Brain Donors
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: John Turturro, Mel SmithDVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); English (Original Language)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.78:1
Running Time: 80 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-10-26
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Paramount
Movie Reviews of Brain Donors
Movie Review: Riotous laugh-out-loud romp, one of the funniest movies ever
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the unjustly neglected 1992 update of The Marx Brothers' "A Night at the Opera." When "Brain Donors" opened in theaters, critics hailed it as the funniest movie of the year -- and then the studio suddenly took it off the market, which led some to believe that the film was a failure. What really happened was, the Zucker brothers (who produced "Airplane!" and the "Naked Gun" comedies) made a comedy called "Lame Ducks." When the Zuckers changed studios, their former studio pulled the plug on "Lame Ducks," sliced it down to an hour and a quarter, retitled it "Brain Donors," and gave it only a token release before withdrawing it. Since then the film has achieved a cult status among comedy fans as a little-known gem, and it's great to see it on DVD.
It's a very, very funny comedy, with sharp dialogue by Pat Proft. The Groucho role is taken by John Turturro, usually seen in sensitive dramatic roles, and hilarious here as ambulance-chasing lawyer Roland T. Flakfizer. The engaging Bob Nelson has the approximation of the Harpo part; Nelson does speak, but he has comical faces and props for every occasion. Mel Smith plays a cheeky hustler in the best Chico Marx tradition (and uses his entire body for reactions and double takes, in the best Jackie Gleason tradition). Nancy Marchand is excellent as the Margaret Dumont dowager. The venue has changed from the opera to the ballet, but the situations are easily recognizable to Marx Brothers fans. Standout scenes are the connecting-room routine, the contract scene, and the opening-night sequence -- all inspired by the Marxes but shown here with all-new gags. There's even a new take on "A Day at the Races," as the three zanies take over a medical examination.
The DVD edition offers the film in its theatrical, widescreen format. There are no extras (not even a preview trailer) but the picture and sound are superior to the VHS release. The Ira Newborn-Mark Mothersbaugh music has been remixed, bringing out some subtleties in the arrangements.
"Brain Donors" is vintage Zucker Brothers -- one-liners and visual gags thrown at you in rapid succession. It may be too silly for some, but if you like the Marx Brothers you'll probably like this. We've shown it to friends, who are still quoting the dialogue!
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