An Ohio couple in a rut heads to New York City for a big job
interview, only to be plagued by one misfortune after another. COMEDY
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The Out-of-Towners (1999)Directed by Sam Weisman
Written by Marc Lawrence Starring Steve Martin, Goldie Hawn, John Cleese Remake of 1970's The Out of Towners |
The Out-of-Towners breaks no new ground and it doesn't contain any actual jokes. It's a bad attempt at situational comedy with a familiar premise that would later work great with 2010's Date Night. With this film, it falls flat despite the efforts of Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn, who are trying their best. There's not much that can be said about it, apart from that it was a disappointment then and it's a disappointment now.
There are a few funny moments, like when Steve Martin's character Henry Clark accidentally takes a hallucinogen during his brief stint in jail. If the comedic hijinks had been at that form throughout, this just might have been a passable comedy. I also enjoyed every scene with John Cleese, who always makes me laugh whenever I see him, even in the most unbearable of films. His role as a snooty concierge who's secretly a transvestite had me rolling. It just goes to show that no film is entirely terrible. Or at least, most of them aren't. Nothing is gained or lost by watching The Out-of-Towners. It's just one of those films in an actor's filmography that was clearly a paycheck job and will be forgotten by movie fans everywhere. For Steve Martin, this is right up there with Housesitter and the Cheaper By the Dozen remake and sequel. Don't bother with it. Just go watch The Jerk again. I think we can all agree that this film is a masterpiece. |