Director Lloyd Fellowes (Michael Caine) is panicking over the Broadway opening of his play "Nothing On". The movie flashes back to the final dress rehearsal in Des Moines, Iowa six months ago. Actress Dotty Otley (Carol Burnett) has put her life savings into the play and brought in senile alcoholic mentor Selsdon Mowbray (Denholm Elliott). She's sleeping with younger co-star Garry Lejeune (John Ritter). Frederic Dallas (Christopher Reeve) is questioning every move after his wife left him. Lloyd is sleeping with clueless Brooke Ashton (Nicollette Sheridan) who keeps losing her contacts but he's also sleeping with stage manager Poppy Taylor (Julie Hagerty). Belinda Blair (Marilu Henner) rounds out the cast in the play and Tim Allgood (Mark Linn-Baker) is the stagehand worked to the bone. Later, there is the famous matinée in Miami Beach where everything goes haywire as relationships blow up.
The play within the movie is a rather unfunny British farce. That may be the point of the movie but it's not funny to watch. It's a lot of slamming doors, running around and people speaking in various levels of semi-British accents. In contrast, the behind the scenes with Noises Off is a frantic fun ride. It's a throwback to the silent era slapstick and it's wonderful. I may not be following everything but it's loads of fun anyways. It's a great 20 minutes but the rest is not as much fun.
The play within the movie is a rather unfunny British farce. That may be the point of the movie but it's not funny to watch. It's a lot of slamming doors, running around and people speaking in various levels of semi-British accents. In contrast, the behind the scenes with Noises Off is a frantic fun ride. It's a throwback to the silent era slapstick and it's wonderful. I may not be following everything but it's loads of fun anyways. It's a great 20 minutes but the rest is not as much fun.