User Reviews

Prison movies, and prison buddy movies really seemed to hit a peak in the early 90's but this one doesn't rank in the top 100. The cast should say otherwise but it largely relies on manic comedy but just doesn't seem to make any laugh. The story is good, but the cast of characters are far too stereotyped.

The plot just feels forced and quite predictable, it pays out as you would expect.

I did watch this because Roddy Piper was in it, but his role is very limited and more air time is given to characters with less ability but have the name value.

There are much better prison movies such as Trading Places, Stir Crazy, Tango and Cash, Lock Up. Which deserve your attention.

At the video store I worked at starting in the late 1980s, most new movies had at least five copies and were off the shelves in the new release selection. This film had one copy and even then collected dust before it moved to the general comedy section later on. Watching it over 30 years later, I can see why. There is hardly anything funny or memorable about it, even among such respected actors as Robert Carradine, Malcolm McDowall and Ben Verern and 80's cult figures Randall 'Tex' Cobb and Rowdy Piper. Of the cast, only the very funny mimic. Michael Winslow, is amusing, and in his intro scene in the cell he shares with the framed Carradine, he gets some real belly laughs.

The opening scene strives hard for laughs with a man about to shoot himself in the head then throws the gun at a portrait on the wall. The gun goes off, bounces off several items in the room, then hits the man in the stomach, killing him in shades of a Roadrunner and Coyote cartoon. Funny in animation, but in this film flops because the scene is presented seriously with grave music over the credits. Michael Goodwin as the villain sets up Carradine to take the fall for his crimes and in prison, Carradine sets up an investment scheme to bring him down.

Elements of both "The Producers" and "Trading Places" are obvious as Carradine's scheme gets off the ground. Poor Ben Vereen gets little of substance to do, and the presence of Fred Travalena brings on groans not laughs for his split personality routine. Winslow gets the best material with Tony Plana a close second. But the plot is absurd, the lead character played by Carradine not really developed and nothing much else to recommend (outside of cameo by Imogene Coca) which explains why it became a dust collector on video store shelves.

Young investor Herbie Altman is set up by his bosses. Altman ends up being sentenced to prison for insider trading, the very action his bosses are engaged in.

Altman ends up being the foil after a third boss opted not to partake, and commits suicide. Being railroaded into prison, Altman meets a vast array of characters: Con man sly (Michael Winslow) A crazy Cowboy (played to perfection by wrestling icon Roddy Piper)The zen man of guidance (Ben Vereen), and a insane inmate simply know as VCR (played by late comedy legend Fred Travalena). Not to mention a prison guard who doesn't mind being a little sadistic (played to campy perfection by former pro boxer Randall "tex" Cobb. Toss in a iron fisted warden ( played by Malcolm McDowell), and you have yourself the setting for a decent comedy.

The Warden wants to use Atlman's ability to invest for his own gain. However, every time the I word (invest) is mentioned, Altman goes into a sneezing fit.

In a prison for a tough prisoners, leave it to the wimpy looking Altman to lead a revolt. It is under Altman that the cons realize they can contribute to society, and are not the scum that the warden consistently keep telling them they are.

The Cons, led by Altman put together a shell company, in order to take down the old evil bosses that sent Altman to prison in the first place. What happens at the end may by a little over the top, but its still entertaining when you suspend disbelief.

And that's the whole point here. The filmmakers knew they weren't making an epic comedy, just a little slapstick version of Trading places. And that's what makes this film so refreshing, especially compared to today's cookie cutter comedies.

Is this the greatest comedy ever made, no, not even close. DOes it have a decent amount of chuckles to hold interest to make for a great time passer? Yes it is.