Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

"To be with another woman that is French. To be caught that is American." Inspector Andre

☆☆☆☆☆ Classic

Dirty Rotten Scoundrel (1988) is filled with rotten apples that are deliciously served.

Directed by Frank Oz.

Starring Michael Caine, Steve Martin and Glenne Headly.

Take three great actors, a madcap plot, an intelligent, well written script, the French Riviera and you have comedy heaven. The movie has a modest pace that gets its high octane humor from the marvelous chemistry between all three lead actors. The plot twists are imaginative and surprising. The story gets you laughing as you not only anticipate what will happen, but you can't wait to see how  the crazy scenes are accomplish. I found myself laughing from beginning to end.

Great comedy requires impeccable timing and surprising plot twists. This film has an over abundance of both. As an actor I was amazed at the chemistry between Michael Caine and Steven Martin. They played off each other wonderfully and allowed the other to take the reins of the scene as needed. This helped them, so as not to overwhelm each other at any given moment. There is a fine line, especially in comedy of not upstaging your scene partner. Neither Martin nor Caine ever crossed that mark. When Glenne steps into the picture she brings a soft touch to every scene she is in. It's as though she has a secret that she enjoys keeping to herself and the two boys find her irresistible.

The scene below perfectly illustrates how as an audience member you know what is about to happen is going to be hilarious and you can't wait to see what the story has in store for you. Now the actors take the scene and elevate it to slapstick nirvana with their comedic timing and physicality. As an audience member you know how the scene will end from the moment it starts. The film, EuroTrip (2004) has a similar approach in cluing the audience in on the joke early in a scene and then surprising them with an uproarious conclusion. This film should be in your library. Enjoy!

Film Scene

Trivia - The young lady with long dark hair dancing next to Michael Caine is his real-life daughter, Natasha.

Film Trailer

EuroTrip

"Adminster the testical clamps." Madamme Vandersexxx

☆☆☆☆☆ Classic

EuroTrip (2004) is a slapstick comedy gem not to be missed.

Directed and written by Alec Berg, David Mandel and Jeff Schaffer.

Starring Scott Mechlowicz, Jacob Pitts, Michelle Trachtenberg and Travis Wester.

The story is about four recently graduated high school students from Ohio who leave for a trip through Europe before starting college in the fall. If as a child you enjoyed watching old episodes of The Three Stooges and Benny Hill and laughed yourself silly at their non-stop slapstick comedy then you will thoroughly enjoy Eurotrip.

The scene below is one of many that run the length of the movie and keep you constantly amazed at the ingenuity of each scene and the comedic timing of the actors. Comedy, especially slapstick only works if you surprise the audience with an absurd situation using flawless comedic timing amongst the actors in the scene. The scene below illustrates how funny an absurd situation becomes when you pair it with perfect comic timing. Note how the foreground actors react to each other and to the child imitating Hitler while marching Nazi goose step in the background. Reminds me of scene's from Frank Oz's, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988) with Michael Caine, Steve Martin and Glenne Headly.

There are many off the wall situations that will leave you gasping for air. I have showed this little gem of a comedy to many of my Europeans friends and they laugh themselves silly throughout the film. Enjoy!

Film Scene

Trivia - The entire movie was filmed in Prague, the Czech Republic.

Film Trailer

La Belle Verte - The Beautiful Green

"Who wants to go to earth? No one? They're primitive, they still use cars and computers." Aliens

☆☆☆☆☆ Enlightening

La Belle Verte - The Beautiful Green (1996) is a thought provoking Sci-Fi comedy.

Directed and starring Coline Serreau.

Starring Vincent Lindon and a very young Marion Cotillard.

Basically, you have a very funny Sci-Fi comedy written by members of Green Peace, NASA and French Satirists. I had to download the English subtitles to help with all the dialogue within each scene. I'm quite sure that there is even more humor and subtext that the English subtitles missed.

The broad and absurd comedy is where this film really shines. Take the scene below where an entire football game's players are transformed by Coline's telepathic abilities into dancers filled with love for all. The audience at attendance doesn't know whether to have their usual game riot or dance along with the transformed players. The slapstick comedy within this scene and throughout the film can be understood by any audience member in the world. Coline subtle use of holistic views through comedy to inform us is similar to Kim Ki Duk subtle use of Buddhist philosophy through drama in his film, Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring (2003). Both films have a beautiful message that is unique and effortless.

The film gets you thinking about what we value in our lives. Instead of preaching and judging us for our materialistic culture we are lightly tapped on the shoulder with comedy. As an audience member I laughed most in the slapstick scenes that I could relate to what the characters were arguing and struggling with in their own lives. A wonderful film that is both entertaining and enlightening.

Film Scene

Trivia - Coline composed the original music score.

Film Trailer