feel like an intellectual, guilt free!
The movie is just one brilliant idea from beginning to end, never disappointing you. How many times I've watched something, thinking all along "If only they had managed not to spoil it..."
Well, these guys don't. If I ever need to smile, I have only to remember Steve Martin's exaggerated, cartoonish expression when he's punched in the face, Rachel Ward's sexy, ludicrous way of extracting bullets, or Steven's monologue with a pigeon about what dames do to men's hearts. Who needs Hamlet and a skull? That scene, by the way, was plagiarized one day by Robert Lowe on an episode of that White House show on t.v. .
I always thought Rachel was really an underestimated actress and it's consoling to see (and hear her Jessica Rabbit-like voice) in one of my all time favorite movies.
Carl Reiner was also in "Ocean's Eleven". He's practically unchanged from one movie to another, but in this one he's more convincing, I think.
Indispensable. ... Read more

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Carl Reiner made this enjoyable romantic farce about a divorced couple who commence an affair at their daughter's wedding. Reiner lets the idea bounce around the story's setting and characters so that the full comic effect of the illicit relationship can be felt more chaotically, building on its own irony. Bette Midler and Dennis Farina are quite believable and likable as the not-so-estranged-anymore couple, and Paula Marshall is very good as their exasperated daughter. Not a masterpiece, but one of Reiner's best films in years, with a distinctively European flavor to the comedy. The DVD release has a widescreen presentation, production notes, cast and crew bios, theatrical trailer, Dolby sound, optional Spanish and French soundtracks, and optional Spanish subtitles. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Adorable. It never gets old!
I've seen this film several times, and it just never gets boring. Snappy dialogue, witty characters, and Reiner's simple charm make this movie irresistable each and every time. Though it's not Hollywood's most well-known film or anything like that, THIS is what true romantic comedies are made of.

The film chronicles the "nuclear" relationship between actress Lily (Bette Midler) and author Dan (Dennis Farina), who have been divorced and re-married for 14 years and still argue over whose fault it was that ended their marriage. In a particularly hilarious "civil conversation" at their daughter Molly's (Paula Marshall) wedding, the old feeling is suddenly re-ignited and they embark on a comedic affair with Molly and her new husband Keith hot on their trail. Along the way comes Joey (Danny Nucci), a sleazy photographer who likes to capture particularly bad impromptu photos of Lily to sell in the latest tabloid magazines. Admist the absolute mess and chaos, Joey is hired by a desparate Molly to find her parents in her efforts to try and reunite them with their respective spouses. Though Lily and Dan are the main item in the film's romantic aspect, the relationship that develops between Molly and Joey is equally charming.

Though this film has its flaws, the charming and romantic parallel portraits that it paints are so likeable that the flaws are easily forgiveable. It reminds all of us that old feeling that we have inside of us through the hilarious and comedic affair between Lily and Dan, but at the same time, asks us what it is we're really looking for in Molly and Joey's story.

Overall, this is a highly recommended flick that is fresh each and every time.

Recapture the love of your life¿
There are so many scenes in this delightful farce that I would love to describe in detail, but I will not spoil the surprises. Carl Reiner directed That Old Feeling to perfection. The roller coaster ride begins with a very romantic marriage proposal -- which nearly puts the bride-to-be in the hospital.

Who knew that 14 years after Lilly and Dan (Bette Midler and Dennis Farina) divorced and remarried that one very public argument would activate That Old Feeling? The "nuclear" relationship was rekindled at their daughter's wedding, and the on-screen chemistry between them is sizzling.

Their daughter Molly (Paula Marshall) is the "adult" of the trio. Her poignant comment, "Do you realize how lucky I am that someone normal wanted to marry me?" foreshadows her decision to not settle.

The acting is excellent, and I am sure the cast had a lot of fun making this movie. In one scene, Molly is fixing Joey's (Danny Nucci) hair; her eyes shift quickly as she figures out what will work to tame his wild locks. It is a simple scene, but it shows what good acting is about -- making it believable.

Bohemians and politicians in a showy wedding where Molly's grandmother is tap dancing beg for comments. The political jibes about liberals and Republicans fit the scene and add to the farce.

There are no "F" words; in fact, no swearing at all. Also, there are no sweaty bedroom scenes. The "action" is shown through innuendoes that stimulate imagination. In my opinion, this is much better than bearing it all.

The fights and conversations between Lilly and Dan are stunning. Throughout the movie, great dialogue is snappy and fresh. In the end, Molly and Joey are accused of being just like her parents ... "No, but we soon will be..."

The music score is superb. I own the music CD too.

Five stars for one of my favorite movies.

Victoria Tarrani

Love it!
I love this movie! It's one of my favorites. It's very cute and sweet and funny. I reccomend it to anyone.

Forget the rest of the cast...give me Danny Nucci!!
I think I've seen this movie a bizillion times and like one reviewer said, I never am bored with it. It's just that kind of movie that you can sit back, relax and have a good laugh. The two main couples the movie focuses on are wonderful together; but truthfully the whole cast played their parts very well. I just can't say it enough though...I loooove Danny Nucci. He's so cute! That raven black hair, those dark brooding eyes, that New York accent...

midler and farina were made for each other!!!
I can't count how many times I have seen this movie and still it makes me laugh.

Not a very complex comedy but it doesn't need to be: Molly (Paula Marshall) is getting married to an up-tight blue-blood and is worried that her parents (Midler and Farina) who have been divorced for many years and still hate each other "with a nuclear capability" will ruin her wedding. Despite her reservations she invites them both and it almost comes to a slugfest in the middle of the reception. Yet immediately afterwards the romance, mysteriously, rekindles and the reunited parents of the bride ditch their new spouses (a gold-digger step mother and an overly sensitive therapist stepfather who is a little too attached to his dogs) to head off for a wild weekend, leaving Molly to find them and split them apart.

For help finding her actress mother Molly gets the help of an overzealous paporazzi (played by Danny Nucci) to find them (of course the romance between the two youngsters can't be contained either).

What is the true gem of this movie is the way Midler and Farina play off each other; here is a middle aged couple acting (and even dressing) middle aged but show that no matter how old you are you still have "that old feeling". The argument scenes between them are hysterical and quick-witted (a staple of any Midler performance; aside from Bette Davis-- Midler's namesake-- no one can deliver an insult better than Bette Midler with humor and wrath).

This is a great movie for a Saturday afternoon and I would highly recommend this to anyone! ... Read more

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Carl Reiner directed this wild exercise in bad taste, an explosion of dark comedy starring George Segal and Ruth Gordon. Segal is a beleaguered New York lawyer and mama's boy who still lives with his senile mother because he promised his late father he'd never put her in a home. So he spends his time alternating between work and trying to give his mother a heart attack so that he'll be free. That becomes more urgent when he falls for the nurse (Trish Van Devere) he hires to take care of his mother. Reiner and writer Robert Klane areequal-opportunity offenders, with jokes about rape, racism, and caca (yes, caca). But if you're in the right mood, it can make you howl with laughter. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (19)

A classic without peer
The brothers Hocheiser make a solemn promise to their dying father that they will "never put their mother (Ruth Gordon) in a home." But brother Gordon (George Siegel) gets stuck with the old dingbat and she is wrecking his life. His law practice is falling apart, his sex life nonexistent, and he can't even hire a nurse to take care of the wacko. Then, suddenly, a nurse-- the girl of his dreams comes along, but mother has other ideas. This wonderful, creative, hilarious 1970 classic comedy directed by Carl Reiner with its gallows humor could not be made today. We have lost much of our artistic freedom to political correctness, commercial timidity and lack of creative talent. But don't take my word for it, ask Mel Brooks who has remarked that some of his movies could not be made today either. Fortunately we can get the video. The movie does require a somewhat offbeat taste to appreciate. Everything and everyone is in a kind of reality warp, the Hocheiser family, the Central Park muggers, the police, the nurse Louise (Patricia Van Devere). The movie is also comment on life in America in 1970, and on how family members manipulate each other with guilt. Finally, I like the ending the movie was released with, it really does work better artistically.

Hilarious Adult comedy!
One of Carl Reiners best! George Segal (Just shoot me) is at his best. Ruth Gordon(Any Which way but loose) steals alot of scenes though as George`s senile mother.This movie is a must see for everyone over the age of 18. I guarantee you`ll hurt yourself laughing.

Been there, done that
If you've ever taken care of an elderly parent, you've got to see this movie. Each time I watch it, I feel like I'm living it. The person who wrote this movie must have taken care of an elderly parent or relative. Totally hysterical. If you don't think it's funny, it's because you have taken care of any older person.

A VERY BLACK COMEDY....
George Segal is wonderful as Gordon the attorney stuck with his aging addled Mama. Ron Liebman is appropriately befuddled as the nerdish brother Sidney and Trish Van Devere (in her film debut) is strangely idyllic as Gordons' new girlfriend. But it's Ruth Gordon who's watchable here. She is fearless in her hilarious (and, yes, touching) portrayal of Mama. You never know if it's all an act to keep her son Gordon hamstringed or if she's really senile or ,by todays' standards, in the onset of Alzheimers'. She's such a skilled performer. Whatever the truth is, she's delightful to watch. This is a "bare bones" disc: no real extras except the trailer and the bizarre alternate ending ("Papa's here") which I won't describe. The film looks great and it is very tasteless in spots but nonetheless enjoyable if you're game. A must if you're a Segal or Gordon fan and a rare treasure of way-y-y-y off-beat black comedy.

Controversial Even Then
From the moment George Segal dons a gorilla suit and leaps on mom's bed, growling and beating a shaggy chest, whereupon mom (Ruth Gordon) delivers a paralyzing fist to his groin, the audience knows this is not a typical family relationship. In fact, the rest of the film elaborates hilariously on the mounting desperation middle-aged bachelor and attorney Segal faces as he tries to outwit the aged and addled Gordon, who turns his every stab at independence into humiliating defeat. Poor Gordon Hocheiser, he's facing a bleak future, unless something is finally done about mom.

This is a signature movie of the 60's, a companion piece to that other iconoclast comedy of the period, Harold and Maude. Only here, the counter-cultural message is less noticeable, limited pretty much to mock face-offs with a deranged army general and a marauding football coach. The screenplay is richly inventive, trading on the unexpected in often highly provocative ways. The film however belongs to Segal whose comedy instinct proves flawless, his hang-dog deadpan growing ever longer as the gallows grow ever closer. We want him to win, get control of life, and escape mom's clinging grasp. But can he.The film is not so much an attack on aged parents as a healthy plea for adult independence--old lady Hocheiser has few redeeming qualities while Gordon's irrepressible girlishness, unlike her role in Harold and Maude, resembles that of a demented kewpie doll. Admittedly, the movie is not for everyone, many scenes being as outrageous as they are funny. Yet the social commentary remains lively and incisive, and despite fashions of the day, retains a distinct relevancy. (Consider the old age home operated as a zombified warehouse by Paul Sorvino looking and acting like a mafia capo.) (My copy, incidentally, contains a humorously satisfying conclusion of a car exiting in long shot.) So, if you're curious about what even the permissive and freewheeling 60's found controversial, then take a chance on this one. ... Read more

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Carl Reiner directed this sweet comedy about the Man Upstairs visiting Earth in the form of a funny little guy (George Burns). John Denver is the good man chosen to be God's contact in the modern age--and like an Old Testament prophet, Denver's character pays the price by being ridiculed and faced with criminal charges. Denver is a warm presence, but the film is entirely in Burns's court. Reiner feeds him lines that come out of Burns' mouth like stage patter, and it's no wonder he got a huge career boost from this film in the winter of his life. Except for some courtroom stuff in the third act--where Reiner inadvertently cheapens the movie with editing tricks to suggest "miracles"--Oh, God! is just fine. (It's certainly better than its two perfunctory sequels, Oh God! Book II and Oh God! You Devil.) --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (21)

God recruits agnostic man to spread His Message
George Burns and John Denver are a winning pair as God and the young middle class American guy who has trouble "believing", much less spreading the Good News. The "tests" Denver has for Burns to prove that he really IS God are hilarious. When Denver asks Burns to make it rain (on a sunny day), Burns does just that...but only inside of Denver's car! Eventually Denver does get the "message" and lives his life as a better person. -- This is a wonderful family movie, followed by a somewhat weaker, but no less sweet sequal (Oh God, Book II). A little 70s nostalgia doesn't hurt this film one bit. A winner!

CULT MOVIES 40
40. OH! GOD! (comedy, 1977) Jerry (John Denver) is an assistant-manager for a produce store. He's an honest man who has a wife and 2 kids. Just your normal kind of guy that is until God (George Burns) requests an audience with him. He has picked Jerry to carry his message of good will to an increasingly pessimistic world. But Jerry finds that people are difficult to convert, he even has trouble trying to make his family understand that God appears to him as a kindly old guy. His faith remains strong until his call starts to slowly filter through.

Critique: A surprise box-office hit when first released, it spawned other sequels that proved interesting ('OH! GOD! BOOK 2', 'OH! GOD! YOU DEVIL'). 81 year old George Burns shines as the perennial God, a role that he played with sweet abandonment. His deliveries of lines are perfectly executed. This God seems to have an answer for everything: on creating the world he quips; "to tell you the truth I thought about it for 6 days and did the whole thing in 1". What's most interesting is that the film takes an unbiased, non-religious look at our Creator. This God doesn't believe in religions or its leaders, and sees "human suffering" as being our fault (not his) since we perpetrate the acts. No wonder the very simple themes and in-jokes appealed to so many.

QUOTE: Jerry: "Sometimes, now and then, couldn't we just talk?" God: "Tell you what, you talk I'll listen."

Good movie, good commentary track
As much as I really like this movie, I wish there was a box set including the two sequels. The original is the best, easily, but with the amount of movie series coming to dvd it would only make sense to have the trilogy. "Oh God Book Two" is lackluster, for the most part, but "Oh God You Devil" is quite a corker (with George Burns playing a dual role as God and the Devil).

This is a low-key, laid back kind of movie. This might seem insufferably tame and sedate by many of today's young moviegoers, especially in light of manic "comedies" such as "Bruce Almighty" which had fun with religious-themed humor. But for those of us old enough to remember it- and to remember the sly wit of George Burns- it is a treat to revisit the movie in widescreen. The commentary track with Carl Reiner and Teri Garr is a winner, essentially as laid back as the movie itself but entirely satisfying. Speaking of Ms. Garr, she was quite a fox back in the day and looks great in this movie. God bless her as she struggles with MS.

It's been said before, but the ending of the movie gets a little gimmicky and could've been just as low-key as the rest of the movie. The 'special effects' and theatrics in the courtroom are a bit out of step with the rest of the movie. But otherwise, this one is a real charmer. Now, if only we could get the sequels on dvd too.....

Compelling View of a Very Personable God
When granted an interview with God, John Denver - an assistant manager at Food World, thinks that it is a practical joke by one of his friends. When the invitation turns up again in an unexpected place, it gets his attention - even though he doesn't believe in God.

George Burns plays wonderfully as God and the ensuing scenes where he convinces Denver that he is who he says he is have an enduring and endearing quality. His message is simple. God is alive. God cares. We have been given everything we need to make it work - and it can, if we want it to. Convincing the world, however, is another matter. From the religious editor at the LA Times who thinks Denver is just another fruitcake to Denver's boss at Food World who is offended that Denver would suggest that God would pick an unbelieving assistant manager instead of him, a man who has prayed with Billy Graham, no less, all the personalities come out. After an appearance on Dinah Shore, spaced out weirdos show up on his lawn and harass his kids and wife. Finally, a panel of religious experts agree to give Denver a set of questions that he could not possibly answer (they are written in Aramaic). After completing the questions, Denver delivers his package and a few choice words from God to a stereotypical televangelist (aka "God's Own Quarterback" - having delivered the benediction at this year's Superbowl). The film finally culminates in a courtroom scene where Burns, as God, gives a powerful delivery.

This film has some of the best writing. Burns has many humorous lines - it IS a comedy - but he also has some pretty profound and meaningful lines. In an obvious reference to the film The Exorcist, he comments on how easy it is for people to believe in the devil. But not God. He says that what we have here is some of his best work, that we should take care of it and appreciate it. He says that he knows how hard it can be in these troubled times to believe in God but, if it helps, we should know that he believes in us.

Classic 70's cinema -- weak DVD features
If you're reading this, you've probably already seen it and know it's a great movie. The DVD features are minimal (trailers, a list of awards, and George Burns' movies). Some deleted scenes or outtakes would have been really interesting, but there are none offered.

The commentary track reveals a few interesting things about the movie, but also rambles about non-related things. They admitted they hadn't seen the movie in a long time, so their commentary could have been better had they prepared.

Another weird problem: the music on the main menu is so distorted it sounds like it's being played through a cheap hand radio. But the sound on the movie is good.

If I could rate the DVD features separately, I would give them two stars. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A Family Tree Becomes A Family Bush
I found this movie so funny and mind-bending. About a woman, Marjorie Turner, who is so bored with her husband, Harry Turner, is persuaded to have an affair by her sister, Jeanine. Marjorie does, indeed, have the affair (which is against her character): Unwittingly, with her husband's brother, Charles Turner Jr. Talk about loving someone to death! A salesman, Nick, enters the hotel room, with the body under the covers. He tries to install vertical blinds, and they fall on the head of the dead chap. Nick thought that he killed Charles. He manages to call Marjorie, to tell her about the news of the death of what he thought to be her husband. (Marjorie tripped over Nick's blinds, things spill out of her purse. She hurries into the lift before Nick discovers her wallet.) Both of them find themselves in a sticky-wicket. Neither can contact the officials (for Marjorie's husband and his family are doctors, and Nick's brother is a policeman.) So they try to make it appear that Charles committed suicide. Brothers and sisters of Marjorie, Harry, and Nick all get involved somehow or another. It's difficult to give details without confusing you (as I said, it's mind-bending) and/or giving out too much information. Kirstie Alley is Marjorie Turner; Bill Pullman is Nick; Scott Bakula is Harry Turner (who, by the way, looks absolutly gorgeous with longer hair and beard at the end); Sam Elliot is Charles Turner Jr.; Jami Gertz is Jeanine; etc. Three families intertwine so much that they are no longer family trees, but a family bush! Enjoy!

Sibling Rivalry - A Family Tree Becomes A Family Bush
I found this movies so funny and mind-bending. About a women, who is bored with her husband, is persuaded to have an affair by her sister. Marjorie does have an affair: unwittingly, with her husband's brother. Talk about loving someone to death! A salesman, Nick, enters the hotel room, with the body under the covers. He tries to install vertical blinds, and they fall on the head of the dead chap in bed (Charles Jr.). Nick thought that he killed Charles. He manages to call Marjorie, to tell about the news of the death of what he thought to be her husband. Both of them find themselves in a sticky-wicket. Neither can contact the officials (for Marjorie's husband [Harry] and his family are doctors, and Nick's brother is a policeman.) So they try to make it appear that Charles committed suicide. Brothers and sisters of Marjorie, Harry, Nick, all get involved somehow or another. It's difficult to give details without either confusing you or giving too much information away. The cast is good. Kirstie Alley as Marjorie Turner; Bill Pullman as Nick; Scott Bakula as Harry Turner (who, by the way, looks absolutly gorgeous with longer hair and beard at the end); Sam Elliot as Charles Jr. Turner; Jami Gertz as Marjorie's sister, Jenenne; etc. Three families intertwine so much that they are no longer family trees, but a family bush. Enjoy!

Horrible
I'll make this review quick: This movie was so awful that I seriously contemplated jabbing my eyes out with a rusty fork so that I would no longer have to watch it. The acting is ok, but for the people in the movie (especially Kirstie), it's very below par. The plot is convoluted and stupid, and by the time 1/4th of the movie has passed, any interest or concern for what happens to the characters is replaced by a concern for how much longer the film can possibly continue. Save yourself the money and time that I will never be able to get back: don't watch this movie.

A funny little Movie
This movie has some scenes in it that make you laugh until you cry. Kirsty Alley's character who is a bored wife of a Doctor has a crazy fling with Sam Elliott's character. She thinks it's a one night stand until she finds out he is her husband's brother returning to the US after being away for years. When her brother-in-law dies of a heart attack in the motel room, the movie takes off as Bill Pullman a nerdy blind salesman tries to help her make it look like her brother-in-law committed suicide. Carrie Fisher plays a snotty Sister-in-law. A Great cast and a funny movie.

Rolling on the floor laughing
There are not many movies I can watch 6 times and enjoy every
time. Kirstie Alley, Sam Eliott, Ed O'Neil, and Carrie Fisher
are all at their best, and this commedy does not hold back any
opportunity to score laughs. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A quote
I saw this one ages ago on a TV. I vagely remember it being a simple and warm comedy with a rather sobering ending. The reason it deserves a five-star grade is probably the best quote I've ever seen in any movie. There's this scene where his agent is trying to teach the main character (Winkler) some sense and he goes: Look, there are two kinds of people in this world: there are people who put the lamp- shades on lamps and the others who put the lamp-shades on their heads. You're in the second group.

This comedy is the One and Only!
An excellent comedy that will sure to make your sides ache. This is about an actor (Henry Winkler) that is out of work and cannot find an acting job. He meets, falls in love with, and marries a beautiful girl (Kim Darby). He finally does find work that is kind of along the lines of acting: he becomes a professional wrestler. There are the hillarious challenges of him having to explain not only to his wife, but also to his inlaws, the nature of his employment. You will enjoy The One And Only. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

The tragic rise and fall of the silent clown Billy Bright
"The Comic" is the bittersweet story of the rise and fall of Billy Bright, a comedian of the silent film era played by Dick Van Dyke. To me this story, written and directed by Carl Reiner, references many of the silent clowns, and not any particular one. Personally, I see more of Chaplin than Keaton in the story (especially in the final shot), but Billy Bright is a unique creation. Van Dyke makes the character come alive, not only in his effective recreation of classic silent comedy, but in depicting the dark side of the man as well. When Bright destroys his career and causes his friends and wife to turn away from him, you will want to do the same thing. Of course, there is also the irony of Van Dyke, whose battle with alcoholism was becoming known to the public around the time this film was released, as I recall. Clearly this is the actor's best dramatic performance while still allowing him to show his comic talents in several wonderful set pieces. The best thing about "The Comic" is that it rings true and you will come away from watching it ready to believe this was the true story of a real life that was thrown away by someone who actually lived.

Audio killed the silent screen star
A memorable composite biopic about a silent film comedy star who has trouble handling success, and then falls afoul of the advent of sound. The film quotes scenes from other famous movies. For example, the main character voices-over his own funeral, a la _Sunset Boulevard_. But it is a memorable production for its own sake. We follow the comic from success straining his marriage, to his star on the wane, to attempts at a comeback, until we leave him as a pathetic wreck, old and full of regrets, watching one of his old films on late night TV. Affecting stuff...

Scenes that will stay with you forever
I have read reviews of this film both here and on other movies sites and have never come across such a mixed bag of opinons! Everything from a misguided interpetation that it's based on the life of Buster Keaton (which it is not!) to a review here of scenes that will haunt you (which they will). I also saw this film in the 70's and have been lucky enough to catch it again 15 years ago.

Van Dyke and Rooney do it and do it well. Some of the best scenes are the Comics' later years. The closing scene you will never forget, it has haunted me since the first time I saw this movie.

For those of you who can buy it over there, get it, you won't regret it. Unfortunately it just isn't available down here. Believe me I have searched high and low for years.

Unfortunately, disappointing
I looked forward to seeing this, but have to say that it was disappointing. It seems superficial, with the acting just passable. I'd guess that Carl Reiner's writing and direction are the problems. No subtlety, or cleverness. Dick Van Dyke does his best, but the material seems very thin. Too bad.

"Huantingly Memorable"
I saw this film back in the 70's and i could not get it out of my mind. Without a doubt the best work Van Dyke has done. He and Reiner sculpt a film of unforgettable honesty & humor. This is a soft spoken study of humanity. I'd compare "The Comic" to "Chaplin" but for me more memorable in it's simplicity. About a silent film star forgotten with the years "The Comic" also creeps into film history "silently" as a Classic. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A weak, lazy comedy about an easygoing teacher (Mark Harmon, whose movie career never had the kind of trajectory that his TV work did) who is forced to teach--you guessed it--summer school. What's worse, he gets exactly the kind of kids you'd expect: the losers and slackers who are forced to make up the work they didn't complete during the year. He tries to duck work and let them fend for themselves. But in this mushy Carl Reiner film, the teacher offers some life lessons to his band of delinquents and--surprise, surprise--the kids impart a lesson or two to their teacher, as well. Harmon coasts through the film on his good looks, which are considerable. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (40)

I can watch it over and over again
This is one of my favorite movies. I have watched it infinite times. This movie is funny and entertaining. I never get bored watching it. It's a story of a gym teacher who gets to teach summer school, and in order to get a tenure for next year he has to make the students pass their english tests, but they are students lacking motivation and skills. On the way to the test the story has a lot of sub plots, and very funny and memorable moments, with great characters like Chainsaw and Dave who love horror movies, Denise a dislexic girl, Larry an underage stripper, Pam (Courtney Thorne Smith) a surfer, and of course Freddy Shoop (Mark Harmon) and Robin Bishop (Kirsty Alley).

Harmless Fun
1987's Summer School is an underrated comedy from the 80's. The plot revolves around reluctant summer school teacher, Freddy Shoop (Mark Harmon), who is forced into the job after the original teacher hits the lottery. Shoop is a gym teacher and he must deal with a classroom full of typical high school misfits. Throughout the summer, Shoop's unconventional teaching methods get him trouble with the school's vice principal, but wins over the kids. The film is carried by the immensely likable cast. Mr. Harmon reactions to the student's quirks and miscues are perfectly timed and the students provide genuine laughs. Dean Cameron & Gary Riley are hilarious as shock meisters Chainsaw and Dave, Richard Steven Horowitz plays the perfect geek as Alan Eakain and a young Courtney Thorne-Smith is alluring as Pam House who develops a big time thing for Shoop. Kirstie Alley shows up as a love interest for Shoop. Summer School is a great, lightweight movie that is small on plot, but big on laughs and fun.

The Single Funniest Movie Ever
'Summer School' is truly the funniest movie in the history of film. You've gotta get past the 1987 styles and fashion, but once u do that...this movie is the great. Dave, Chainsaw, the pregnant surfer...ahh, you gotta see it to know what I mean. A cinematic classic. Its about time it came out on DVD. Go buy it now.

Don't wet your pants.....watch this...!
Brilliant and sooooooo underrated. I'm a huge fan, and I'm so glad it's finally on DVD!

Lots of fun!!!
Fun 80's movie. Good acting. Good directing. Favorite line from the movie: When the high school gym teacher (Mark Harmon) is told he has to teach summer school he says, "...but I'm not a real teacher!" The principal replies, "That's okay, they're not real students." ... Read more

Reviews (28)

A Great Idea!
For the past several years, Steve Martin's comedies have been basically fun, mainstream outings ('Father of the Bride,' 'Parenthood,' etc.). A lot of people may not remember that early in his film career, Martin participated in a lot of experimentation and risk-taking. 'Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid' was one of those early risks in which a story was constructed (sort of) around several classic film clips. Carl Reiner and Martin shot scenes designed to fit into those they borrowed from the classics so that their story of private eye Martin looked credible. The result is a very good idea that works for about half of the film. Martin spouts off some great one-liners and some pretty good sight gags, but the strength of the film is in it's tribute to the Golden Era of filmmaking, made even more memorable by the Rozza score and the Edith Head costumes (her last film).

The plot is really ridiculous and beside the point, but the movie is a lot of fun. I appreciated at the time and still appreciate the risks that Martin took with this and all his early films. I think that maybe 10 or 20 years from now, Martin films like this one, 'The Jerk,' 'The Man With Two Brains' and others will be seen as innovative and ground-breaking.

Inspired Genius
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid is one of those movies that are so jaw-droppingly brilliant that you can't believe what you're seeing.

While the acting is a bit stiff in places, and Steve Martin's occasional use of "dangerous words" doesn't fit with a 40's noir film, the premise and near perfect execution of intercutting old and new films is incredible. For instance, Steve Martin's character's name is Rigby Reardon. On the surface it has that alliterative "Sam Spade" quality so you chalk it up the pastiche. Later however, actors from the old movies refer to someone off-screen as "Mr. Reardon" or "Rigby," and you realize how things were set up from the beginning. Likewise, Rigby's reaction to the words "cleaning woman" seems like just an odd quirk at first - until later, when it gives him an excuse to strangle Bette Davis. The scene of Rigby and Alan Ladd sharing a plate of cookies is simply amazing.

The DVD skimps on extras, but as it's an inexpensive title you're still getting full value for your movie purchasing dollar. Don't miss the original theatrical trailer, though; I don't recall having seen it before and Steve Martin's narration as funny as anything in the film itself (who else could include "sliding" as a major reason to see a movie?).

If you're a fan of the old 40's detective/suspense films, you'll really appreciate this movie. If you're a newcomer to the world of film noir, the movies spliced in here (conveniently listed in the end credits) are some of the best. If you're just looking for laughs, the gags are spaced out quite a bit in parts, but that gives you an opportunity to appreciate the dramatic side of Steve Martin you don't always see.

Steve Martin and Carl Reiner should be very proud to have made this movie. You should be proud to include it in your DVD library.

My favorite Steve Martin movie of them all...
Steve Martin and Rachel Ward are almost too funny for words in this one. With this film, Carl Reiner did to 40's film noir what Mel Brooks did to Star Wars with his Spaceballs -- though I'd say that Reiner's Dead Men Don't far excels Spaceballs. This, as while Mel Brooks uses some great one-liners and sight gags in his send-up of space flicks, Reiner's brilliant pastiche of old clips from classic films (complete with Bogart, Cagney, Milland, etc.) cut together with Steve Martin acting against these scenes is simply astounding in its technical acheievement while being some of the funniest moments ever put to film. This is Steve Martin at his best and Rachel Ward is stunningly beautiful -- with her beauty punctuating her delivery of key scenes in a way that only compounds the comedy, as you'd never expect to see something like this in real life. When she removes the bullets from a wounded Steve Martin, you just have to break out damned near belly laughing. The whole effect works brilliantly and the writing, filming, costumes and acting all work together in a seamless work that is one of the most under-rated films of all time. Thanks for putting it on DVD, I'd about worn my VHS copy out over the years of playing.

Very funny creative movie.
I saw this film in Mexico City years ago. It was in spanish sub-titles. The Mexican audience seemed well aware of the film noir of the 40's gangster films...as they read the sub-titles, they were already laughing before I finished hearing the dialouge.

Yes, it is a very funny movie and Steve Martin is so over the top smooth, it is hilarious. There are some great lines in the movie you won't forget.

And just to see the beautiful & sexy Rachel Ward at the very peak of her incredible beauty, is worth the price of admission.

This is a gem, a sleeper.

It's just great.
It may not be Shakespeare, but if you've ever seen a play by that guy you know he can get pretty silly when he wants to. So watch this movie and feel like an intellectual, guilt free!
The movie is just one brilliant idea from beginning to end, never disappointing you. How many times I've watched something, thinking all along "If only they had managed not to spoil it..."
Well, these guys don't. If I ever need to smile, I have only to remember Steve Martin's exaggerated, cartoonish expression when he's punched in the face, Rachel Ward's sexy, ludicrous way of extracting bullets, or Steven's monologue with a pigeon about what dames do to men's hearts. Who needs Hamlet and a skull? That scene, by the way, was plagiarized one day by Robert Lowe on an episode of that White House show on t.v. .
I always thought Rachel was really an underestimated actress and it's consoling to see (and hear her Jessica Rabbit-like voice) in one of my all time favorite movies.
Carl Reiner was also in "Ocean's Eleven". He's practically unchanged from one movie to another, but in this one he's more convincing, I think.
Indispensable. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Carl Reiner tried to give the Mel Brooks treatment to the Fatal Attraction/Basic Instinct genre of films about vicious, conniving women and the not-so-bright men who get involved with them. In this case, it's Armand Assante, an actor not particularly known for his comedic chops. He plays a guy who is both a police detective and a defense attorney, so he can defend the people he arrests. He becomes the target of a female stalker (Sean Young, in a bit of typecasting), as well as the dupe in a murder plot involving his wife (Kate Nelligan). Reiner takes a scattershot approach to comedy, hoping to play in the same ballpark as the Zucker brothers or Brooks. While he hits a few singles and the occasional double, he never knocks a joke out of the park and so the movie winds up with an awful lot of pop fouls. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Fatally Funny: A Parody Of The 90's Classic Thrillers
This movie was on tv about a week ago. I could not stop laughing. The comedy is top notch in much the same lines of The Naked Gun/Leslie Nielson movies. On DVD, the experience must be as hilarious as its original release in 1993. Armand Assante (yes a serious actor in a comic role really works although they could have easily used Leslie Nielson for the part) stars as the victim of the scheming Lola (Sean Young) who will stop at nothing to see his marriage ruined. Like the title suggests, the movie is a cross between Fatal Attraction and Basic Instinct. Those were the two most standard thrillers during the early 90's period. Both films starred Michael Douglas as the target of a scheming and obscessed woman. The laughs keep on coming as the obvious parodies are executed. I.E. the famous Interrogation Scene in Basic Instict, the murder in the bath tub and the cooked rabbit in Fatal Attraction. Also on here are parodies of Sleeping With The Enemy starring Julia Roberts and Patrick Bergin, a 1991 thriller about a husband who is obscessed with his own wife and who likes to have his own things in the house arranged his way. This movie is really great comedy and really will take you to the 90's. The 90's is long gone and many were too little to remember everything in detail. But it was a time in which movies were full of thrillers. I wish they had made a spoof of "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle" on this film too. It was a time of laughing at criminals and their schocking crimes. Remember the Melendez Brothers ? Remember Lorena Bobbit ? And let's not forget the secret plotting of Tonya Harding against Nancy Carrigan. All this happened in the 90's. This was the time of the O.J. Simpson trial after all. I really recommend this movie. Many can easily dismiss it as cheap comedy but there are some genuinely comic moments, such as Armand Assante and Sean Young's lovemaking scene, the final part of the movie is funny too. A must have for fans of comedies of the 90's.

Bad Reviews? I Don't Know Why...
This movie was slammed by critics. The most common review of this said that there was 'just too many jokes' in it. I watched it with a critical eye, and thought it was a really fun movie.

I didn't laugh out loud with tears running down my face, but did spend the entire run time giggling at the antics of all the characters. The cast consists of several Serious Actors (Kate Nelligan, Armand Assante) who play their parts as though they were in a drama. To me, those are excellent comedic acting skills. It's when actors play for laughs that they are not funny.

You might not be tickled by this one if you aren't familiar with the 'film noir' and detective film genre. If you are a fan of those, you will laugh as you recognize all the devices in those films over-used to good effect in this one.

I had a good time watching it...give it a try!

Wonderfully funny movie
Love this movie! After watching it on TV for the umptenth time, have decided to buy the DVD. It will be great to pull off the shelf for a good time! It's a humorous compilation of several good thriller/suspense movies, with a 1950-60s backdrop. Love the scene where they call recess during the courtroom trial.

If you like Airplane, you'll howl at this gem of a movie
This brand of comedy is not for all, but if you like Airplane, Naked Gun, etc., then you'll love this movie. Some like this type of humor only with Leslie Nielson as the lead, but Armand Assante pulls this one off superbly as the dragnet-type of detective who happens to be a lawyer. Sean Young is terrific in her role as Lola, a scheming femme fatale. The movie spoofs other movies, but even if you don't catch them all, the humor is nonstop and, in some cases, hilarious enough to chuck your popcorn all over the floor...

Good film, finally on DVD, but... in full screen?!?
No, thanks. The commentary and outtakes are a perfect addition, but the film's being in awful full screen format ruins it immediately. I'll wait for a real, widescreen version, even if it's without the extras. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Meet Dr. Michael Hfuhruhurr (Steve Martin), the famous brainsurgeon. Perhaps the name is not unfamiliar, though it is unpronounceable; thegood doctor is the inventor of the celebrated "screw-top" method of brain surgery, in which the top of the skull twists off as easily as the lidof a pickle jar. The man may be a medical genius, but his talent for loveleaves something to be desired, which explains his marriage to a gold-digging vixen (Kathleen Turner). Ah, but Dr. Hfuhruhurr may yet find true love,in the form of the disembodied brain he discovers in the lab of a mad scientist--David Warner, gone the Frankenstein route. (Lovely image:Hfuhruhurr in a rowboat, taking the brain out for a romantic ride onthe lake.) Thus, in its own utterly goofy way, does The Man with Two Brains delve into the eternal dilemma of male indecision:does aman fall in love with a woman's body, or with her mind? Along the way, of course, there are gags both highbrow and very, very lowbrow, amind-body split that might be why critics have tended to prefer the more sophisticated slapstick of All of Me (directed, like this film,by Carl Reiner) and Roxanne among the early Steve Martin outings. Still, this is one of Martin's funniest pictures, and a game Kathleen Turner, fresh off her Body Heat success, ably spoofs her ownsultry image. The cerebral love object is voiced by Sissy Spacek. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (32)

"It's Pronounced Dr. Hfuhruhrr!!!...."
Once upon a time, back in the 80's, there was a physical comedian of such brilliance, such intelligent silliness, who made movies like this. Alas, that silly guy has all but disappeared in the tamer '90's. Of course, I'm talking about that wild and crazy guy Steve Martin. This is, by far, Steve's funniest movie(besides The Jerk). He plays a prominent brain surgeon who falls for a gold digging hussy(played seductively wicked by Kathleen Turner). Once the new wife shows her true colors, our beloved doctor falls in love with a "special" brain he finds in the lab of a mad scientist(David Warner). Where else would he find it?. He can hear the brain's thoughts. The voice of the brain supplied by Sissy Spacek. It shows how much a man can fall for a woman's mind, rather than her body. Martin is a master genius. That much is true. He delivers one of his most memorable comedic performances. Kathleen Turner is wonderfully bitchy in the role. Who else is more suited?. The gags are silly and some are over the top. But, it works. Martin has a knack for making simple things laugh out loud funny. He also has a way of making silly things look downright intelligent. He can make walking down the street funny. That's the sign of a true comedian. Carl Reiner directed this comedy classic. Watch out for the 'Elevator Killer'. It's one of the better jokes. Really funny. Now, if only people could pronounce the good doctor's name right....

Great, silly fun...Martin's best
This is pure Steve Martin insane, silly fun. Directed by Carl Reiner (that's Mel Brooks partner and director Rob's pop).

We join Martin, as world famous neuro-surgeon Dr. Michael Hfuhruhurr (pronounced huff-ehrr, or something like that!), the inventor of the 'cranial screw-top' brain entry. He's recently lost his wife, who he idolizes, but soon enough he meets fortune hunter Dolores (Kathleen Turner), who's only after him for his money.

The story has us following Dr. Hufrfrfrrrrr (see, no one can pronounce it correctly!) through ridiculous situations, typical of Martin's comedy. From a strike of elevator operators in Austria, to a castle inside an apartment, to that damn cat! Lots and lots of hysterical moments arise. Martin is great as a dumb, gullable man, while Turner is at her bitchy best.

If you want to spend a couple of hours of brainless (regardless of the film's theme!) humor, then you won't miss with The man with two brains. Definetely Martin's best...

Clever Script Wrapped in Steve Martin Lunacy
Steve Martin is in his element, able to use all of his comic talents, including song & dance, juggling and acrobatics. The script is delicious, including many one-of-a-kind lines that will be long remembered and credited to this film.

The bizarre "Frankenstein-like" story of a self-important brain surgeon in search of true love, who eventually finds it in a glass laboratory jar. The wicked wife (played perfectly by Kathleen Turner) and the parade of walk-ons are hilarious. Although the story is rediculous, the comic nonsense will keep the viewers attention. The awful (fake) German spoken by the "locals" in the Austrian setting is outdone only by the over-the-top situations. The elvevater-murderer side-plot (and the eventual revelation of identity of the killer) are wonderfully amusing.

One serious flaw is the fact that the Steve Martin character never rises above the selfish-pig level. To the end, he is interested only in his own wants and needs, willing to murder so he could have the "perfect" wife. This extreme selfishness may put viewers off (it did me). Otherwise, this is one big Steve Martin Special!****

Funny, but crude
I'm a fan of Steve Martin's comedies. I loved him "The Jerk" and was looking forward to viewing another of his earlier movies. This movie WAS funny, but I found it to be much more graphic than I expected--in the sexual language and brief nudity scences. (I didn't realize that it was rated R before I started watching it.) The vast majority of the humor revolves around him waiting to have sex with his gold-digging wife (Kathleen Turner) who leads him on for weeks after their marriage.

It's a funny movie, with some classic Steve Martin antics, but be prepared for lots of off-colored humor and a little bit of nudity.

Misleading Title
This movie just isn't all that funny. I was really dissapointed, being a big Steve Martin fan. But this came across as a bad version of "All of Me." (A Hilarious Movie) There are a few good gags in the movie, but everything else just seems so contrived and not all that funny. It's a good concept, and a bad movie. Rent it if you must, but it's not that great.
And the cover of the movie makes you think Steve Martin has two brains. He doesn't. Not worth it. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A Family Tree Becomes A Family Bush
I found this movie so funny and mind-bending. About a woman, Marjorie Turner, who is so bored with her husband, Harry Turner, is persuaded to have an affair by her sister, Jeanine. Marjorie does, indeed, have the affair (which is against her character): Unwittingly, with her husband's brother, Charles Turner Jr. Talk about loving someone to death! A salesman, Nick, enters the hotel room, with the body under the covers. He tries to install vertical blinds, and they fall on the head of the dead chap. Nick thought that he killed Charles. He manages to call Marjorie, to tell her about the news of the death of what he thought to be her husband. (Marjorie tripped over Nick's blinds, things spill out of her purse. She hurries into the lift before Nick discovers her wallet.) Both of them find themselves in a sticky-wicket. Neither can contact the officials (for Marjorie's husband and his family are doctors, and Nick's brother is a policeman.) So they try to make it appear that Charles committed suicide. Brothers and sisters of Marjorie, Harry, and Nick all get involved somehow or another. It's difficult to give details without confusing you (as I said, it's mind-bending) and/or giving out too much information. Kirstie Alley is Marjorie Turner; Bill Pullman is Nick; Scott Bakula is Harry Turner (who, by the way, looks absolutly gorgeous with longer hair and beard at the end); Sam Elliot is Charles Turner Jr.; Jami Gertz is Jeanine; etc. Three families intertwine so much that they are no longer family trees, but a family bush! Enjoy!

Sibling Rivalry - A Family Tree Becomes A Family Bush
I found this movies so funny and mind-bending. About a women, who is bored with her husband, is pe