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Dirty Rotten Scoundrels [1989] | | |
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Amazon.co.uk Review
Freddy Benson (Steve Martin) is a crass, loud American. Laurence Jameson (Michael Caine) is a suave, urbane European. Their common ground is that they both are confidence men, and they meet in a train compartment as Benson is scamming his way across Europe, taking advantage of women's generosity. The two are forced into a rivalry, which culminates in a wager to see who can be the first to bilk $50,000 out of American heiress Janet Colgate (Glenne Headly). Their game of one-upmanship is, of course, brought to ridiculous heights as things progress. Written by Paul Henning (the mind behind such TV shows as Green Acres and The Beverly Hillbillies), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is an uneven but funny mix of Martin's physical comedy and Caine's oily charms. Martin's first role as cohort is to assume the persona of Ruprecht, the "special" younger brother intended to scare off potential brides. As Ruprecht, he comes off as a down-home version of Jerry Lewis; hilarious as it is, it doesn't quite fit with the rest of the film. Once the wager is on, though, Martin slips into his overly earnest mode as an American military man suffering from hysterical paralysis, with Caine as a psychologist who takes on his case. All in all, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (a loose remake of the 1964 film Bedtime Story with David Niven and Marlon Brando) is a droll, intelligent comedy, short on knee slappers but long on comic situations and characterisations. --Jerry Renshaw, Amazon.com
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| Customer Reviews:
 You can tell they had fun making this film! August 21, 2003
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
One of the funniest films I have seen and one that I don't mind watching over and over. The script is great, acting and timing superb (especially by Michael Caine) and on site location just adds to the happy ambience of the film. You can tell they must have loved making this film, and that enjoyment is infectious.What is also particularly interesting about this film is the juxtaposition of American and British humour. You find yourself laughing at both, its something we don't see enough of these days. Hopefully you'll see what I mean. If you have never seen this film, buy it, crack open a bottle of wine/ perefered beverage, take the phone off the hook and enjoy.
My favourite film December 5, 2001
elisabeth.fallows@tiscali.co.uk (Merseyside, England)
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
I'm not a Barry Norman-style film buff - I don't even like sitting through 2 hours of film normally - but this film is about the only one that I can watch time and time again. From start to finish this film has my full attention, particularly the scenes with Ruprecht, a character who now is held in high comic regard with my family and me!An excellent film with great performances from a suave Michael Caine and a toe-curling Steve Martin.
MICHAEL CAINE & STEVE MARTIN AT THEIR COMEDIAL BEST!! December 20, 2001
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
I love this film! Superb storyline throughout, with some of the funniest moments in comedy i've ever seen! One such moment, being Caine parading as Doctor Emile Schofhausen!! Truly Fab film, i'd recommend it to anyone who likes good comedy! Buy it now!!!!!
Hilarious February 17, 2002
graham@mckie.co.uk (Shropshire, England.)
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
I have always loved this film, and watching it again recetly realised I have actually stayed at the hotel where it is all filmed...The film is every bit as funny as the location is stunning. Both are highly recommended!
Low-brow, but still very good February 19, 2002
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
This film has been one of my favourites since seeing it in the theatres as a spotty-faced fifteen year-old. Steve Martin's over-the-top antics do get a bit tiresome, especially towards the end of the duo's scam on America's "soap queen," but Michael Caine's suave but insecure gigolo is more than enough to carry Steve Martin when he starts to sag. After seeing Caine play a scoundrel and a hood in films like Alfie and The Italian Job, it's a testament to his acting talent to see him play something completely different. His comic timing is still impeccable, and he should be applauded for even being able to play a gigolo at his age. The scenes with Caine's pesky female suitors and Ruprecht are brilliant...I won't spoil them for you, but I don't know how either actor managed to ever get through filming them. I personally would have been rolling on the floor the entire time.
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