Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
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Movie Reviews of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Movie Review: One of the funniest movies of the last 20 years!!
Summary: 5 Stars
An absolutely terrific comedy!!! I won't rehash the plot much, but let's say that Steve Martin plays a crass, American, two-bit con man trying to move in on a town on the French Riviera, where Michael Caine, a suave, successful, tasteful con man, already runs the show.The men start as rivals, then become reluctant co-conspirators (in the FUNNIEST scenes of the movie, and maybe EVER!), and then, in the extended final act of the movie, rivals again, both trying to con the same woman, a naive American (Glenne Headly, terrific and enchanting as always).
Martin gets to show off his best comedic moves here. His physicality and pure ridiculous side is amply on display, but his more sophisticated, verbal skills are showcased as well. I'd be willing to say this is best, sustained purely comedic performance. Michael Caine is PERFECTLY cast as the suave Brit. He isn't "funny" per se, really the straight man, but he is the perfect foil for Martin, and he is charming and winning. He's seldom been more appealing and lighthearted.
Frank Oz directed this movie with zest and the right amount of panache. We enjoy the scenery, and we are eased into the movie slowly. The tension between the men is allowed to build slowly over time, making the final twists and turns (and there are many delightful ones) all the more fun.
I've seen this film half a dozen times, and I've got all the twists memorized, but there are still scenes I look forward to eagerly, and still laugh hysterically over. IN one bit, Martin is assigned to play the younger, insane brother of "Prince" Michael. Caine lures the rich women, gets their money and devotion, and then introduces them to his revolting brother (Martin), who scares the women away, leaving their money behind. Martin is so unbearably funny, and Caine plays his end so straight that, truly, the five minutes this stuff takes up in the movie may be the single most delightful five minutes you can spend in a screwball comedy.
I don't like to toss out the word "classic" too often, but I feel that perhaps this movie warrants it. I know I'll be watching it again and again in years to come!
Movie Review: Great movie!
Summary: 5 Stars
If you love Steve Martin and Michael Caine and want want a bit of that slap stick comedy you should see this movie!
Great setting and plot. Beautiful film location. You'll be entertained, laugh and have a good time and wish you were silly old Ruprict yourself!
Update: I have seen this movie recently. And I enjoyed it so much all over again! Now that I am older I understand it better, so, yeah I know I must have been pretty young when I saw it!
What makes the movie good is the cast -- Michael Caine and Steve Martin work brillantly together in this film. It all fits in well when Steve Martin pretends he can't walk and gets whipped endlessly by Michael in the hotel room to show the woman it's all in his mind and he really CAN walk! Steve Martin is great because he expresses so much emotion and does well wheeling around the wheelchair trying to be the first to rip off the woman for $50,000 instead of Michael Caine -- the German phsychiatrists!
In my opinion this is the typical greatness of movies from the late 1980's and early 1990's! I love watching movies like this with little violence, plenty of wit and lots of character! You don't need heaps of things blowing up to have a good movie!
I honestly walked away from this movie having such a good feeling! The Riveria never looked so good as what Steve Martin's character experiences when he first comes to the gambling resort! You'll love it til the end! It's a guarantee!
Movie Review: Dirty, Rotten , and Fabulous
Summary: 5 Stars
This comedy has been one of my personal favorite funniest movies of all time. I love the way the surprising twists and turns create hilariously funny situations which are the reflections of two characters' personalities. I think Michael Caine and Steve Martin were perfect for this type of humor; they are great together on the screen.
Lawrence (Michael Caine) and Freddie (Steve Martin) are con-men who live off women; the former - big-time, pretending to be a King in the Exile and residing in a charming Mediterranean French town, the latter is good conning women into giving him small sums of money or buying him a dinner. The town is not big enough for them to work together. They agree to a "winner stays, loser leaves" bet. Enters American visitor - rich heiress Janet Colgate (Glenn Headly), sweet and naive young woman.
Glen Headly - an intelligent, attractive actress more than held her own opposite Caine and Martin. It is easy to first overlook her work but after the movie is over, you realize how effortless, artful, and complicated her performance is. Last time, when I watched the movie, my husband joined me and watching Glen Headly on the screen for what could easily be the tenth time, he asked how she did it. Perhaps, the art of How they do it not only What they do keeps me glued to the screen every time Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is on.
Highly enjoyable, sparkling, witty, and hilarious gem of the movie.
Movie Review: In A Word: Hilarious!
Summary: 5 Stars
I really don't watch this movie often enough. The few times I've seen it over the years provide superior entertainment, but it's a film I seem to forget about. That shouldn't be the case: it's a terrific movie.
I've never met anyone who did NOT like this film. It seems to appeal to a lot of people, young and old. The three leads - Steve Martin, Michael Caine and Glenn Headley - were all in top form, on top of their "game," so to speak.
Martin's facial expressions and physical humor are terrific and Caine played his part magnificently, too. I enjoy Caine much more in here than Martin (and in most films) but Steve seems to have the funniest moments in this movie. At any rate, both are superb as antagonists "Lawrence Jamison" (Caine) and "Freddie Benson" (Martin). The two men have the talent to pull off slapstick as well as subtle comedy. Headley, as "Janet Colgate," meanwhile, is a joy to watch and to listen to, with that sweet voice of hers. I can't say more about her without giving away too much but she is not only the objection of attention in the movie, but the key character. These three combine for almost a laugh-a-minute.
This also is a good example of how to make a modern-day comedy without all the sleaze and profanity. It's highly recommended.
Movie Review: Ruprick, the genital cuffs!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I can't believe this movie is a decade and a half old! Neither will you when you view it again (or for the first time). The cinematography is fresh and the comedy is timeless.The story revolves around a simple American con-man (brilliantly played by Steve Martin) who specializes in charming wealthy women out of whatever charity he can manage to swindel. That is, until he stumbles on to the master (Michael Caine), a suave ultra-swank European who doesn't go for the fast buck, but rather for the slow millions.
The difference in their styles, as Martin invades Caine's comfortable European playground (and then ultimately decide to work together) make for extreme comedy. However, not the Jim Carrey slapstick that's been so popular lately, rather, this is infinitely more subtle in it's buildup, but "net net" as funny as most of the best contemporary comedy out there.
If you have yet to see this film, count yourself lucky. Buy this DVD and give yourself 15 minutes to get into it. You won't be disappointed. For those of you who have seen it and are thinking about buying. Do it. It's one of the few DVD's in my collection I frequently watch and enjoy.
Hope this was helpful to you.
Christian Hunter