After his cousin wins a jackpot using his quarters, a doctor grows increasingly more petty when the cousin refuses to split the money.
COMEDY
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Sour Grapes (1998)Written and Directed by Larry David
Starring Steven Weber, Craig Bierko, Karen Sillas, Robyn Peterman, Viola Harris, Matt Keeslar, Orlando Jones |
From the mind of Larry David comes a hilarious comedy that fell under the radar back in '98, even going so far as to receive a mostly negative response from critics. Roger Ebert famously hated this movie and put it on his "Worst Movies" list. I can't imagine why, as Sour Grapes is like a movie-length Seinfeld episode with dark overtones. Anybody who enjoys Seinfeld or Curb Your Enthusiasm would find this film uproarious and one of the most underrated comedies of all time.
Steven Weber and Craig Bierko star as two cousins who cause a giant domino effect when Bierko's character Richie wins a jackpot at a slot machine using his cousin Evan's (Weber) quarters. Believing himself to be entitled to half the money, Evan plays a cruel trick on Richie and causes a whole bunch of crazy events that could only be thought up by a sardonic mind like Larry David. His skill lies mostly in crafting unbelievable "cause and effect" scenarios, and it's a shame he only made one movie. I think if Sour Grapes had been better received, he may have done more. This movie really doesn't deserve the massive negative backlash it received upon its release. It's a sarcastic, witty, crazy, and wildly entertaining situation that is equal parts wildly implausible and somewhat familiar. I think it absolutely is deserving of a second look. It's ahead of its time, just like the rest of David's 90's work. |