A somewhat disappointing film but with good acting and a fun plot. It has a lot to offer, but it doesn't quite seem to carry all of it out. The film is quite funny and it moves through its incredibly zany plot very quickly about a bank robbery and the getaway. Kline, Cleese, Palin and Curtis give excellently hilarious performances; Kline won an Academy Award as best supporting actor for his role as the cruel Otto. Unfortunately, much of the jokes involve Kline criticizing Palin's stuttering problem and Palin trying to kill Kline as a result. Heinous humor! Worth watching, but it doesn't quite hit the bull's eye as it should have. This quartet meets again in the non-sequel, Fierce Creatures done in 1996.
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Starring:
John Cleese, Kevin Kline, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Palin, Maria Aitken, Tom Georgeson
Directed by:
Charles Chricton
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1988 comedy
Rated R.
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Don Ignacio's score: B-