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Out-of-Towners movie review

Out-of-Towners

Remake of Neil Simon's 1970 (John Lennon/Sandy Dennis) film, this time with Steve Martin, Goldie Hawn as the Out-of-Towners, and John Cleese as the Hotel manager.

A broad comedy, full of slapstick and outrageous situations, this interpretation of the Neil Simon comedy is enlivened by the antics of John Cleese. Fun for those who like their humour obvious and filled with the embarassment and mortification of other people, it is a bit obvious and low-brow.

movie poster, The Out of Towners, Festivale film review
movie poster, The Out of Towners
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Nicky's Review "They fell in love twenty four years ago...and in the next twenty four hours, they'll remember why."

The marketing people must have loved this one. Nice mainstream film, proven plot, failsafe location, nice cliched jazz soundtrack, two good comedy stars plus as a bonus, John Cleese as an hilarious transvetite persecutor/victim. A sprinkling of demure if public, sex, some effective swearing and Bob's your uncle. Instant crowd pleaser!

It's been a long time since I saw the original Out of Towners, but I can still remember Jack Lemmon and Sandie Dennis careering madly through Manhattan, demonstrating that Murphy's Law knows no limits. It was enough to put the fear of god into me, and scared me sufficiently to make me think twice about flying there one sunny day.

So It was with curiosity that I approached the remake. I've never really seen the point of messing with successful old films, but then I'm the sort of person the marketing people don't like very much. The plot can be guessed: gauche mid-Western middle aged couple travel to New York and everything that can go wrong, does. In between all the excitement the couple discover all sorts of interesting things about themselves and (surprise surprise) fall in love again.

That said, it's enjoyable and entertaining. Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn play slap-stick to the hilt. Knowing what is going to happen next doesn't destroy the fun as we never forget that it's all going to work out in the end, as the disaster prone travelogue implores us to also come to the city of dreams where nightmares await.

The price of admission is worth it just for the sight of the stilettoed John Cleese prancing and dancing very impressively to "Bad Girls". Boy can he high kick! Something I won't be forgetting for a long time.

Click here to buy films from one of the online stores in Festivale's on-line shopping mallNicky Jenkins

See also: Steve Martin also appears in Bowfinger
John Cleese also appears in Fierce Creatures
Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn also appeared together in Housesitter
Neil Simon also wrote The Odd Couple
Due for Australian release July, 1999
For credits and official site details,see below.

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Just the facts:

Title: Out-of-Towners (1999)
Written by: Original by Neil Simon, new screenplay by Marc Lawrence
Directed by: Sam Weisman
running time:
rating:

The Players: Steve Martin, Goldie Hawn, John Cleese
Official website: www.outoftowners.com
For session times of current films, use the cinema listings on the Movie links page. For scheduled release dates, see the coming attractions section.

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ISSN 1328-8008
Published in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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: Published in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia : copyright © Festivale 2000 All rights reserved
Filed:Apr-1999 : Last updated: 25-May-2001 : Last tested: 19-Jan-2009 : Last Compiled: 08-Aug-2014
Entire site refreshed: Dec 2008-Feb 2009 | Site URL transferred: Jan 2005 (previously www.festivale.webcentral.com.au)

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