Take a couple of con men who see an opportunity to separate a mark from his money in just about everything, throw in an attractive young woman with an altruistic agenda, blend together for about ninety-three minutes and the result is `Shooting Fish,' an amiable, entertaining comedy, directed by Stefan Schwartz. It's the story of two guys who grew up in orphanages on opposite sides of the ocean, Dylan (Dan Futterman) in America, Jez (Stuart Townsend) in England; and who, by the time they had reached the age of consent, had each been endowed with a particular talent: Dylan has the gift of gab, Jez is a technical wizard. Dylan's gift has quickly gotten him into hot water with the wrong kind of people, however, and to stay healthy (read: `Alive') he flees to England, where he meets Jez. And it's a friendship/partnership born in scam/scheme heaven. If there's a way to make a fast buck, they know it-- from selling bogus computers, to selling insulation for homes that's never installed, to entering any and every contest that comes down the pike. If there's a nickel in it, they're in.

	Then one day they hire a girl from the temp pool to help them out with one of their scams. Georgie (Kate Beckinsale) is beautiful, smart, and has a cause she's trying to fund, so she needs the job; but from day one she's on to what Dylan and Jez are trying to pull. She stays on board, however, when Dylan convinces her that they are something like modern day Robin Hoods-- that the money they're `raising' is going to orphans. What he doesn't tell her is that the `orphans' he's referring to is them. And Dylan is a born salesman-- not to mention the fact that he's a real charmer-- and the three of them become a real team.

	Schwartz delivers a film that is in no way exceptional nor particularly memorable, but it is entertaining. It's exactly what it promises to be: a diverting hour and a half or so that provides some laughs and a good time. It's pleasant fare that's inoffensive and features some engaging performances and a story that will keep you involved. There are a couple of scenes, in fact, that are downright hilarious. And Schwartz has good timing and sets a pace that keeps it all moving right along, which, when you add it all up, makes for a satisfying, enjoyable experience.

	Futterman has a winning personality and a resonant, mesmerizing voice that fits his character perfectly. Dylan is the salesman you hope you'll never meet, because if you do, chances are you'll walk away with the deed to the bridge. He's a likable heel, convincingly brought to life by Futterman (who is probably best known for his role of Vincent Gray in the `Judging Amy' TV series). It's a good performance, and one of the strengths of the film.

	As Jez, Townsend does a fine job, too, and though he's overshadowed a bit by Dylan-- intentionally the flashier of the two-- Jez is the one who secures the sympathy of the audience. After all, this is the guy who at least seems a bit remorseful as he's taking other people's money and trust. And it's interesting to compare Townsend's fairly reserved performance here with his role of the vampire Lestat in the more recent `Queen of the Damned.' He's a fine young actor whose style contrasts nicely with Futterman, and along with Beckinsale they make quite the team of scam artists.

	The one who draws the attention, however, is the lovely and charismatic Kate Beckinsale, who is beguiling in the role of Georgie. She makes her character accessible, and plays her with a savvy, rather than naive sensibility, and it's a portrayal that works well. Most importantly, she makes Georgie real, with a winsome appeal that makes you care about her and what happens to her. She's the most grounded of the trio, and it's her character that keeps the story within the realm of credibility. This may not be the stuff Oscars are made of, but it's an enjoyable, engaging performance that will win you over, without question.

	The supporting cast includes Rowena Cooper (Jez's Teacher), Myles Anderson (Jez, aged 8), Jacob Macoby (Dylan, aged 8), Jane Lapotaire (Dylan's Headmistress), Tom Chadbon (Mr. Greenaway), Phyllis Logan (Mrs. Ross), Peter McNamara (Geoff), Arabella Weir (Mrs. Stratton-Luce), Nickolas Grace (Mr. Stratton-Luce) and Claire Cox (Floss). An easy-going comedy with enough twists and turns to keep you on your toes, `Shooting Fish' is a solid, feel good film that will put a smile on your face and provide a pleasant evening's entertainment. And in the final analysis, that's not such a bad deal; and it's all a part of the magic of the movies. I rate this one 7/10.


Normally when it comes to voting for movies on the IMDb, I'm quite liberal. I don't set very high standards for movies. I always tend to rate films based on how much I enjoy them and this means that most of the time I always rate films highly cos I try and find something good in every film I see. I saw this film when I was vacationing in England. BBC One actually transmitted this at 11 PM, since they believed that The Peacemaker was a film more deserving of the 9:00 slot. Unlike the Peacemaker, Shooting Fish is a film that almost anybody would enjoy, unless he/she was the kind of person who found simple effective storytelling a turnoff.

Everything about this movie seems in perfect harmony. The chemistry between Dan Futterman and Stuart Townsend is perfect, word for word. And Kate Beckinsale is a perfect third piece to the puzzle; When the conversations in the movie occur, you never get the feeling you're watching a contrived conversation written by someone else, you get the feeling you're watching real life unfold. That's a hallmark of a good scriptwriter and the people who wrote this deserve credit for the story.

As for the story itself, it never lets itself become too complicated and lends itself to a lot of funny situations. Fast-talking Dylan and socially naive Jez (Futterman and Townsend) are two con men trying to raise money to build their dream house. They end up enlisting Georgina's (short-haired Kate Beckinsale in a beautiful role from her pre-Hollywood Glamourpuss days) help on a particular scam. Soon she discovers what they're up to and the story unfolds from there, with both Dylan and Jez seemingly falling for Georgie. Here again, the movie doesn't nosedive and morph into a conventional love story; rather, the romance builds in a backdrop to the main story and culminates in a heartwarming finale. As for Dan and Jez, some of their schemes may not be very believable and yet you cant help but be amused by the way they go about implementing them.

This film is a good reason why small budget comedy romances are popular - simply put, they work. On every level. Watching this film gives you the same kind of feeling as watching While you were Sleeping, for example. For the sheer sweetness of the film and for Kate Beckinsale's performance, I'd give it 7 on 10.


This movie is simply great. While it perhaps lacks a larger social message, other than the simple "do good with what you have", it is a smart, funny movie which definitely has its moments, both cinematic and dramatic. The rags to riches story of two orphan con men: one, a genius Brit, the other, the American spin doctor. Together they engage in "shooting fish", or fleecing rich people of their extra cash, in order to buy themselves the lavish house they've each coveted because of their simple upbringing. The story is fun and engaging, the characters seem very very real, and the different cons they pull off together are extremely funny. I won't give away any of the story, except to say that the has a nice, unexpected twist. An excellent date movie, or even to take in with a couple of close friends. You may not laugh out loud the whole time like you did at "There's Something About Mary" or other slapstick comedies, but you'll definitely be smiling the whole time, and by the time the credits role you'll simply be in a much better mood than you were when you started.


Shooting Fish was something I got out on a risk, you know.....no other film in video store, take a chance.

It proved to be a wise decision as the film was very funny, two great opposites for the main male characters and the stunning kate beckinsale acted the part wonderfully.

The film has no slow points, but does not rush things, the accompanying music is very good and acting first class.

I would recommend this film to anyone


This movie is practically my all time favorite. At least favorite comedy. It is absolutely brilliant, with lovely actors hilarious script, everything really.

Jez (Stuart Townsend) is very cute and just incredible. Georgie (Kate Beckinsale) is almost like I would have wanted to be if I could choose.

I love this movie so much, and I laughed just as much when I'd seen it three times as after the first.


I really like this movie. It is a very clever movie and has a great sense of humour. I can't compare it to any American comedy. This kind of humour is completely different. This movie is for those who want to use their brain while watching and not only laugh. I really like European cinema and this movie as well as Run Lola Run prove that European cinema can go on. 10/10


This movie was so funny and entertaining... The actors were great, especially Stuart Townsend. It was one of the best movies I've ever seen. The funeral scene was very funny. The scene where two of them were sitting on the roof was so romantic. I can watch this movie over and over again.


This movie is retro in everything. It is a lighthearted romantic comedy in the old mold, with two mismatched con-men, falling for the same girl, the dopey one eventually gets her, and his buddy gets the sister! While the plot is occassionally disjointed it never fails to keep moving along and is throughly charming along the way - helped greatly by the winning main characters. I was very surprised to see the mixed reviews, it is hard to work out what there is not to like in this thoroughly likable movie - occassionally clever, sometimes sappy, possibly a little predictable - but never unlikeable. As for the title, if you can't work it out, you don't have enough intelligence to be allowed out of the house by yourself. My vote 7/10 and a fun movie for some light-hearted entertainment. Definitely worth a watch.


This is a really fun film with story and actors that make you feel their joy and their pain. I was surprised to catch pieces of this on cable, laughing so much that I had to look up the schedule to catch the whole movie the next time it was played.

It was an intelligent movie with good intercharacter relationships. I really would like to find more movies by the writer/director Stefan Schwartz, but there doesn't seem to be anything recent on IMDB. The three main actors (Dan Futterman, Stuart Townsend and Kate Beckinsale) really seemed to enjoy working together on-screen.


Well that's odd, I thought as I picked up the June '98 issue of CMJ monthly. There's this ad in it for a movie called Shooting Fish with Kate Beckinsale in it (I love Kate Beckinsale... well did in the other two movies I'd seen her in before)with a soundtrack that's got music from Dubstar and Space and The Supernaturals and... Dionne Warwick. So anyway to make a long story short, I searched (in vain) for the soundtrack for nigh on a year but to no avail. Anyway, then one day I was at the video store (Major Video, before Blockbuster decided to buy that too) and I saw it and thought "Jaysis, there's something I need to see!" It had that snazzy-looking retro box, too, and I was in a happy mood, so I gladly went home and popped it in.

This must have been the cheeriest movie I'd seen in years. It made me think of Bringing Up Baby it was so happy (and that's a good thing, by the way). Kate Beckinsale is absolutely charming, the American guy is lots of fun, and the English guy has the great sense to be charming AND insanely cute in that odd way that the British have. The movie has a plot, sure, but it doesn't matter. You should just watch it and be hap-hap-happy! Revel in the retro-kitsch set design and the goofy dialogue and that English guy's striped t-shirt. It's the best pick-me-up since Bounty (or, you know, whatever). (By the way, I warn you... after I saw it I caught myself singing that Dionne Warwick song for weeks afterwards.)


The charming con men featured in this film have found that the easiest way to make money is to part fools from it. It's so easy, in fact, it's like shooting fish in a barrel--hence the movie's name. Excellent acting and quirky characterization make this flick really fun to watch. Dialogue is sharp and witty, with some truly memorable lines.


I rather enjoyed watching "Shooting Fish" on a hot, humid summer night, when there was nothing better to do than rent a video. It's a nice film, and has some very funny scenes, but it's also a very light one, and doesn't require too much attention. If you're looking for a light and breezy comedy, you can't go wrong with this one.


I must say, after I've watched this move, I now consider it my all-time favorite. Everything is just awesome! The casting - perfect. The story - so cute and funny you just have to love it. Don't miss this awesome piece of art, or you'll regret it!


I was blown away by this flick. I have never heard of this movie until one of my friends had purchased the DVD. The movie has no one very famous in it, but the acting, dialogue and story are terrific. It is a hilarious movie. I highly recommend it.


You can't go past english comedy. And this movie only strengthens that statement. A hilarious collage of comedy, love, and just down right silliness. If you're feeling a bit on the down side, or you're inviting a couple of friends over for a flick, this is the movie for you. Don't miss it!


After viewing Apt Pupil the other night - and being sorely disappointed/distressed...I wanted to view a "lighter" movie. Well I must say this is one of my favorites now. I'm not one to remember every actor/actress name but the whole cast did a great job. I especially love the con with the computer - seeing as how I work in the IT Field - it was great! When you see the movie remember the very first scene. It is important because it is the reason for everything they do. And sometimes things work out...for the good.


Shooting Fish is hilarious with two great male leads and a charming female lead as well. The clever and witty writing is wonderful to the very last drop. The many adventures of Jez and Dylan bring many laughs especially the LofTeck experience. I recommend this to anyone in the mood for a good chuckle.


Great movie, great cast. Why an American and an English actor? Screenplay-reasons or actors-reasons?


There's something wrong about dropping an American con-artist into London, but somehow here it works. There are lots of potential reasons not to like this film, but most of them don't seem to really matter. It just works, anyway.

Maybe it's because this was the first time I ever saw Kate Beckinsale, and I was just stunned.

Anyway, I was hugely amused when I heard that there was a boycott organized against this film by some people who thought it was going to be about someone shooting at fish (bang, bang). Poor fishies. No, of course, it's no such thing.

If you haven't seen this, then I can pretty much guarantee that you will not waste your time if the opportunity comes up.


A comedy before it's time - it's all about sustainable resources! This is a brave little film, having neither big names nor obvious genre. The three principals are the latterday highwaymen Dylan and Jez, pulling scams on individuals and corporations alike to make a living. Their plans are big - they need a vast sum in order to move from their (ivory) tower to townhouse and hire - in typically unconventional fashion - a secretary to help them organise their income. Kate Beckinsdale's Georgie is far too lovely a PA to allow things to continue between the friends as smoothly as it had and soon they are on the back foot with only the fresh object of their contention to bail them out.

Stuart Townsend and Dan Futterman (especially the latter) are good value and engage with the nuttiness of their ruses to the extent that you just go along with it all. I like Beckinsdale in this - acting fresh fair and occasionally feisty is nothing to be ashamed-and-run-off-to-Hollywood about. Perfect for a Bank Holiday weekend. 4/10


Ha! What a romp! Although not as funny...'Shooting Fish' is in the same tradition as 'Saving Grace' and 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.' Very silly and very entertaining British humor. My daughter and I enjoyed several belly laughs with this one and she even figured out the title without having to be told. And added feature was the delightful sound track!

It's rare to find a modern movie you can watch with a 14 year old and both enjoy! And I have to say, Kate Beckinsale, 'Emma' (1997) (TV) series fame, is a winsome doll. It won't work to try and make much sense of this movie...just think of it as The Odd Couple (Dan Futterman, Stuart Townsend) on Virgin Atlantic.


If you are the kind of person who likes happy endings, with themes of comedy and romance throughout, then this is a film for you. It was definately not a boring film, as i was engaged throughout, with the unusual storyline. I would recommend watching this film because I know that at certain parts, you will laugh your ass off. ***POSSIBLE SPOILER***(the funeral and the blow up dolls), people who have seen it, you know what i mean.


I have seen this movie three times since its release, but if I'm to be honest the last two times were mostly because of miss Beckinsale. To quote Dylan in the movie: "I can see it now, she is a stunningly attractive woman."

The other actors make a good appearence as well, both Futterman as Dylan and Townsend as Jez are well casted, and they make well balanced duo. The movie is funny, though maybe not as laugh-out-loud-hillarious as a pure comedy would be, and allthough the plot is pretty crap (with some really far fetched sollutions), all in all it's a movie well worth seeing (unless you have a thing against pretty female faces...).


This movie is one of the cutest films i've ever seen. The actors are great and their characters absolutely loveable. Jez (Stuart Townsend - one can only feel sorry for his haircut in the movie) and Dylan (Dan Futterman) are two little crooks who try to make enough money to fulfill their dream and buy themselves a house. While doing one of their swindels they get to know Georgie (played by Kate Beckinsale) and happen to both fall in love with her. From that point on it's getting real chaotic, but you can bet on a happy ending. Maybe it's a little predictable, still absolutely worth watching it.


One of the best comedies of the nineties. The ending is perhaps a little sickly but that apart, this is a top notch comedy with Beckinsale putting in a marvellous performance. Definitely worth watching.


I think I have to stop watching English movies. Apart from the James Bond-movies and a small number of comedies, they are usually pure crap. This movie is definitely one of those. The first ten minutes starts out OK, and the movie has potential at this time. Sadly, it doesn't continue in this style at all. The story is about two swindlers who tries to earn a lot of money by tricking people in different ways. None of the ways they do this are funny at all. It's supposed to be a comedy, but personally I didn't laugh one single time during the movie. In addition, the story really sucks, especially because they threw a bit of romance on top of it. Alos, the ending is very bad, and it was just what I had expected because movies like this leave you with no surprises. If you want to see a movie about swindlers, watch "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" instead.


Call me hopelessly sentimental but I actually find this film very touching! Once you totally suspend your disbelief (this is a film, it's kind of expected...) Jez and Dylan really sell the orphans concept. Here you have two lonely, needy, love-starved guys who through hard work, self-denial and sheer determination win themselves a family and a home. How can your heart not melt? The acting by the male leads is strong enough (mostly - the 'why do I have to get so technical?' scene falters a bit) to make you invest emotionally in Dylan and Jez' quest despite the fact that - all soft-heartedness aside - they are two lying, selfish, close to morally bankrupt con-merchants. By the end of the film you'll be cheering them on.

What am I saying? By five minutes in you'll be cheering them on! Yes, it's full of clichés. Yes, it's pretty predictable. Yes, it's soppy. But this film proves that you can get away with anything if you have lovable characters and a fantastic soundtrack (see also Ocean's 11). Never fails to cheer me up - I'd recommend it to anyone not entirely hard-boiled.


This film has a promising First Act.

After around 20 minutes, you begin to suspect that things will go wrong.

Then they get much worse than that, they get terrible.

The Third Act is in slow-motion, with nine too many plot twists and no pace at all. By this time you are clawing the stuffing out of your couch.

I hate these people for having wasted a night out of my life.

Dan Futterman, a kind of low-rent baby Richard Gere, plays the American the English love to hate - smug, glib, an updated version of "over-paid, over-sexed and over here."

Stuart Townsend plays a shambling English wonk, good hearted and socially undeveloped. Hey, there's something new in films!

Kate Beckinsale's charm is unable to salvage the proceedings, and she projects none of the intelligence one would hope to find in a budding doctor. Totally implausible. And there are some very good character actors who are completely wasted in unrewarding roles.

I suspect the script was written using one of those screen writing software programs, as the characters, twists and paradoxes are all arbitrary, every single last blinking one of them. Including the blow-up dolls.

If the Surgeon General's Office could place a Health Warning on this film, the world would be a safer place.

I can't imagine where the positive reviews for this film originate - probably in a misplaced sense of charity. As Jay Sherman, of "The Critic," would say, "IT STINKS!"


If you have a vivid imagination and your mind likes to wonder, you will be wonderfully rewarded by watching this Dennis Potter gem! It has a great fifties soundtrack and music numbers that are choreographed with exciting imagination! (but maybe Dennis needed to get out a bit more) The characters are well casted, and there performances, are extremely well delivered. As an added bonus, you get to see Ewen McGregor before he went to the Dark Side! I watched this show when it was first released on television, more than ten years ago, and loved it, and after a recent viewing, found the show had not lost any of it's edge! Maybe hard to find now, but! if you have not seen it, hunt it down! Enjoy!


This is definitely one of my favorite things of all time to watch--what does it for me, though, is the style and synchronization of the various 50's pop songs that are deliciously sprinkled throughout the movie---simply fantastic-----they blend well with the story and its characters and you are always pleasantly surprised when a new song just pops out of someone's mouth at the (sometimes) most inopportune time. I can't understand why it is not yet out on DVD---I purchased Potter's "Singing Detective" last year and I am anxiously awaiting this one---someone please light a fire under the powers that be in England so that we can all enjoy this treasure in its proper format.


I believe that for pure enjoyment,and a little nostalgia,this was Denis Potter's best work and, for me, had more depth than "Pennies From Heaven". The individual story lines in "Lipstick" in their basic form were entirely believable and the acting by the whole cast excellent.


I never liked Dennis Potter until I saw this series. I don't like musicals  the idea of a group of people bursting into spontaneous communal song never appealed to me, but the combination of scenario (a post second world war era where the war is now fought as much in the halls of Whitehall as on the battlefield  and Britain is losing) and music (British 50's) just hit the right note with me (pun intended). The characters are superb (this was the first thing I ever saw Ewan McGregor in) and the situations genuine. The relationships between the junior ranks in both military and civilian life in the era they are set are really believable (so my dad says). I loved the music so much I bought the CD, I just wish they would bring it out on DVD. Thanks Dennis.


Dennis Potter brilliance. The series shows why the Suez crisis was such a disaster with intelligence officers that prove the assertion that the term "Military Intelligence " is an oxymoron. My favorite character is the sex crazed Wurlitzer player from the Odeon. Recommended


Like all of Dennis Potter's work, this shows us what film could & should be. It wakens all the old dormant brain cells. Yes, imagination & inspiration do still live & are still the main ingredients of REAL ART!!! Not necessarily compatible with democracy, tho, maybe, who knows?


A tale of youthful lust, against a backdrop of the Suez crisis and national service. Interspersed with some great music of the era, which, for some reason the cast just start singing along to. Seems silly, and it is, but it works, and adds the right touch to the storyline, reflecting all those times when you wish life was a musical.


I watched it when it was first televised in 1993 and watched at all again recently. Could sit and watch it again and again. Naked ladies, stuttering Welshmen, war office clerks/professional mimers, creepy old perverts, old school eccentrics...what more could you ask for? A great soundtrack? We can do that. Well written, well directed and superbly acted. It's a shame Dennis Potter is no longer with us, we need more of his ilk to produce top quality TV comedy so we don't have to endure anymore crap we get from across the pond. I think we're getting there with people like Peter Kay. Would LOYC or Phoenix Nights do well in the States? The guy who played Hopper stood out for me, what happened to him?


In my view this is one of Potter's most impressive works. It has been years since I saw the series on television but I remember it became the highlight of my week. The unpredictable plot and the surreal use of day dreams and 50's music was masterful.

Louise Germaine was brilliantly cast as the stunningly beautiful Sylvia. She was beautiful that is until she spoke, revealing the most dreadful accent. A memorable performance. Even back in the early nineties it was clear that Ewan MrGegor was destined to go on to greater things.

Highly recommended viewing.


Super integration of songs and plot, superb acting by all. One of my favorite movies, although it's really too long to be a "movie." Giles Thomas is wonderful as private Francis Francis. I own this one and watch it at least once a year. It's that good. This is NOT a movie for children, as none of Potter's work is. One of the song and dance numbers is integrated into the plot in a most extraordinary way. It's the one in the military intelligence office about Egypt with the camel. The room is floor is full of balloons. When the number ends, and we get back to "reality," Col. Bernwood walks across the floor and kicks a final, pink balloon out of the way.


I found videos of the six episode series for BBC 4 in 93 ' gathering dust on local library shelves. I watched them and then watched them again. I renewed them with the library. I've now done this three times and am trying to track down a copy for my own library.

I don't understand how these could have been overlooked they are wonderfully brilliant. Truly well written with that quirky surreal twist that only Dennis Potter can create.

I am now on a personal crusade to bring this marvelously entertaining work of art to the attention of anyone who will listen.

How can this have been overlooked in the States? I think this may very well be Dennis Potters best for the small screen.

The UK Cast and crew including Ewen McGregor are impeccable,,,, Do yourself a favour and find a copy to view and you two will be singing songs from the 50's again.


This TV series was simply wonderful, for me it's the best that I've seen of Dennis Potter. I wasn't born at the time that is depicted in the series (the year 1956), but it is all very convincing.

Never was boredom funnier than here. Rectal orifices, indeed! Waiting, waiting, waiting for Kim Philby's race forecast. Adhering to silly rituals to make the time pass and feeling that the country goes slowly downhill. Its really a relief the series has  under the circumstances - a happy and uplifting ending.

There are many great characters in this series, the whole cast excel themselves. Louise Germaine is very sexy and effective as Diana Dors lookalike, a pity she didn't continue her small or big screen career. The most interesting character for me was uncle Fred. I suspect there still are quite a few people like him out there. The whole set up at the house where he lives reminded me very much of 10 Rillington Place. I wouldn't be surprised if Potter created uncle Fred with Reginald Halliday Christie in mind.

I can highly recommend this series.


I had seen Potter's "The Singing Detective" before viewing this. (No, not the damn Robert Downey Jr. version, but the superb British TV 6-parter.) So I knew I could expect interesting characters, bizarre events, and an unpredictable plot.

LOYC has a terrific cast, first and foremost, which was essential (as so often) to be able to pull off this kind of script. Ewan McGregor, in his very much younger days, presents the best performance of his career (alongside "Trainspotting"); in a way it's a pity that he showed so much promise early on but, although always very likable, he was sub-par in many movies that followed. The guy that plays the neurotic, stuttering Welshmen is simply brilliant. I enjoyed that character very much; nearly every scene with him was a hilarious joy. The actor who plays the primitive, daft corporal is very good, too. The middle-aged army guys were played by familiar faces, very good actors, and last, but not least, we have Louise Germaine here playing the femme fatale. She was a PERFECT choice: her innocent face matched her character's shallowness and stupidity very well, plus a very sexy woman. (A couple of nude scenes with her were not a drawback.) I wonder why I've barely seen her anywhere apart from this TV series...

The musical sequences may appear strange at first, but once one gets accustomed to them, they actually give us a nice distraction from some of the tension that goes on. The songs are to the most part quite pleasant 50s oldies, so no harm done. (No Madonna or Aerosmith, thank God, nor would have I expected that kind of crap, of course...) If you want something genuine, original, unpredictable (but not in an idiotic "Saw" kind of way), very well-acted, and a little seedy even, look no further.


Since the first time I ever watched LYC it has remained very special in my memory, so much so that since the recent re-run on UK TV I have come to write my first ever review regarding viewing or reading material. I have to add this production is so special that I purchased a video copy imported from USA at a cost of £140 in early 2000 and now have a downloaded version that I have on DVD. I am only writing here about the special experience I have received from LYC and not about the plot etc, and wonder how much fun it must have been for the crew and actors to take part in LYC. LYC leaves you laughing, cringing and leaves me even know with a lump in my throat and shivers down my spine when watching the final of the last episode. Pack up your arms & surrender to mine, and all of the other spontaneous musical moments are truly great. The only disappointment I have is that it had to end, but I know every now and again I can pull out a copy and view this most wonderful production with an inner feeling that I need to preach to all to sit down and watch Lipstick On You Collar so they to can share this wonderful wonderful experience .


A couple of foreign office clerks are very bored at work and their attention wanders.

The 1950's never look like much fun to me. Give me a time tunnel and the 50's wouldn't be the first number I dial up.

With a modest budget and a bit of nerve this series looks back with nostalgia on this buttoned up decade. Where a bit of peroxide and hint of stocking sent the boys wild -- I bit like today now that I think about it! This is fun and I love the way McGregor plays the virgin office boy. Not that he wasn't a bit younger back then.

A fun bit of TV fluff although like most of Potter's work it goes on too long.


What a loser this 1998 film is.

It's a shame that Signe Hasso, a great actress so many years ago, allowed herself to get into this productive mess. I want to remember Signe Hasso for "The House on 92nd Street," not this mess of a film.

For Rob Lowe, the film is perfect. He lacks talent and this picture allows him to display it.

One of the previous comments says that Michael York is similar to the late James Mason. Is that true and I congratulate the writer for stating this.

Cassie was just too sweet of a girl to be left alone here. Go know that she led a previous life which is true of the Lowe and Hasso characters.

Ms. La Rue is no Lola. That's what was needed for her part as well as far better writing. The film appears amateurish at times.


Granted- I haven't seen this movie in quite some time- but I had to drop by and defend it's honor after reading some of the others reviews written about it. I once stumbled upon this movie, a couple years back, as a young teenager and adored it! In fact I am always checking to see if it comes on again but unfortunately I haven't been able to find it since. I remember that Rob Lowe played someone in debt to the Devil and fell in love with an Angel who was working in disguise as a waitress. There were many funny scenes and Michael York made a fanstastic Devil; they always filmed scenes with him after taking the usual 'express elevator' to Hell. Anyway, I believe - if I'm not mistaken - that the Angel's duty was to in fact 'save' him in the end. It was very touching and magical in a sense. If you do not expect more, than you will love it, just don't take things too seriously.


The movie Looker is worth a look in my humble opinion. I read the reviews and I was surprised at the results.I think that Looker is a terrific movie.It has everything that you could want in a movie, strictly for entertainment value.You can sit down, relax,and just escape into a good science fiction thriller.The movie is campy and cheesy in some parts, but that is what makes the Looker fun. The soundtrack is great.I love the music and songs in this movie.Looker has a wonderful high tech glossy value to it.This movie has a knock out cast. James Coburn,Albert Finney,Dorian Harewood, Leigh Taylor-Young, and Susan Dey did a wonderful job.Albert Finney and James Coburn are good in just about every movie that they make.I highly recommend this movie to lovers of science fiction.


A plastic surgeon gets suspicious when the police question him about the death of a model he's worked on, and learns that all the models he's worked on who came in with "shopping lists" of miniscule changes that "had to be fixed, so I could be perfect," are dead. Susan Day has just come in with a list of her own, and he decides to keep an eye on her - and learns of a plot to use computer generated images made from detailed electronic measurements of the models to replace live models for commercials and acting. One bonus is about 3 minutes of Susan Day being measured, sans clothing. Let's face it, every boy who grew up watching "The Partridge Family" dreamed of the chance to see her like this! (The nudity is handled tastefully - there's nothing graphic.)


Obviously forgotten today, and maybe that's a problem.

Michael Crichton dealt in practical Science Fiction. How a potential technology could really cause problems in the here and now. This movie hit on a few of them, some of which HAVE come to pass.

His premise is that computers could be used to simulate characters (already has happened) and that they could be used to influence us by using algorithms to calculate our optimum responses. (Again, probably happening now, even if we don't know about it.)

The plot is that a plastic surgeon is asked to alter four women into perfect specimens, but three of them are killed after wards (they never really explain why.) In trying to protect the last, whom he develops a personal bond with, he uncovers a plot to use computer generated images (wow, and now they are real!) to manipulate our responses.

A note on nudity. We have Susan Dey of Partridge family fame going topless in a couple of scenes. We'd NEVER see that now. If we are lucky, we might see a name actress have her head CGI'd (ironic) onto a body double. But usually, the MPAA would go completely nuts and give the film an R or NC-17 rating.

Some things are dated, such as tape-reading computers and big hair on the women- SO 1980's. But the film's concepts hold up pretty well.


I first saw this movie on HBO as a child. I couldn't remember the name of th movie or who played in it, but I couldn't get the scene of Albert Finney on the commercial set near the end of the movie out of my mind. After asking around using that scene as my only guide, I was finally able to get someone to tell me.

After watching it again, I was very interested in the movie's plot despite how ridiculous it seemed. For example, why would RI security officers be at the scene of a car accident? Why didn't DMI use computers to generate locations as well as models? Or why did the mustachioed man suddenly remember he had those special glasses in the car chase scene only AFTER being shot by the LOOKER gun? There are others.

But it has it's redeeming qualities as well. The music is captivating and helps to build on the excitement of some of the action scenes. And I don't believe I've seen a more passionate kick to the groin than the one given by Albert Finney. All in all, Looker would probably not stand up next to today's movies, but it has a charm about it. It must have made some kind of impression on me as a child to remain in my head for the past 25 years. Recommended rental. Buy it if you like off-beat, quasi-mainstream movies. I bought it and plan on getting good use out of it. Perfect for unsuspecting house guests.


Today's audiences are a bit spoiled and jaded. This was a great movie for it's time. (Yes, I still have a copy of it on beta format) It is also kind of prophetic since the advancements in computer animation. At some point, real actors will no longer be needed. Hmmmmmm. There is also a "looker" gun that sends out a light pulse that causes the victim to "freeze" and loose chunks of time. (Sounds a little familiar -- anyone seen MIB?) There is the look into the plastic surgery and the need to look perfect (that's where the title comes in). Albert Finney and Susan Dey make an unlikely pairing in this "futuristic" sci-fi drama. Anyway, this is worth checking out. So grab a Tab soda, relax, and try to find a copy of this movie.


It seems that people watch this movie only to give it a below par ratings. Well I liked this picture and the three others that were with me also liked it too. For 1981 I would consider it pretty high tech but for today a little dated, but when I watch any movie I always want to know when it was made so I won't judge it by contemporary standards. We all liked it and I will give it a solid 8/10.


Spoilers within.

I just watched this again and it occurred to me that it still works in 2007. If anything the premise is even more believable now than it was 26 years ago. In that sense it was a pretty darn accurate bit of future prediction in terms of where our video and computer technology was going.

I've always liked this movie. It stands as a classic underrated film and a fond memory of my childhood. I took two points off though, one for each of the two problems I have with it:

First, they didn't provide enough motivation or explanation for killing the models. One of them seemed to have figured out what was really going on, so that makes sense. But the others? Was it just to avoid paying out their contracts? They made a point of saying how rich the RI company was, so the cost would seem to be trivial in comparison to murder.

Second, it struck me as odd that they could accurately digitize human beings but they still shot the commercials on a real set. That doesn't make a lot of sense. Even today it's much easier to model a kitchen than it is to model a human being.

Overall though it's still a solid and enjoyable flick. You could make this movie today and it would be a perfectly good film for 2007.


Those of us who grew up on HBO programming in the early 1980's will easily remember the "light gun" from Looker, as the film was one of the most played flicks in HBO's catalogue. The movie was suspenseful, entertainingly acted, and possessed some cheap effects that were, nevertheless, fun to behold. The PG-rating for films with adult characters has really disappeared in the era of making money off of PG-13 films, and that's led to a reduction in films of this character.

"Looker" is not without weaknesses such as lapses in logic, but it possesses the traits of a typical Michael Crichton story that make for a thoughtful excursion into another person's world. Albert Finney was memorable for his confused and determined (if strikingly unathletic) doctor trying to unravel the mystery before him. Time shift scenes and the score make for positives, as well.


I actually saw this movie when it first came out when I was just eleven years old. Little did I know I was only one of a few people who would actually admit to viewing it. I have been looking for a chance to review it for many years.

At the time, I thought this movie was pure science fiction, but it turns out that CGI and animation are actually replacing live actors beginning with Max Headroom a few year later. To me, this movie was ahead of its time. A bit of '1984' meets 'James Bond'.

Not that it was such a great acting movie, it stars Albert Finney, but I give it a little extra because of the interesting story and eerie foretelling. The directing and overall technical aspects gives this movie most of its accolades.

Given the dated material and the talent, this one has dissolved into an '80s B-movie. Would like to see it again for nostalgia's sake, though.


Though I was a kid when "Looker" came out. You gotta absorb yourself into the world of science fiction(sci-fi). Albert Finney("Annie", "Shoot The Moon"), Susan Dey("The Partridge Family", "LA Law"), James Coburn, Dorian Harewood, and others make of a very fine cast of characters in the movie. Despite the nudity, this movie was well handedly made. Finney played a plastic surgeon whose patients die of under mysterious circumstances. The first victim looked hot in her black bra and panty, who needed that robe? Then a man named Reston(Coburn) who runs a shady corporation who uses TV as his weapon of choice. And that gun of theirs, it's unbelievable. Why need bullets to kill, when you can use a special light to cause disorientation. That will make regular drugs, obsolete. This movie looked liked a drama at first, but when I watched some more, it was much more interesting. This is one 80's sci-fi film I really enjoyed. It was well made , and as the British say, "It's a real Right-LOOKER!" 5 STARS.


a very underrated film by the author of jarassic park. susan day looks sooo good in it. this film gets better on second viewing. there are some problems, like why ARE the girls getting killed but it's a keeper and i wish it was in dvd. i'd buy


I enjoyed this movie a lot as a kid as I enjoyed the flash guns and the other nifty computer stuff. This movie also has a bit of nudity in it, funny considering this movie was rated pg. It even has a couple of good deaths in it too. Just not the kind of stuff you would find in a movie these days unless it were just showing a male butt on screen. Here you get brief images of models and it is quite nice to look at. The plot has a plastic surgeon's patients dying off. What is strange is that none of these women seem to need any surgery to begin with. One particular girl kind of gets close to the doctor and through a series of events they uncover strange going ons. This movie is very entertaining as it has it all it seems. Good action here and there, some mystery, and some nice imagery. You also have a cool flash gun that stuns a person for a good while when used. It also has its rather funny scenes as a couple of those deaths that happen when they are filming those bad commercials are just great. The cast is rather good too, as Albert Finney may not be an action star, but he does really good here. James Coburn is also very good and they have a nice assortment of attractive girls too. They just do not make them like this anymore unfortunately.


This movie was written ahead of television technology, but on the computer it really leaves room for imagination. If you want to see into the motivation behind marketing,(Myspace,Google,Microsoft,etc...),check this movie out. It's not a movie that follows into any previous genre. Micheal Chrieghton never does. That's what's so great about it. It leaves you with a feeling of insight into the hearts and minds of corporate America. It is a must see. I saw this movie in the eighth grade. My friends and I were all raving about it. A real "Star Trek" atmosphere to it. The women were really sexy, especially at the age I was. I think the movie would be great for a college course in marketing. After seeing the movie you might consider where your mouse wanders, eh?


I haven't seen it as much as everyone else posting here. But, remembered, none-the-less, most of it. Just wanted to say a couple things, about it. Aside from the thought of albert finney, as a action hero. It was out of necessity, of his characters' need to know the truth. And then getting in too deep. I thought he was great in it. And the idea of the manipulating with light flashes, was brilliant. I was never sure if this story didn't just come from a true experiment, some where. The gun used, worked sort of like, the bright flash of video games on an epileptic. Only instead of a seizure. You get a mental-pause. Seems to me, to be a completely plausible idea. Doctors are delving still further into how the brain works. For medical healing and understanding, of the overall operations. Only years away from being realistic. A mental anesthesia. Again, unless its already real, some where. spooky

For, the person, who commented about the gun being useful in wars, and police procedures. Just think of it as a regular gun. In the wrong hands, it does, harm. I can see all kinds of crime being committed with one of those. As you can clearly tell from the movie.

I wouldn't want it to be made to be real. But, it still would be cool. Good luck future!


Not awful. Michael Crichton's techo-thriller has a lot of great ideas floating around, but few are really fleshed out enough to make for a really good movie. Albert Finney plays a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon who stumbles upon a plot to kill off models (many of whom were his patients). The trail leads to a conglomerate run by oily James Coburn and his sexy goon Leigh Taylor Young. What he uncovers is a pretty clever plot to replace the models with computer generated replicas, thus allowing them to work forever without aging or getting paid. Unfortunately, the leaden pacing of the movie does it in. Finney seems surprisingly engaged, but Crichton has directed nothing. In fact, his direction here (as it was with COMA) is so without personality it has a deadening affect on everything. Coburn is fine in an all too brief role and Susan Dey is terrific as one of Finney's luckier patients.


From what I saw in "Looker", it appears that plastic face-lift obsession was already quite noticeable in the early '80s. They had no idea back then how far it would eventually go. But aside from that, it's still a really good movie. Albert Finney plays a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon whose clients start dying in rather gruesome ways. So when one particular young woman (Susan Dey) comes in for an operation, he decides to keep her within his sight and finds out about some slimy deeds.

As this is a Michael Crichton story, it of course has the problem of portraying a successful middle-aged man in love with a beautiful woman half his age. But as long as we understand that, it's a very enjoyable movie. James Coburn plays the perfect kind of CEO role: he looks like a nice elderly man, but what's he hiding? Since I don't know "The Partridge Family" - and don't really have any ambition to know it - I'll just remember Susan Dey for her role here...especially that scanning scene! All in all, definitely worth seeing. That one model at the beginning was definitely setting herself up, given how she walked around in her underclothes (and those pink walls were really obnoxious).


Looker has a haunting theme song, as well as a disturbing message: try to sell the consumer more and more and more no matter what it takes.

intricately woven plot involving pretty models (who want to be even prettier) and corporate greed as well as political aspirations and ulterior motives for using new technology to dupe the public.

if you are an Albert Finney fan, or even a connoisseur of 1980's fear-flicks, this one is a must-see.

70's era dress, solid dialog, interesting imagery and computer-graphics montage (for a 1980's film) as well as a curious take on the military research involving "invisibility".


I haven't seen this film since 1982 but I still remember it fondly. Considering it is now 20+ years old, it contained technology that is deployed by the military today (light flashes and how it affects the human brain). The laser technology to fit clothing is also just starting to be used. It's a great film, with pretty good acting.

Susan Dey (from "The Partridge Family" and "L.A. Law") and the late James Colburn (from "Our Man Flint" and "In Like Flint" fame) star in this film along with Albert Finney. The story is about a high-tech firm that measures models and then gives the plastic surgeon the right specs to make the model "perfect", a 'LOOKER'. The plastic surgeon, played by Albert Finney, finds out what is really going on and he is hunted to be exterminated. To say more would ruin the movie for you.

The cinematography is not very good but I would still like to have this movie in my DVD collection.


If you look into the latest in non-lethal weapons, you will find a Light Strobe device that will stun people for periods of time. The weapon used in the Movie Looker is now real.


Mediocre performances aside, there were a lot of missed opportunities in this movie.

The miscasting of Finney and Dey is a big problem. Finney is not the right actor for the role of the protagonist/romantic lead and you can't help feeling he's just picking up a paycheck. He certainly doesn't put any effort or sincerity into the part. Dey is just plain wrong in a role as a model with supposedly "perfect" and symmetrical features. Dey is cute and great in many roles, but Crichton really needed someone who actually has a symmetrical face.

As a director (and, unfortunately, also as an author) Crichton puts much effort into some details and none at all into others. Why, for example, does the main bad guy/thug move items unnecessarily when searching an apartment? The victims always notice that the items are out of place or missing. That's just stupid. Plus, why kill off people under such obvious and suspicious circumstances? It's not like the police don't investigate murders. An intelligent assassin also wouldn't use a submachine gun in a doctor's office, the Looker weapon wouldn't fit in a standard pistol holster, a sink won't spray water out of the drain when hit by an errant bullet, yada-yada....

There are some creepy sequences, but far fewer than Crichton intended. Worth seeing if it's on SciFi, but don't waste a rental on it. I never did understand why it was necessary to kill any of the models, either.


Thinking about it, I'm not a very big fan of Michael Crichton. Westworld is a good film, but Coma was disappointing; and this film, Looker, isn't up to much at all. The early scenes and music indicate that the film is going to be another trashy eighties thriller, which is fine by me; but suddenly the film slows down to snail pace, and despite a few nice murder sequences early on; there really isn't much to remember Looker for. For this film, Crichton has took ideas from the worlds of plastic surgery and advertising, and attempted to blend them into a horror/thriller. To say he wasn't successful would be an understatement, as the plot requires a huge stretch of the imagination and the murders that happen early on never get anything in the way of an explanation. The film focuses on an eminent Beverley Hills plastic surgeon named Larry Roberts. After performing slight surgery on a number of almost perfect young women, he is surprised to find them turn up dead. After doing a bit of research, he stumbles on an advertising company called Digital Matrix, who have their own uses for 'perfect' women.

Given that this is an early eighties film, you've got to expect some tacky visuals and an even tackier soundtrack; but the film takes these elements and then delivers a story that is far too serious in tone, and it doesn't bode well at all. Furthermore, Crichton's plotting is awful as the film quickly becomes boring when the writer-director starts forgetting to explain things properly. You can't fault him for imagination, as plastic surgery usually leads to an interesting film, and there's no end of social commentary that can be sprung from the world of advertising; but in failing to capitalise on the story's strong elements, Crichton has made what could have been a masterpiece into a dull and boring film. The acting isn't bad, but again; nothing to write home about. Albert Finney is good in the lead role, and he receives welcome feedback from the likes of James Coburn and Susan Dey. The film isn't all bad (just mostly), and there are a few memorable sequences; most notably a young girl falling several stories onto a car roof, and a scene at a dinner table towards the end; but I'm really surprised that this is given praise as an "unsung movie" - it certainly doesn't deserve it!


To this films' credit, I did manage to sit through the whole thing - and there are a couple of interesting "ideas" (discussed more lucidly on the back cover of the video than onscreen) The main problem though is that the acting, suspense, and production values are no better than those of a "Brady Bunch" episode - or any other TV show of that vintage. There were "Stun Gun" shoot-outs (Star Trek?), unbelievable resolutions to events, holes in the plot, and questions left unanswered like: "Why were the girls being killed?" It was watchable but

by no means a great movie: "It's the story, of a plastic surgeon, who gave face lifts to some very lovely girls ....."


What malarkey. If you find yourself faced with the option of watching Island of Blood or kicking a stool out from under yourself with a rope around your neck, go for the stool.

A bunch of doofuses who can't act in real life get together on an island to make a stupid film that is so atrociously fake-acted that it hurts to watch. Stupid, stupid, stupid film. Everyone starts getting bumped off in mildly gory ways that refer to the catchy punk song "Face to Face" which is always playing when someone gets knocked off.

Here's every kill in the film so you don't have to see it: gal at the pool gets blasted in the head with a shotgun at close range, which decapitates her and causes her cranium to sink to the bottom of the pool; guy boils to death in the pool and then later on the cook makes boiled lobster for dinner, which causes everyone to leave the dinner table in disgust (I take issue with this because it's lobster...who the hell turns down lobster for crissakes?! irregardless!); a chick of African persuasion takes a shower and has a jug of battery acid tossed on her causing a stupid melting scene; guy stabbed from underneath a bed while he's having sex (with a girl); uh, I can't think of the rest of the kills.

Here's the end of the movie: The antisocial punk member of the cast gets tricked into giving a confession and gets killed by the final girl. Then the film's producer is exposed as the culprit and gets shot by the final girl. He was in it to make "death movies" for a pile of cash. There, now ya don't hafta see it. You can thank me later. Watch the far superior rock music-infused crapfest Blood Tracks instead.


A bunch of film makers are headed to a remote island to shoot some sort of love story movie. SPOILERS AHEAD! There are the actors and actresses, the director, the screenwriter, and the producer. The film crew was going to get there. One of the actors is found boiled to death in a swimming pool (apparently, this wasn't an accident). This scares the filmmakers. Then, on the day when the filmmakers come, the ship that the filmmakers are on explodes, killing everyone on board, and leaving the filmmakers trapped on the island along with the killer. The killer seems to have a fetish for this rock song. Its like Boil Me! Burn Me! Saw Me! Chop Me! Nail Me!Stab Me! Each murder is related to the song. The beginning has a women shot on the same island as the filmmakers are. You don't know who she is, why she's there, or why she was killed. This is a good movie but the killer is so obvious. It's revealed at the end but it's obvious half way through. One very disgusting chainsaw murder made me feel sick.


Great little horror film that i found when i was about 10 at the local book shop for sale under the title scared alive, the back of the cover looked interesting and i thought for 5 dollars, i can't really go wrong, Anyways i got away with buying an M15+ rated film which ten years later I'm so glad i did, The movie starts of with a girl who is getting ready to go for a swim, (notice the weird, but cool pop song she is listening to on a little tape player). So she jumps in, swims around for about 30 seconds then gets out and just sits there, She heres something in the bush, so she turns of the tape to look around, next thing you know a gun is being pointed straight at her head.. and BANG, her head falls into the pool, and the start credits come up, Not to bad for a beginning, But after the credit the storyline is about a bunch of filmmakers that set out to an island to make a light hearted comedy, But the actors that the producer's have set up aren't really what you would call Great,,, or even Good. So the directer decides to make a few change's So that the lead actress Betty Jean doesn't have much to say in the film, but when people start to get killed on the island, (by a killer who always leaves his mark with that tape player that was at the start, but this time it is playing lyrics like Boil me, Nail me, Burn me, Stab me etc and is always swinging around), The actors are scared, and want to know who is doing the slaying's is it one of them?. The one and only actor out of the entire cast left is Betty Jean (Bari Suber), she and the producer get away from the blood bath. But the twist that arrives at the end will leave you shock'd..... All and All i thought that this movie was great for a slasher, it has some fun, sex, scares, and gore.. oh and an awesome soundtrack by Joel Goldsmith. Bari Suber was great, shame she never did anything after this. 10/10


SPOILERS AHEAD....I've had this movie for quite some time under the title WhoDunIt and found it under Scarred Alive recently and is also known as Island Of Blood? So be warned you may think your getting 3 really cool movies but your really getting 1. This movie is awesome and a must have for a slasher fan. Anyone that disagrees should go stuff there head in the toilet and flush it about 666 times! Great gore, great 80's music what more can you ask for? I love the tape recorder that the killer leaves at all his murders with the songs playing, "kill me" "burn me" etc...Just a great movie if you like the Friday The 13th series and other mainstream slash and hack films. This flick is in my favorite 20 slasher movies for all the right reasons..Unique kill scenes, naked chicks, and dead bodies everywhere!!!Slasher reviewer gives this one all his thumbs up!!!Killer!!!


A group of people gathered on an isolated island filming a mystery movie fall prey to a killer who dispatches of them according to the movies murders. Brief, fast paced thriller with some scares, some good gore, and a clever premise (remind anyone of Scream 2?), doesn't try to pretend it is anything by a mindless slaughter of young people. Rated R; Graphic Violence, Nudity, Sexual Situations, and Profanity.


Mindnumbing bad slasher flick about a killer who's killing off a young film crew while playing a godawful new wave track that goes something like "Boil me! Boil me! Boil me! Cut me! Cut me!" on his tape deck. It's painfully apparent that nobody, in front or behind the camera, have no clue what so ever what the hell they're doing. Incomprehensable story, dialogue that makes no sense, acting from hell, weird cuts etc. About halfway through I got the creeping suspicion that this slasher abomination was the brainchild of a bunch of really confused hippie freaks! There was just one misplaced quasi-philosophical mumbo-jumbo line, longhaired acoustic guitar player or "i'm not going to mess with a bunch of food picky drug freaks!"-line too many to pass unnoticed, especially in a god-damned teen slasher flick! Label under uniquely bad. Since it's from 1981 it was pretty enjoyable as a cheezy turkey, if it was from 2001 I would probably hate it. You won't believe the twist ending... Guaranteed to make any intelligent, sensible human being lose their lunch.


One of those slasher films that give a bad name to the entire genre. Anonymous characters that you can barely tell apart, lifeless acting, a director who shows no skill in establishing his premise or creating a scary atmosphere, and a pathetic ending. The movie has one useful function: it will help you appreciate mediocre horror films more, because you'll know the difference between simple mediocrity and outright badness. 0.5 out of 4.


We (my wife and I) really enjoyed this documentary movie on the fragile coral reefs. As this is in the IMAX format you really feel like your are diving in the South Pacific or the Caribbean. We are occasional scuba divers and snorkelers and have always loved the magnificent hues of coral reef waters. So anyone with similar interests should see this documentary as it makes a strong message about the reefs and shows the beauty we all may lose if left unprotected. The colors are very vibrant and the surround sound is just another benefit added to the great musical score by Crosby, Stills, & Nash! You'll go home singing all those classics from their Deja Vu album from the late 60's!


This movie paints a grim picture of a group of people's lives destroyed by violence. I can't say that this movie is a statement on the realities of life because the characters' circumstances are so specific that many would have a hard time relating. Here's a list of the lessons taught in the movie.

1. Don't hit a cop, you'll get sent to prison. 2. Don't shine a laser pointer in a cop's face, you'll get sent to prison. 3. Don't stab a security officer in the neck, you'll get sent to prison. 4. Don't push anyone onto the 3rd rail of a subway station. They'll be electrocuted and you'll get sent to prison. 5. Don't try to escape from prison. You will either die trying or get sent back to prison.

I'm not really sure what the overall message of this movie is. Elijah does everything right by staying out of trouble, going to school, etc., and yet he still gets the shaft. 3 out of 10 only because I like Q Tip.


Everyone in this website thinks this is a bad movie, but i wholeheartedly disagree.(pardon my spelling). Now it's true that buddy cop movies have been copied since 48 hours, but this one uses the formula they all use and cuts out all the cheesy special effects and awkward dialogue that the "bad boys" films had. Also, good movies don't have to be longer than 2 hours to be great ,and at 79 minutes, this film uses it's time wisely. Jackson and Levy are hilariously Miss-matched in two on key performances. So, just give this movie a chance and ignore the clear ripoff, the exorcism of Emily rose. One more thing, Roger Ebert gave this movie 1 and a half stars but he also gave, "the honeymooners" 3. Think about that.


I can't say the movie was a disappointment because I got what I expected from the trailer. I hoped for Jackson to reprise the Jules character from Pulp Fiction but I knew I wouldn't get him. Instead we get someone almost as angry and a whole lot more impotent: he threw tantrums when it's obvious that his bad-ass character would beat Levy. The chemistry between Jackson and Levy never develops, it's a tired combination of the oblivious and irritating (Levy) teamed up with the dead-serious bad-ass (Jackson). The director doesn't know how to take advantage of the two as his gags are poorly set-up. There's an awful lot of lowest-common-denominator stuff in this movie. Once the movie starts to drone on, out comes the fart jokes. In the end, I amused myself by substituting my own dialogue throughout the movie and looking for references to Toronto. That's another disappointment: the movie is set in Detroit and filmed in Toronto but there was minimal effort to actually make the city FEEL like Detroit. Sure, they digitally removed the CN Tower from the city skyline but the unique Toronto streetcars and streetcar tracks, Petro-Canada gas-stations, Royal York Hotel, bilingual signposts, people walking about and NO garbage or graffiti anywhere prove that it is NOT Detroit. They should have at least avoided the skyline completely since it doesn't match Detroit at all, even with the Skydome and CN Tower removed. There you go: a poor to mediocre effort on all levels.


This was by no means the best film I had ever seen. It wasn't a particularly original premise or story, nor were the jokes and gags that great...and it will by no means end up in the pantheon of the great buddy dramas...

but this movie was entertaining! And isn't that the point? The movie had some language that might offend some, and a lot of the humor was crude. The base of this movie however was Sam Jackson in a familiar "Sam Jackson" character and Eugene Levy in typical Eugene Levy role.

It only lasted 80 minutes or so, and there were not big plot 'twists'. Just a quick story with a few laughs. Not something that I would want to watch over and over, but worth renting or watching on cable.


As the movie opens, Detroit BATF Agent Derrick Vann (Samuel L. Jackson) is having a really bad day. His partner has been murdered, and he's a suspect. A storehouse of firearms has been stolen from the evidence locker, and he's a suspect. Internal affairs officers (headed up by actor Miguel Ferrar) issue warnings and ultimatums. And his lieutenant (Susie Essman) is none too happy about any of these things. Vann isn't, either, but at least he decides to try to do something about it.

Meanwhile, a few hundred miles to the west in the great state of Wisconsin, dental equipment salesman Andy Fidler (Eugene Levy) is preparing to give a major speech at a sales convention to be held in (what a surprise) Detroit. His speech is in fine order and his flight is uneventful. But when Andy arrives in Detroit, his simple decision to get a bite to eat lands him right in the middle of the sting operation Vann has set up in an attempt to get the guns back, nab his partner's real killer, and clear his own name.

Fidler, who innocently exhibits the signs a go-between is looking for, ends up in possession of one of the stolen firearms. Worse, the bad guys now think he's their buyer. Vann knows he has only one chance to make the deal, and so he forcibly enlists an uncooperative  and entirely naive  Andy to play along. Faced with certain unattractive choices, Andy does his best to work with Vann (his best, unfortunately, isn't much) and even manages to alleviate some of the suspicions held by the gun dealer's representative, Joey (Luke Goss).

As the deal progresses in fits, starts, mishaps, and misunderstandings, Internal Affairs continues to surveil Vann in the hopes of nabbing themselves a cop gone bad; more bodies pile up; Vann has personal problems; and Andy ends up in jail, worried he'll miss giving his speech. There's a lot going on in The Man! And all of it happens in 90 or so minutes. That it will seem a whole lot longer says something about the film, and it's not saying anything very nice.

Samuel L. Jackson is a good actor. Though he doesn't appear to be slacking off here, there's nothing anyone could do about the horrible lines he's given. I think Eugene Levy is a hoot (he's just wonderful as the earnest father in the American Pie trilogy), but he's not remotely funny in this movie. That's probably because none of his lines are remotely funny. Miguel Ferrar's IA investigator is a caricature at best; Susie Essman is a woman in a man's world artificially made ridiculously prickly by  you guessed it!  some really stupid lines.

The direction isn't terrible (though there are some edits that are), but the screenplay is truly abysmal. The storyline is obvious as all get-out, and the script is trite at best (at other times, it degenerates from "trite" directly to "could this be any dumber?"). Both the director and the writing team have some experience under their respective belts (though the résumés don't contain any films of particular note), so they all should have been better than this. That they aren't makes me wonder how it is they ever got the green light to go ahead with what is obviously intended to be a mass market release.

Is The Man a comedy? No. I know that because it isn't funny (unless you think really badly handled fart jokes are good humor). Is it a cop movie? Not really. There are stereotypes everywhere, but no real cop action, or even jargon. Is it a drama? Seeing as how it's utterly missing any drama or suspense, I'd give that a "no," too. So what exactly is The Man? Just a really bad movie.

I frankly feel bad for the actors caught up in this mess. Each and every one of them deserves better. In honesty, though, I feel even worse for those movie-goers who, either intentionally and with high hopes or by default, end up enduring this film. Entertainment Weekly magazine gave The Man a D+ grade. I think that's wrong. A D+ is a passing grade, and The Man is a complete failure.

POLITICAL NOTES: In a movie that intends a federal agency to comprise a major part of the framework for the storyline, you'd think the scriptwriters could at least get the name of the agency right! But they don't. Although the BATF has been the BATFE (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives) for several years, now, it's referenced only as BATF in the film. The movie also gets it wrong when it represents the agents as the good guys (BATFE has a terrible reputation among other federal agencies, and a worse one with gun owners  deserved on both counts). It's only wishful thinking that they'd also be as inept as the movie presents...

FAMILY SUITABILITY: The Man is rated PG-13 for "language, rude dialogue and some violence." I frankly found the entire movie offensive as an insult to my intelligence (in a scantly occupied theatre Friday night, nobody else laughed, either). As a result, I don't believe this movie is suitable for anyone of any age. Anyone old enough to follow the shallow plot line (say, 10 or so and up) is also plenty aware enough to resent having wasted the money on this drivel. I'd recommend that you go see something  anything!  else. If the kids insist, be aware that the fart jokes are harmless and the violence isn't graphic. The language does get rough in places, though, so if you find that objectionable you've another good reason to skip The Man and hold out for what we can hope is a better week for movies next week.


The Man is one of what I like to call 'MWLP': Movies with little plot. The movie's plot is rather thin: Jackson is a cop whose partner was just killed by a gun-smuggling ring. He sets up a buy with a dealer, but a case of coincidence leads Levy to intercept the goods. Now that the dealers think Levy is the buyer, Jackson has no choice but to work with Levy to bust the ring.

Like I said, the plot if mediocre. But the movie itself is good. Jackson walks the walks, and Levy talks, talks, and talks! The cursing, swearing, tough-as-nails cop paired with a dental supply salesman who really just wants to get the job over with and go on with his life: preferably before Jackson shoots him in the keyster (again!). But in the end, Jackson must swallow his pride as Levy takes matters into his own hands and sets up a trade to get Jackson into the heart of the operation. Not bad for a dental supply salesman!

Over all...if you want an engaging, twisting, turning and suspenseful...look elsewhere. You want laughs, and one of the most outrageous cop pairings since Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan, see this movie.


We've seen it many times before. From "Miami Vice" to "Lethal Weapon", and furthermore in "Rush Hour", the cultural and personality clash of mismatched allies unwittingly working together has long become an established formula.

The newest unlikely pairing comes in the guise of Eugene Levy and Samuel L. Jackson, two individuals who stand at the furthest polar opposites from each other, both relying on their stereotypical persona of the tough guy and the bumbling nerd to illustrate this contrast.

A routine business trip from Wisconsin to Detroit turns into an unexpected case of mistaken identity for Andy Fiddler (Levy), a dental supply salesman, while heading to a convention.

Upon his arrival, he coincidentally crosses paths with Derrick Vann (Jackson), a federal agent who just happens to be dealing with the death of his partner and a stash of stolen firearms. From then on, Derrick uses Andy in his scheme to recover the weapons and expose the leader of the operation (Luke Goss). Andy, who is believed to be a participant in the whole criminal dealings, has no other choice but to cooperate with Derrick and solve the case in time to make it to his convention the next morning.

"The Man" employs the usual rules of buddy movies, as we see the two leads initially teaming up with reluctance only to inevitably become accustomed to each other in the end. Both discover that they can learn from one another, with Andy teaching Derrick to be more trusting and more appreciative of family values, while Derrick teaches Andy to be more assertive.

Levy and Jackson's combination is effective to a certain degree, due in great part to the clear distinction between positivity and negativity which emanate from both characters, the two elements nonetheless blending together to create highly compatible opposites.

Unfortunately, this exuded chemistry cannot sustain the rest of the material which all too often resorts to extensive flatulence sequences, resulting in two heavyweight actors floating on nothing more than hot air in a film that practically has no other substance and that lingers unpleasantly, long after it has passed.


THE MAN (2005) * Samuel L. Jackson, Eugene Levy, Luke Goss, Miguel Ferrer, Susie Essman, Anthony Mackie, Horatio Sanz. (Dir: Les Mayfield)

Tired retread of the 'buddy' flick

Why is the 'buddy' film such a tired vehicle? You'd think mixing a comic actor with a dramatic one would be a proved formula since it worked for Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte in "48 HRS" which pretty much launched the subgenre of cops and comedy 20 odd years ago. Well it certainly hasn't aged well and the latest venture of comic and dramatic actors joined at the hip with bullets flying may well signal the death knell for it.

The plot has hapless nice guy schmuck dental equipment salesman Andy Fidler (Levy in his trademark character form) is in Detroit for a convention but winds up gumming up the works inadvertently for a sting operation by undercover ATF Special Agent Derrick Vann (perpetually glowering Jackson) when Fidler unwittingly walks into a diner and sits where Vann is supposed to be for a very important meet with an arms dealer who assumes Fidler is 'the man'.

When Vann abducts the shocked Fidler and ingratiating him into the operation at hand well insert the laughter here folks because this is when and why it is supposed to be funny: a fish-out-of-water white tight-ass with an angry black street-smart cop team up to get the bad guy. Are you laughing yet?

The plotting is so tedious and by-the-numbers you beg for the 'hilarity to ensue' already. The script by Jim Piddock (Levy's co-star in several of the Christopher Guest mockumentaries of late) and Margaret Oberman and Stephen Carpenter feels like it is a textbook playbook and Mayfield's debut as a director is skeptical at best.

The chemistry between the two seems natural yet in reality very forced. Fart humor and calling each other a bitch is the high point in this low-concept comedy of errors. Make a citizen's arrest and don't bother seeing this film anytime soon.


When I first saw trailers on The Man, I immediately formulated what I wanted this movie to be. Two completely unlikely and opposite men end up having to help each other to thwart the bad guys. One tough guy cop, one loser nobody, and in the end they find a respect for each other. Then the reviews started pouring in and they weren't favorable!! They completely shattered my hopes for what the film could and should be so I waited until DVD release to check this one out and guess what?? The Man is exactly what I wanted and expected from it which is great!!

Samuel L. Jackson is perfect and brilliant as tough, no nonsense, above the rule ATF agent Derrick Vann whose partner (turns out to be a dirty cop) is killed by a Gun Smuggler. Now Vann is suspected of being dirty as well and during a complete case of mistaken identity dental supply salesman Andy Fiddler is brought in to the underground world of illegal gun sales and Vann needs him to catch these guys. Jackson always plays the tough guy role well and he can deliver comedy as well so his role is perfectly cast. Eugene Levy who rocketed to fame during the American Pie craze is usually overused and over-rated (like the horrible New York Minute) and I was very concerned he would be overused in this film but instead he is delightfully annoying as Andy Fiddler. He's the pinnacle lovable loser that made him famous in American Pie. Him and Jackson really do have great comedic timing and chemistry which is absolutely essential for this type of film. I am devastated that this film didn't do better because I would have loved to see a sequel even though it never would have matched this one. This is a one trick pony for sure and it'll be a gem to some and horrible to others. Luke Goss is okay as the bad guy, gun smuggler but nothing entirely outstanding. Anthony Mackie has some genuinely funny moments as Jackson's informant Booty. The whole film really does revolve around Levy and Jackson's characters and interactions and it's just fun to watch. It's just plain and silly fun and worth seeing because it will make you laugh.

I was disheartened at the ridiculous STUPID, UNNECESSARY addition of a FART GAG to an otherwise well-written comedy. For the most part the comedy is not cheap, or dirty (Levy's lecture to Jackson on the "F" word is classic) and then they add in Levy's bad gas problem to cheapen the whole film and honestly drop this comedy an entire point in my books but it's done and said and they redeem themselves with other clever banter between them and a decent if not predictable storyline. Director Les Mayfield is a pro and has worked on some great projects and this might not be one of his best but it'll do well on DVD and you should check it out for a chuckle. It's not bad at all!! 7/10


Rated PG-13 for language, rude dialogue and some violence Quebec Rating:G Canadian Home Video Rating:14A(should be PG)

I just saw The Man on the movie network.This movie came and went in theaters but it had Samuel L Jackson in it and it seemed funny so I decided to check this film out.Samuel L Jackson is a great actor and this film is no exception.His acting is good.So is Eugene Levy's.The storyline is okay but this film does have some very funny moments and the chemistry between Samuel L Jackson and Eugene Levy was good.This film is about a cop who must team up with a salesman who talks too much in order to get revenge on the weapon dealers who killed his partner.The Man is a fairly funny film and I think its a good rental.

Runtime:83min

8/10


Sam Jackson plays an FBI agent whose partner has just been murdered in a gun-buy bust gone awry. With Internal Affairs on his tail, he struggles to clear his own name by trying to find the source of the gun supply. Enter Eugene Levy, an Innocent out-of-town salesman who is in town for a convention, when he is spotted reading the newspaper that Jackson's character is supposed to be reading during the meet and is mistaken to be "THE MAN". Throw in a few sentimental family scenes, gut-ripping funny back and forth Dialogue between Levy and Jackson, the stereotypical foreign bad guys and a police boss out of save one of her own and you've basically got the entire film.


Not the best work of Samuel L. Jackson. Eugene Levy couldn't act nervous if you put a gun to his head. That monotone whinny voice makes me cringe. He is a stiff actor. I don't know Samuel but I'm sure you didn't need the money. Crappy story, crappy acting, guy dies taking a crap. The should have paid me to watch it.

Grade: C for crap

Terrible movie.

Why? Why? Why Sam?

The best part of the movie was the end credits. I hope you come back with a good movie Sam. Eugene needs to stop appearing in every dumb ever made.


Not much to say about THE MAN (well, not much positive), but there's a really odd, homo-erotic moment when the bad guy offers Levy to check him for a body mic. When the villain makes Levy pat down his crotch he (the villain) gets this proud, pleased look on his face, like "Yeah, I'm packing a big somethin' somethin' down there, ain't I?" (There are a few other, smaller h.e. moments too, like when Levy checks out Jackson's back tattoo, and is there some sort of subtext with all the talk about being shot in the butt?)

The movie itself is poorly directed, blandly photographed, and the illegal-gun-running plot would be confusing if either the audience or the writer cared. And Sam Jackson's I.A. agent character was really unpleasant some of the time. Are we supposed to like him, or at least think he's a good cop? I dunno. It's not funny to see him repeatedly beat on the informant with garbage can lids and phone books and hit him with his car again and again, or the way he treats the local cops when they pull him over.

Some big, isolated laughs (highlight: Levy's "He's my bitch" bit), but it's less of a movie than an experiment to see how Jackson and Levy play off each other. Levy gets most of the laughs (is it an inside joke or typecasting that he's in the dental field again after WAITING FOR GUFFMAN?), but they ain't no Riggs and Murtaugh.

Oh, and would you believe the movie contains the most played-out scene in action movies: the one wherein the cop's superior demands his gun and badge. Can this please be retired, please? Since the movie looks really cheap I assume the producers got a bargain deal for it--and others--at the Movie Cliché Store. (Like, has anyone ever had their vehicle commandeered by a cop? According to cop movies, it happens all the time.)


Samuel L. Jackson and Eugene Levy? Sounds like a great team. Can't go wrong. Not! Despite the enormous talents of both actors, they can't do a thing to save this dull, unoriginal buddy cop flick. Many of the gags fall flat and simply go nowhere. For example, in one part Levy is hungry and wants to get something to eat. Jackson suggests they get a burger, but Levy doesn't want to, because red meat doesn't agree with his stomach. The pay-off to the gag? He passes gas in the car. God, it must've taken hours to come up with that punchline! The characters are totally clichéd and one-dimensional. Levy's job is to ramble on about banalities, while Jackson's job is to roll his eyes at him. The film does nothing to distinguish itself amongst the buddy-cop genre. Come on, we went from "48 Hours" to this? Unfortunately, this is Levy's first starring role since he became a household name with his role in the "American Pie" films. Hopefully, he'll stumble upon much better roles than this in the future. His deadpan comic style is hilarious, as we've seen in the "AP" trilogy, but in "The Man" he's forced to be an obnoxious fool. Levy's talent is more in reacting to awkward situations than creating awkward situations. Samuel L. Jackson looks completely embarrassed to be associated with the film. He probably took on this role so he can fulfill his contract of 50 movies a year. Jackson is undoubtedly one of our most talented actors, but at the same time not the most choosy with his roles. Plus, in the movie he's forced to play the usual "angry black guy" character he has played in every other movie. So it really is like watching DeNiro playing a gangster. And to top it all off, Jackson and Levy seem to share no chemistry.

"The Man" is yet another lame PG-13 comedy. You remember the days when producers couldn't give two s**ts about earning the PG-13 rating? You don't even have to go that far back. Look at "My Cousin Vinny." Now, in place of that, we have watered down comedies like the "Legally Blonde" flicks. An "R-rating" probably wouldn't have made "The Man" a much better comedy, but the PG-13 comedy seems to be a epidemic nowadays. I think if producers would have the guts to be more edgy and go against the studio's wishes to submit a film with a PG-13, we'd probably have a lot more funny comedies.


This movie is extremely hilarious! Eugene Levy and Samuel L. Jackson were awesome together! A dentist named Andy Fiddler is getting ready to go to Detroit to give a speech about dental tools. While in Detroit, he just happens to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, and some gun-dealers think he is a buyer. Agent Vann thinks Andy is robbing the store, because one of the bad guys gives Andy a gun. Throughout the film, Andy is annoying to Vann, who has no time for nonsense. Vann needs Andy to pretend he's wants to buy stolen guns in order to bring the bad guys down. Vann eventually begins to like Andy. If you love comedy, you'll love THE MAN!!!


Following the old, and sometimes over repeated, Action/Comedy formula THE MAN adds something different to the genre. This combination between the Action Thriller and Comedy was done so many times before but not with a personality like Eugene Levy! He truly is "the man"! I mean this guy is unique in the way he represents the dumb guy, because he's genuine! No offense to the actor but like is said in the film "he can't be any dumber than he looks"! He really represents the dumb guy with simplicity, honesty, and mostly, veracity! I think this duet, Samuel L Jackson and Eugene Levy, worked out very well, because they are both excellent actors, and they represent very well the tough and the dumb guy respectively. And the combination of these two character genres, played by these actors, was amazing. At parts it was hilarious (the "He's my bitch" scene is remarkable!).

THE MAN is essentially action and fun but it also has one or two nice messages either. It's an entertaining film, made in Hollywood standards, but it's a very nice one in the genre.


Two things i learnt from watching The Man last night, one is that Samuel L Jackson literally will do any film, regardless of how under written his role is. Does he even read scripts any more?, you have to wonder when you see drek like this. Secondly i had it confirmed that film makers need to realise that a great supporting actor in comedies, is not leading man potential. Eugene Levy, nice fella who tickled us pink as Jim's dad in Amercan Pie, simply isn't strong enough to carry a film, especially when his co-worker Samuel is bogged down by a meandering dull and unoriginal script {Piddock & Oberman you should be ashamed}. Luke Goss tries his best at villainy but Blade II seems a very long time ago now, whilst to under use Miguel Ferrer is tantamount to a treason of cinema.

Unimaginative dirge, 2/10 for sympathy.


Not really awful but one will always wonder what possessed the immensely talented Samuel L. Jackson and Eugene Levy to make this film together. Maybe it was some sort of a deal or perhaps even a dare.

It is immensely familiar to see the opposites in buddy comedy territory but usually there is some kind of twist (think: Lethal Weapon or the original Odd Couple). The difference is in this case is that none of the characters are suicidal.

This is not to say that I didn't enjoy some of the moments in here. Levy is incredibly good at playing the nebbish and of course Jackson could do his part in his sleep. There is even a little scene that references some of Jackson's previous work with regards to him using the F-word like he had some kind of reverse V-chip installed within him.

Ultimately, this is a failed attempt. Even the villain is not all that evil. He seems rather pleasant, except for the fact that he is involved in criminal activity.

So, if you absolutely don't have anything else to do, watch this. You will not die laughing but you will be mildly entertained.


as the title of this post says, the section above that says 'the plot synopsis is empty' basically covers it. and inasmuch as the section above that says 'the plot synopsis is empty' basically covers it, it seems absurd to need ten whole lines of text just to be able to convey the only necessary information, that the section above that says 'the plot synopsis is empty' basically covers it. nonetheless these are the rules, like the rules of brainless boardroom production writers who come up with this kind of empty, synopsis-less drivel. it's fair to say the section above that says 'the plot synopsis is empty' basically covers it, so i will: the section above that says 'the plot synopsis is empty' basically covers it. pardon the spoiler.


Arguably a tad better than the similar PURE LUCK, THE MAN features Sam Jackson as an federal agent who somehow ends up playing nursemaid to salesman Eugene Levy, as they pursue the bad guys who have killed Jackson's partner. This one is a real groaner, with Levy playing the bespectacled fish out of water to Jackson's perpetually scowling lawman. A lot of time is spent in Jackson's car. A lot of time. I have to admit I could not sit through this one to the end, but then who could? Levy is mildly funny, but a little of him goes a long way, as he has proved in everyone of his movies. Jackson is picking up a paycheck, pure and simple. Skip THE MAN.


I sat down in front of my TV and turned to HBO and "The Man" happened to be starting at that moment. I needed two hours to pass, so I watched it.

I was pleasantly surprised. The idea to put Eugene Levy and Sam Jackson in a movie together was a clever one. They bounce off each other perfectly. The jokes in the movie range from farting humor to Eugene Levy explaining that the human bite is very painful (which I found funny). I found the film to be above average funny.

The film's humor and suspense are abundant enough to keep you watching the whole 83 minutes. It is definitely a great movie to watch just to burn time.

7/10.


just finished watching "The Man"with Samuel.L Jackson and Eugene Levy.not a bad offering.it's sort of in the vein of "48 hours".now i'm not equating the 2 movies with each other,though i do seem to recall being less than impressed with "48 hours.i did however find "the Man" entertaining from beginning to end,from both a dramatic viewpoint and a comedic one.the 2 stars are both very gifted actors,so it was good to see them in action.admittedly,the film was kind of light in tone(it could have had been a bit more substantial) and very short in its running time.however,for what it was,it worked very well.i do have one small complaint dough and that is that the movie did seem a bit mean spirited in the beginning.not sure why that would bother me,since i would usually not complain about something like that.(it'a petty complaint,i'll admit) maybe i'm becoming someone who gets offended easily.in my ripe old age of 36.I hope not.anyway,i soon forgot about that and enjoyed the movie. a strong 7* out of 10


I started watching The man thinking that the film was going to be one of the worst movies I have seen in my entire life.But,there was a surprise:the film was only very bad,but not one of the worst movies I have ever seen.That's the best thing I can say about this bad film.The movie is predictable and the formula it has is very used.The story is irrelevant and the film is crap from the beginning until the end.Eugene Levy and Samuel L.Jackson are excellent actors but they are wasted here.The script is simply pathetic.''Director''Les Mayfield continues with his pathetic career(which includes craps like Flubber and Blue streak).The man is a pathetic film and I do not recommend it.


This movie changed my life. Never before have I witnessed such a dramatic piece with intricate plot lines developed so well. With remarkable performances from some of the finest actors of our generation, including Luke Goss from the Grammy award winning group BROS. Samuel L Jackson portrays a desperate cop in the role of his career and Euegen Levey was truly robbed of an Oscar with his subtle and captivating portrayal of a dentist in a neck brace.

If you pass up on the opportunity to go and see or rent this movie then you may aswel end your life or perhaps consider perpetual hibernation for you are passing up the opportunity to have your life changed. When I first saw this movie I gave up the notion of a superior creator and decided that the Man should be the biblical celluloid that dictates my life and takes me to places I never thought possible.

Also in the film you get to hear Eugene Levey call samuel L Jackson a bitch and for that alone you must do what ever you can to help yourselves and others to view this work of magnificence. The Man.


Hey, I loved this movie. My husband and I laughed all the way through. This movie is worth seeing and buying. Don't listen to those negative people who are so critical. Rent it today! If you have children you need to know there are a few f-words in this movie. My son watched it and he laughed his head off. I wouldn't normally allowed him to watch this kind of movie, but it was not said in a derogatory manner. It was meant to be funny. If I were you, I'd give it a chance, which I did and that's what I'm writing this review to you. Hopefully you feel the same way. There are a lot of funny parts and it's way better than some of the lame movies I've seen. Check it out today!


....display of commercially calculated, formulaic, cynical, uninspired and empty Hollywood 'movie-making' in at LEAST 5 years. There are only two movies since, say 1999, that I have had to seriously battle the urge to walk out of, and this was one of them. And I will sit through pretty much anything. By the by, the other movie was Saving Silverman. This movie is offensively predictable and mind-numbingly brain-corrosively unfunny in it's BEST moments. The best analogy to made is to imagine someone sitting around the camp-fire telling a story. The person telling the story is drunk and half-asleep. And he is telling that story to someone who is presumably retarded. In this scenario, the story-teller is this 'movie', and you and I, fellow movie-goers, are, yes, the retard. Yes, it is THAT insulting. Sad to say, Samuel L.Jackson, as cool as he WAS, is now a hack, collecting a paychecheque for any movie that pays him to utter any variation on a sentence that includes the word 'motherfucker,' and sneer every second line of dialogue in that now clichéd semi-yell he trademarked in Pulp Fiction.I saw this movie for FREE and still regret the two hours of my life I will never get back. Consider this rant as my therapeutic outlet. A VERY BAD movie. This has been a public service announcement.


If Samuel L. Jackson is going to insist on doing comedy he should stick to the dark kind like Pulp Fiction. As for Eugene Levy, he is not bad as the sidekick but he has done some vastly better comedies. If you want to watch a truly great comedy with Eugene Levy then skip this along with any of the American Pie sequels and rent, nay buy, the Christopher Guest (the genius behind This Is Spinal Tap) movies A Mighty Wind, Best in Show and Waiting For Guffman. In comparison, The Man falls embarrassingly short. A tired, run-of-the-mill script and plot that have been flogged to death by Hollywood. Stick to action, Samuel. Stick with Christopher, Eugene.


When the credits rolled on this one, I just sat in sheer amazement. Amazement that this thing had such terrible writing and direction. I can't fault Jackson or Levy, they had to do what they were hired to do, I suppose, but this movie is atrocious, and may be the death knell for 'buddy' movies. Average premise, really good villain, and precious little else. A complete waste of time. Jackson had best start picking his projects with more care, or his career is going to go into the toilet. Worse than many direct-to-video productions. Avoid this like the black plague. Juvenile attempt at comedy, about 3 funny lines, overacting by Jackson, annoying acting by Levy, I can't begin to say what a complete disappointment this movie was, and I'm overwhelmed at all the good comments it's getting here. Just terrible. If Nick Nolte & Martin Short had played the parts, it might have been bearable, but maybe not. I only know there was no chemistry of any kind between Levy & Jackson.


I just rented this movie last weekend, and I can't understand why it only was NOMINATED for a Razzie. That's crap. This movie, by far, was one of the funniest movies I've seen, and it was well worth watching. Eugene Levy was great, Samuel L. Jackson was great, even Kathryn Greenwood, from "Whose Line is it Anyway?", played the great flight attendant. This movie is full of hilarious lines, which I'm sure you'll be quoting, and some incredibly funny situations. From slapstick to serious comedy, this movie has it all, all wrapped up into a great story that will keep you rolling and crying. I'm surprised no one has seen or even heard of this movie, but I say it's good. Oh well, just watch it, and you'll agree with me, I guarantee it.