Wow. There are some big names in this film, and a fair amount of talent, but this was probably the wrong ensemble for an adaptation of Michael Frayn's witty farce. They may be well-known for their American sitcoms, but for the most part they did not succeed here.
John Ritter (R.I.P.) is, sadly, so bad that he single-handedly ruined it for me. In the original, the actors are supposed to be amusingly inept, but he was just inept. I wish I could feel he was doing it on purpose, but he delivered his lines so badly that he ruined some very funny material. It's ridiculous to hear Christopher Reeve, plainly American, worrying about the Inland Revenue. If you're going to make it American, make it American. The gulf between Michael Caine, who delivered as always, and the other actors, who were unequal to the material, was too great. Carol Burnett was an exception, a great trouper, and Denholm Elliott was fine. Just a sad waste, matching talent with the wrong material.
I wish someone would remake this film with different casting decisions.
John Ritter (R.I.P.) is, sadly, so bad that he single-handedly ruined it for me. In the original, the actors are supposed to be amusingly inept, but he was just inept. I wish I could feel he was doing it on purpose, but he delivered his lines so badly that he ruined some very funny material. It's ridiculous to hear Christopher Reeve, plainly American, worrying about the Inland Revenue. If you're going to make it American, make it American. The gulf between Michael Caine, who delivered as always, and the other actors, who were unequal to the material, was too great. Carol Burnett was an exception, a great trouper, and Denholm Elliott was fine. Just a sad waste, matching talent with the wrong material.
I wish someone would remake this film with different casting decisions.