Reviews

I'd first like to say that Forest Whitaker is a brilliant actor. Had it not been for his artful presence and emotion, this would have been a flop. He deserves 10 stars; the film does not. I'd like to say first that this is not a biopic. There is no Cecil Gaines that worked at the White House. None. This story is loosely (very loosely) based on Eugene Allen who worked at the White House for 34 years. He was from Virginia, never worked in a field, never saw his mother violated nor his father murdered, and did not have a son killed in Vietnam. The film really painted this to be the truth and led patrons to believe it was.

Some of the most patently preposterous casting ever was seen in this film. James Marsden is the only one who even came remotely close. Robin Williams is a horrible Ike Eisenhower. He looks more like Harry Truman on Chemo. John Cusack is a ghastly Richard Nixon. The gross miscasting was very distracting and the cast members exhibited little chemistry. It was if I were watching a poorly edited TV drama in many places.

The civil rights story is fine but we've seen it a hundred times and this parroted many of the good movies already made about this movement. So much of it was clichéd. I would have rather seen a movie about Mr. Allen's interaction with the chief executives than a fictional story about blacks and whites, alcohol abuse, and Jim Crow.

I've never seen a "comedy" that was more of a yawn. The reviews called it "gentle" and "charming." I found it "boring" and "dreadful." The story is basic, Paul Rudd's character is an optimistic dweeb who can't read people and generally thinks that everyone is his friend. The pseudo-hippie gets busted for selling drugs to a cop in the first ten minutes, and then once released from jail spends an indefinite number of painful moments making his sisters miserable. (And painful is a great word...watching this movie was akin to having a root canal with minimal anesthetic.

None of the characters are in the least bit believable, and their interactions are pathetic considering the talent. The film is reminiscent of a poorly rehearsed high school play where the pauses are awkward and the dialogue flatly delivered. None are believable. Perhaps the strangest of all was Steve Coogan who looked decidedly like a young Tiny Tim in his long hair.

This is one of my favorite Laurel & Hardy films, so I don't get what's not to like about it. Sure the music may be a little outdated, but the talent is definitely there. Everything about this movie screams class--from the sight gags to the outrageous costumes (which if you really look at the costumes and sets they probably cost a fortune in Depression money) Laurel and Hardy are great for the whole movie with some of the goofiest antics I've seen in any of their films (selling mouse traps: they drill holes in the floor so the mice can get in and then cap them with golf balls so they can't get back out) The gorilla in Switzerland is hilarious (and really random) but makes me laugh every time. The organ filled with soap is fun as well as the great fight scene with the chef, and their antics in the kitchen. For me the best part of the movie is when the boys go to serenade the chambermaid (complete with Stan playing the tuba). Give this movie a chance, it is artistic comedy at its finest!

And this show goes to prove that. Now you know that a sitcom is bound to have a fair share of oddball characters. This one has plenty of them. Enter, the staff of Great Britain's "Grace Brother's" Department store--perhaps the wackiest lot on the isle. Grace Brothers spares no expense to bring you goofy promotions, mucked-up display units, and bizarre situations. Then there are the employees--they aren't as normal as they seem either. For example there's the aloof Captain Peacock, who has quite the practice on the side-often with secretaries. Then there is Mrs. Slocomb, senior saleswoman, who has a cat, which she refers to constantly by another name. Mr. Humphreys, by most accounts swings two directions. The dopey Mr. Rumbold and Young Mr. Grace, who run the company spend more time in confusion than any real managment work. Other odd birds like stocky Mr. Tebbs, insinuating Mr. Maash, cockney-ditz Miss Brahams, cranky Mr. Grainger, jolly Mr. Harmon, and the ever nasty canteen manageress. These characters manage to get themselves into ever oddball situation percievable with humor that is comparable to All in the Family, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. A definite A+. So serve yourself...Grace Brothers is waiting...just beware of the disply units bearing steel wool...

I remember seeing this movie on AMC when I was a kid, and found it long and dull compared to Way Out West and Swiss Miss. Seeing it again many years later I found it a very enchanting and funny movie. The only thing keeping this from being and incredibly good drama is Stan and Ollie's wonderful presence. The story and music are wonderful and provide an interesting undertone to the movie. The silliness though brought forth by L&H throughout makes this absolutely delightful. Watch Stan get progressively intoxicated, some great marital spats, and the duo's inept pickpocketing throughout the village (slowly, slowly slowly...shut!) A great family film that everyone can enjoy

I don't know why this movie always gets such a bad rap. I think it is funnier than any of the other non Hal Roach films (this was a 20th Century Fox release.) It is considerably different than many of their other movies (no pies in the face, no cars sawed in two, and no vase smashing) because of ration issues during World War II. (Although it claims to have no destruction in it that's not entirely true because Ollie gets his pants ripped up in the hallway in one scene.) But you can definitely detect wartime feelings abounded during production. Indeed that's the story. Eccentric California Inventor has been driving the patent office in DC crazy with goofy prototypes. He finally may have struck a chord with a "blockbuster bomb that sounds like a popgun." DC is interested but they're not the only ones that are interested. Next door kniving neighbors who are mixed up with a cadre of gangsters are also eying the explosive to send to the Axis powers. In a telephone mix-up (purpetrated by the Inventors son, a very young Robert Blake) he is advised to guard the bomb with his life. The solution? Enter Laurel and Hardy. Two wannabe detectives working for a now vacant janitor office (all employees are on government business). With no options they accept the job to guard the bomb. The job is carried out in usual Laurel and Hardy fashion: first Ollie makes friends with a streetlight that has been freshly painted, then Stan wrecks havoc on an expensive painting, and the old codger father-in-law explains to Stan the dangers of his daughter who lives in the house. That's just the beginning... Some funny scenes to watch for- The light's out scene in the push button bedroom, the train scene, and the rigged poker game. Possibly the funniest moment in this movie comes when Stan is playing "Mairzy Doats" on the concertina accordion. One of the funniest scenes I've seen! This is a great movie, don't let others talk you out of seeing it.

I don't understand why L&H movie "The Big Noise" is rated so low, and I don't understand why this one is rated so high. It only has three or four funny moments in it and has possibly the dumbest (and worst) endings of any Laurel and Hardy movie. Even Atoll-K has a better ending! The "harp" scene is funny as well as Hardy in the bedroom. The suicide scene and the soft shoe are also amusing, but between those four scenes there's about twenty minutes of material. This would have been better as a twenty five minute shot about them. Of the Hal Roach movies, I would probably rate this one towards the bottom of the list.

5 out of 10

This is an absolutely hilarious sketch, that ranks with Men-O-War, Another Fine Mess, Perfect Day, and Twice Two as one of the funniest shorts the duo ever did. The show starts with Oliver--a successful fertilizer magnate (with dim witted Stan in tow) who's running for mayor. When an ex-girlfriend blackmails him, picture and all it's up to Stan to save Ollie's campaign, job, and marriage. The funniest part is when Stan and Ollie are carrying the blackmailer at the end Complete with furniture fight, car destruction, and other typical antics this is a great movie. The supporting cast is also great, complete with James Finlyson as the usual butt of jokes. An excellent move that has a 100 smiles in it.

This zany film rivals the Ghost and Mr. Chicken as one of Don Knott's finest film performances. Knotts is an accountant for a Podunk city hall that is good for swindling the citizens. They fire the "three competent bookkeepers and keep the dumb one" (Knotts of course is the dumb one). When his garbage collecting cohort accidentally empties the wrong trash can, Knotts finds himself wrapped up in a bizarre trap set by the city council for him. Funny moments in the movie include the Bowling Alley Restroom scene, and the cemetery scene is absolutely hilarious. Typical Knotts, the nervous ninny act is well used, and as usual he is surrounded by lots of crazy character actors from the sixties. Such actors as Frank Welker, and Pitt Herbert add to the mayhem. As one may expect Knotts's armed with a big car, a pretty girl, and no real clue of what he's doing. Fun for anyone, especially nostalgia buffs, but just about anyone will love it.

Despite some cheesy effects and bloopers this is a classic! Don Knotts is at his finest when he's offered a newspaper writer contract if he spends the night in the town haunted house. At the beginning of the movie, he is driving past the old mansion when he thinks he sees a murder. After blowing the whole shebang way out of proportion, he finds himself back in his old typesetting job. The janitor provokes Knott's boss to convince him to spend the murder night in the mansion Lot's of great character actors add to this, and Vic Mizzy's classic background and organ music add to the humor. Definitely the best scenes are when he's giving the speech to the chamber of commerce (let me clarify this...), when he's on a date (I just LOVE good food...) and when he's in the organ loft with the judge. If you haven't seen thins, go buy it, everyone will laugh age four to one hundred and four!