Two Much

Plot synopsis:
Art Dodge (Antonio Banderas), a former artist, is struggling to make ends meet with his art gallery, ignoring bills and delaying to pay his assistant Gloria (Joan Cusack) and his artist Manny (Gabino Diego). To survive, he is reading the obituaries and trying to convince the widows that the deceased purchased a painting shortly before dying.
Things take an ugly turn when Art is trying this scam with mobster Gene (Danny Aiello) whose father just died. Not only does Gene not fall for it, but he tries to have his henchmen beat Art up. Art barely escapes by hiding in the Rolls Royce of Betty Kerner (Melanie Griffith), Gene's estranged two-time ex-wife and wealthy heiress. Betty is excited about helping the handsome stranger, and the two end up shortly thereafter making love. Betty being very impulsive, she wants to marry Art in two weeks. Because of the heiress fortune the news immediately makes the tabloids. Stuck between Betty who won't change her mind and Gene who still loves his ex-wife, Art doesn't like the idea of getting married with such short notice but decides to play along for now.
One morning, at Betty's mansion, Art seductively enters her shower naked, only to realize it's not Betty who's in there but her sister Liz (Daryl Hannah), an art professor. If Art is attracted to Liz, she stays very cold and distant, seeing him as nothing more than a gigolo who hit the jackpot. Art decides to invent a fake twin brother Bart (who wears glasses and has his hair down instead of wearing a ponytail) who is allegedly a painter who just got back from Italy. Bart and Liz instantly hit it off while Gene still tries to romance Betty. Bart and Liz can't stop talking about everything, he plays with her dog and even invites her to Manny's studio when he's not in, pretending to show her his art. When Liz's favorite painting in the studio turns out to have been actually made by Art (who gave it to Manny as an "advance" on what he owes him), Bart gives her the painting.
Thanks to his imaginary twin brother, Art manages to pursue a romance with both sisters. Because the two "twin brothers" must never be in the same place at the same time, it however involves a lot of running around, coming up with a lot of excuses and enlisting a very reluctant Gloria's help. One evening he needs to go out two separate dates with both Betty and Liz. At the restaurant with Betty, he decides to drug her wine, much to the horror of the sommelier (Vincent Schiavelli). This allows him to cut the date short and put a very sleepy Betty to bed. He then goes out with Liz (who chooses the very same restaurant) and ends up making love to her. The next morning, Art/Bart has to run back and forth between the two sister's bedrooms (whose two bathrooms share a private swimming pool) as he's supposed to be with them both at the same time.
In the evening before the wedding, Art spots Gene's two henchmen around his house and manages to escape them thanks to his dad's help (Eli Wallach). He tries to spend the night at Gloria's but he discovers she started dating Manny. Manny however gives him the keys to his studio where he can spend the night. At the studio, Art starts to paint again when he is interrupted by Gene's henchmen who found him and start beating him up, before Gene shows up. When Art proposes Gene to leave town, Gene tells him to go ahead with the wedding and threatens to break one bone for each tear Betty cries. After they leave, Liz arrives to the studio, thinking Bart got beat up. When Bart tells her he is Art, that he fell in love when he saw her in the shower and tries to kiss her, Liz thinks Art is trying to make a pass at her, not realizing Bart doesn't exist.
On the wedding day, Liz tells Bart his "brother" tried to kiss her, and that the wedding should be called off. Bart needs to "confront" Art in a study alone, with Liz and Gene listening outside -and, unbeknownst to anyone, also by Betty through the phone. When Gene enters the study, he confronts a lonely Art, and again threatens him if he doesn't marry Betty. He tells him that what Art or even himself want is irrelevant, and that the only thing that matters is Betty's happiness. During the wedding ceremony, Betty, shaken by Gene's selfless devotion, calls the wedding off and falls in Gene's arms acknowledging she still love him too. Gene and Betty elope. In the general confusion, Liz sees her dog wanting to play with Art and realizes Art and Bart are the same person. Bart then go see Liz, telling her a fake excuse to "go back to Italy" (which she of course doesn't buy), adding he's not worthy of her.
A few month later, Art's gallery has experienced a dramatic turnaround (Gloria owns and manages it, and Art is the artist) and is now very successful. At the inauguration of his work, Art notices Liz who still has feeling for him but is not sure who he is really. Art manages to convince her he is the one she had feelings for, and the movie ends with the two happily walking in the street, hand in hand.

Tags: comedy, boring

Review:
Funny and agreeable screwball farce well shot in Miami by the great filmmaker Fernando Trueba.
A very pleasant romantic comedy plenty of humor , emotion , fun scenes and mayhem .
Oscarized director Fernando Trueba , also writes the interesting and bemusing script along with prestigious screenwriter/director as well as brother David Trueba .This bewildering farce deals with a young gallerist (Antonio Banderas , he gives entertaining performance , though he fights to surmount by overacting) is in love with two sisters at the same time .
As a fabulously wealthy divorcée (Melanie Griffith) to a mobster (Danny Aiello) and her sister , an intelligent , sensible woman (Daryl Hanna) , then Art falls in love with the younger one .
In order to solve the problem he decides to invent his own twin-brother called Dart .
Earthy as well screwball comedy with romantic elements , antics , amusements , contrivances , twists and turns ; including engaging performances , adequate set design and being delightfully filmed .
¨Two much¨ results to be other of the innumerable stories to deal with romantic loves , being developed in mirth , lively and vital style .
An enjoyable story in which a rogue con swindles abstract pictures selling to deceased people and discovers the opposite sex on the way by means of two attractive sisters , both of whom utterly different ; it is plenty of twisted moments , moving feelings and fun finale .
It is a light , wistful romantic comedy , easy to watch , and easier to love .
¨Two much" is Trueba's return to top form, with an intelligent and enticing script written by Fernando and his brother David Trueba adapted from a Donald Westlake novel ; screen-writers use amusing situations to give us a good movie in a high sense and intimate sensitivity and that kept me entertained for the almost two hours of duration .
It is well set and is as marvelously filmed as it is written and acted .
The film is light and never somber , no small accomplishment from Fernando Trueba and his team .
Filmed in his usual formal and luxurious style , without leaving a trace the joyful themes , in terms of nice developing and narrative excitement .
Fine acting by Antonio Banderas as Art Dodge , a roguish Miami art dealer and his twin brother Dart , as he pretends to be his own brother in order to pursue his new fiancée .
Sympathetic acting by Melanie Griffith as Betty Kerner who thinks he'll make a virile third husband .
In the film, Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith leave each other at the wedding altar for other people .
However, in real life, the two actors fell in love during filming of this movie in 1995 and married a year later and soon became parents to their daughter Stella.
Very good support cast formed by prestigious veterans such as Austin Pendleton , Allan Rich , Vincent Schiavelli , Phil Leeds , Sid Raymond and special mention to the great Elli Wallach who recently passed away .
Colorful and glimmer cinematography in Panavision by Jose Luis Alcaine , one of the best Spanish cameramen , including gorgeous exteriors filmed on location in Miami .
This simple , attractive and delightful motion picture was well directed by Oscar-winning director Fernando Trueba , as the flick is entertaining and well worth your time .
His first success was Ópera Prima (1980) following the style of the "Madrid comedy".
The multi-award winner in Spain Fernando Trueba was President of the Spanish Academy of Motion Picture Arts and he received the 1994 Oscar for Best Foreign Film to Belle Epoque (1992)and when accepting his Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, director (Fernando Trueba) said: "I would like to believe in God in order to thank him for this prize, but I only believe in (Billy Wilder), so...
Wilder himself reportedly phoned Trueba a few days later for acknowledgment and told him: "Hello Fernando, I'm God" .
A great adaptation of one of Donald Westlake's sad-sack comedies, in this case about Antonio Banderas, an unsuccessful art gallery owner who ekes out his income by a variation on the Bible Salesman scam.
He winds up engaged to a funny, screeching Melanie Griffith, in lust with her sister -- and Melanie's gangster ex-husband is after him.This won't be to everyone's taste: Westlake's humor is a lot like Tim Burton's and it's a shame Burton has never tried his hand at one of Westlake's novels.
None of the screen adaptations of his works have served him well, although the hard-to-find HOT STUFF, from his own script works well.But this is about as good as it gets, with a perfect supporting cast, including Eli Wallach, Darryl Hanna, Danny Aiello and the woman who can make you laugh while she's having a nervous breakdown: Joan Cusack.
Funny movie with supporting cast as main attraction.
This movie has enough funny moments with some outstanding performances of Joan Cusack and (even though in a very small role) Vincent Schiavelli as Sommelier, watch and see what I mean, I fell of my chair with the few scenes with him.
Donald Westlake deserves much better than this adaptation that Fernando Trueba and his brother David did to the book.
It appears that either the adapters lost something in translation, or maybe the studio didn't let the Truebas get what they wanted to do.The casting of Antonio Banderas in the dual role of Art/Bart presents problems because he is a quintessential Latin man, who is supposed to be a small con artist working in Florida; his accent doesn't solve this problem either.
We don't believe for a moment he is this "artful dodger", let alone Art Dodge.
The best sequence in the film involves Art/Bart shuttling between Liz and Betty's separate rooms, where the actor gets all the laughs.Daryl Hannah, who plays Liz, fares better, although it's hard to imagine this brainy woman could fall for this small time con artist.
Melanie Griffith doesn't have much to do, and we can be thankful for a performance where all her mannerisms are not shown.
The best thing in the film is Joan Cusack, who is seen as Gloria, the art gallery assistant who steals the show from the principals.
There is also a delightfully funny appearance by the late Vincent Schiavelli, who is seen as a finicky sommelier at a tony restaurant.
(We kept thinking how could Art/Bart pick up the check on the two occasions when he takes Betty, first, and then Liz, to that expensive place, as he can't even pay his other bills...) In some minor roles we see Eli Wallach, Danny Aiello, and Austin Pendleton, among others.The best thing in the film is the musical sound track by the talented Michel Camilo, who had already collaborated with Mr. Trueba in "Calle 54".
He is seen at the end of the picture playing with some Latin jazz giants like Paquito D'Rivera and Cachao.
One kept hoping they would have been seen more in the film..
Following the steps of the classical American comedies, this movie is much more than a sequence of jokes.
The direction is almost perfect, with a great control of the tempo of the story.
The good job with the casting and the master hand of the director have as a result that the actors are fun but they never overact.
Like in "Some Like It Hot" or "The Seven Year Itch" when you are not laughing, you are smiling and enjoying the film.
Nowadays, when most of the comedies are just a succession of gags, mainly tastelessness, or parodies of well-known movies, it's refreshing to find pictures revealing that hilarity and first-class cinema are completely compatible..
He looks for obituaries of rich people and shows up at the home of the deceased claiming he sold the person a painting.
One day Art gets caught and has to hide in Betty's expensive car.
He and Betty hit it off, but then Art discovers Betty has a sister, Liz.
Betty's ex Gene wants her back and when he comes after Art, Art is wearing glasses instead of contacts, and he gets an idea.
He claims to be Art's brother Bart, and Gene is not all that bright so he believes it.
Art comes up with a history for Bart and tries to make him into a man Liz would like.
Art is actually quite convincing as Bart, so his main problem is explaining why the two are never together.
At times the film seems to be more of a drama, more 'chick-flick'.
Antonio Banderas seems to give a better performance in these scenes than where he is supposed to be funny; I never thought the man was a comic actor.
Banderas seems natural for Bart, but not Art.Joan Cusack gives the best acting performance, in my opinion, as Art's sarcastic secretary.
Daryl Hannah and Melanie Griffith also do well.
I was expecting more from Eli Wallach as Art's forgetful father Sheldon--he starts out giving an Oscar-caliber performance, for about two lines.
Though it is funny when he actually starts believing he has two sons.One more highlight from the movie:  a car chase involving Gene's goons and Sheldon's poker buddies.
I don't know exactly what that was about.Despite its flaws, this movie had a lot to offer for me..
A bit of fluff with lots of laughs and screwball comedy with Banderas trying to have not only his cake and eat it two, but two cakes!
Some very funny bits as he tries to keep his "twin" from being exposed -hence "Two Much."In my opinion, Joan Cusack stole the show with her broad comedic talents.
She plays along with the charade, using wry humor when she finds herself in the middle of a difficult situation, and gently scolding Banderas for his questionable behavior.
A light-weight comedy with a good cast..
You will especially like this film if you are fans of Antonio Banderas, Melanie Griffith and Daryl Hannah.
You could probably drive down the road and get the milk and cereal for tomorrow's breakfast, while the movie is still running back home, and not miss much...but hey, this is just a comedy for a few laughs..
After winning a Best Foreign Film Oscar for "Belle Epoque", Fernando Trueba's follow up was this comedy starring Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith.
It was not the first time that Trueba had directed a picture in English with English-speaking actors ("El sueño del mono loco" starring Miranda Richardson and Jeff Goldblum was a critical success) but "Two much" seems to have gone out of his hands.
It might have looked good in the script, a comedy that captures the essence of the comedies from the 50's, but the eventual result is quite disappointing.
The three leading actors (Banderas, Griffith and Daryl Hannah) have been much better almost elsewhere, and some of the jokes and gags are kind of cheesy.
Joan Cusack is a delight to watch in a role Thelma Ritter would have done a few decades before.
Danny Aiello does as much as he can with his clichéd character, and Elli Wallach is also excellent, but his role is little more than a glorified cameo.
If you like Dean Martin comedies you might appreciate the effort of resurrecting these kind of comedies, but don't expect the result to be anywhere near those classics.
If you are looking for a few laughs and an acceptably amusing comedy, then you might not be disappointed..
A disappointing result, but still some good performances..
*The cast: Antonio Banderas : Art / Bart DodgeDaryl Hannah: Liz KernerMelanie Griffith: BettyJoan Cusack: Gloria Eli Wallach: Sheldon*The story: Art Dodge is an art swindler.
At that moment, he meets Betty a rich woman who divorced the same man twice.
They fall in love with each other, but love becomes complicated when Art meets Betty's sister...
So he decides to transform himself in Bart (his twin brother) and then you get some humoristic moments, which aren't very funny at some moments.
Sheldon is the father of Art. Joan Cusack is the employee of Art.An interesting note is that Melanie and Antonio fall in love on the set, and they married and had 1 child, Stella Banderas.
Although the actors did their best to make a comedy.
A catastrophe occurredBut don't forget that alL these actors had done some wonderful acting.
Some examples; Melanie Griffith: Cecil B.
Demented -- Daryl Hannah: Steel Magnolias -- Antonio Banderas: Philadelphia and Eli Wallach: the Misfits.Sadly they made this time a wrong choice...
Mostly I like the movies that I saw and on the whole I give good comments about them.
But this time I can only say that this film was a big disappointment and I hoped that it would have finished quickly.
However I didn't lose my faith in the actors because it was just the wrong script that didn't work.
The movie tells the funny story of a Gigolo who falls in love for the sister of his future wife.
I let you imagine all the quirky situations.The cast answers the expectations, because each actor seems the right one for the part and their performance are great: Banderas as a seductive, Hannah as a poetic lover, But, the narration is laborious.
I waited 30 minutes to feel the movie really paced, and the ending is very much thrown away.
The subplots (his father, the crooks) are uninteresting because not really funny so they tend to break the rhythm.I imagine it is due to a "bad" adaptation.
Indeed, the original story is a book and the literary language is very different from the movie language.In conclusion, an enjoyable movie that you will won't watch again for a time, except on a DVD to skip on particular chapter..
It sets the tone for how "clever" this is), and as we find that the quality of it is rather lacking(no one could buy his stories, and few do), leading us to wonder how he gets by from it.
Well, other than ensuring that he, like nearly everyone else in this, is powerfully unlikeable(it has to be intentional, no one is this inept), it's the only way he can think of to make ends meet for his gallery(I guess all the want ads panned out, and in spite of being a talented virtuoso himself, he hasn't touched a brush for a while because...
Well, like everything in this, the lazily done and derivative script needed that to be the case).
One day, he meets and starts having sex with Betty, who turns out to be an emotional wreck who wants to get married within that same 24 hours.
Said former beau(a man with anger issues who is literally following her around whenever he can) is after our lead, and we want him to catch him.
So, our "hero" falls for his fiancés sister, Liz, with whom he is clearly better matched.
She won't give him the time of day, on account of...
I will admit that I am not a big fan of screwball comedy, but this is packed with uninspired jokes, with only occasionally one that might have you smiling, or chuckle briefly.
I understand that part of this was on account of the director not speaking the language properly, and that does explain a lot(no one actually talks like these people do...
On the plus side, Griffith and, more to the point, Hannah, spend a fair amount of time in swimsuits and the like.
I don't even care about the film...the music was great!
I don't even care about the film...the music was great!
I watched the ending of the flick ---- oh, I don't know how many times just to watch Michel Camilo and his group!
The basic plot of this made-for-TV movie has been done several times before, making it very predictable and not that funny.
Antonio Banderas looks best without his clothes, which is about the only appeal that this actor has...
The rest of the cast is instantly forgettable...like the film itself..
SPOILERS THROUGHOUT: This zany screwball comedy isn't going to win any awards but I liked it.
One reason for that is probably the main players in this movie: Bandarus, Hanna and Griffith.
All play their roles well and the movie, though not a classic or a perfect 10, is surprisingly enjoyable in some places and a good summer's pick.There are times when this movie really drags and I wont say it is the type of movie that makes you roar with laughter.
It's a classic romantic comedy in many respects, with a great setup as Bandarus basically plays two people and Daryl Hanna and Melody Griffith play the sisters who both fall in love with him.Everyone works well together here and this, I believe is the movie where Bandarus and Griffith fell in love off camera, and man do they have chemistry on screen.
In fact, Bandares has chemistry with both ladies and Hanna and Griffith work very well together So I think that's primarily what makes the movie work because let's face it, it's quite silly in some places and the draggy factor is indeed there.But when Bandarus and one of his respective leading ladies are on screen together, it's actually interesting and if not hilarious, then highly entertaining.
It's a good enough movie to watch though when one just wants an entertaining, fun screwball comedy..
Ok, Banderos play is great for this role, and the running gags (e.g. the chase between two rooms with the pool in between and the various ways to escape falling into it) are really hilarious.But it all is beaten by the supporting role of the french restaurant somelier (Vincent Schiavelli)!
His two short appearances are worth watching this film and lead to my rating 7 (would have been 5 without this).Ah and then there's the happy end of course.