Foul Play
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DVD Cover Information Actor: Burgess Meredith, Chevy Chase, Eugene Roche, Goldie Hawn, Rachel Roberts Director: Colin Higgins Brand: HAWN,GOLDIE Cinematographer: David M. Walsh Writer: Colin Higgins Editor: Pembroke J. Herring Producer: Edward K. Milkis Producer: Peter V. Herald Producer: Thomas L. Miller DVD: Region Code 1 Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); English (Original Language); French (Original Language) Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Surround Sound, Widescreen Picture Format: 1.77:1 Running Time: 116 minutes Published: 2004-11-01 DVD Release Date: 2004-11-16 Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) Studio: Paramount |
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Movie Reviews of Foul Play
Movie Review: I Believe That Word is Spelled With a Hyphen
Summary: 3 Stars
Back when Goldie Hawn still looked like Kate Hudson she made this screwball comedy that I suggest you check out, and enjoy, for yourself. She plays Gloria, a nerdy, bookish librarian who gets herself into quite a jam just by trying to help out a stranded motorist. That motorist is involved in a plot to kill the Pope, so before long Gloria is caught in the crosshairs of hired assassins who are out to collect evidence that she has unknowingly stowed in her apartment. Think of it as a kinder, gentler "Smokin' Aces." Only instead of Jeremy Piven's sleazeball, the mark here is a beautiful Hawn aw shucksing her way through this dangerous situation, never willing to move or take cover simply because she doesn't view the threat as all that real.
The comedy in this film, directed by Colin Higgins, is derived almost exclusively from misunderstandings. Girl goes up to guy and says, "Take me home." She means "Let me hide in your apartment there is a homicidal madman on my tail," he thinks she wants to go have sex with him. That trick is overused but most of the jokes are funny (imagine that) so who's complaining? You also have to admire the way Higgins is more than willing to abuse the unique look of albinos and dwarfs just for kicks. It is the sort of anti-PC hilarity that is sorely missed in 2007. The cast of characters is hefty and they all bring their own assumptions to the table while analyzing Gloria's situation. The feminist is convinced that the men are after her so that they can rape her. The cops, never hasty in showing their laziness, think that she is quite loony and making the whole thing up. And these characters aren't just tossed up on screen, willy nilly, but are used later on in the story arch, directly and indirectly. The images used are so out there that you can't help but remember them, although you may want to forget seeing Burgess Meredith kung fu fighting. Anything for a laugh and good for them, I personally wouldn't trade in the vulgar Scrabble playing grandmas for the world.
As usual, I did have a few grievances. Don't look for grand storytelling here as everything is spelled out for you as if this were a bad TV drama. Wondering why the Pope keeps showing up on TV, you shouldn't be. I also took offense to the romance between Gloria and Tony (Chevy Chase) that was slapped down in the middle of this film, completely out of place, with no regard for artistic integrity. We all know by now that romance wins the female vote at the box office, but here it takes the momentum of the movie and grinds it into little specks of dust. It did nothing for me to watch two movie stars pretend to fall in love. I say, give me more Dudley Moore as the wannabe gigolo who woos the ladies with disco music and drinks made from Tobasco sauce. Still, in the time that we live now this type of films either stinks ("Pink Panther") or does not exist. Thus we have to go back in time to see the screwball comedy done right, this film is funny (if not overly so) and very much worth your two hours. ***1/2