SpuffyWeb
Sadly Over-hyped
Blucher
One of the worst movies I've ever seen
PiraBit
if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.
FilmBuff1994
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a terrific movie with a very well developed plot and a talented comedic cast. It is certainly intriguing as we follow two con men, Lawrence and Freddy, as they pull off some of their best work yet. It was a risky project for whimsical director Frank Oz as we are required to like two characters who are not even being themselves, but an entirely different character altogether, for the majority of the film. As they try to trick a woman in to giving away her fortunes to them, thankfully, the sheer dedication of their work is exactly what ends up making them likable, their willingness not to give up. However, the fact that they are role playing for the majority of the film did make us unfamiliar with the two lead characters. We learn very little about Freddy and Lawrence, much more about their fake personas, which does make us feel disconnected from them on a personal level. The cast is top notch and the main reason this film is as good as it is. Steve Martin and Michael Caine make an entertaining duo, both being so different in many ways, which makes it so enjoyable to see them together. Caine adds class, while Martin brings in improv. Glenne Headly also proves strong enough as an actress to stand out with these two by her side, playing a surprisingly layered character. Well written, funny and engrossing, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a great ride that should not be missed by fans of Caine, Martin or Oz, I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good comedy. Two con men make a wager over a glamorous heiress. Best Performance: Michael Caine
popcorninhell
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is the sordid tale of two confidence men who bump into each other on the French Riviera and place an exorbitant wager on a mark. The first, Lawrence Jamieson (Caine) fancies himself a bit of a dandy. He's carved an opulent lifestyle for himself on the shores of Beaumont-Sur- Mer and would like his sleepy little town to stay that way. The second con- artist, Freddy Benson (Martin) is an unctuous but ambitious trickster who came to town hoping to learn from Lawrence but has since had second thoughts. He's the type of guy you'd see at a dog track, hustling for a good $20 here and there. Their mark; a naive nymph named Janet (Headly) introduced to the two as America's Soap Queen.Written by Dale Launer and based on the TV movie Bedtime Story (1964), the film was originally meant to be a starring vehicle for the affable David Bowie and Mick Jagger of Rolling Stones fame. If you close your eyes and listen carefully you can hear Bowie's droll intonations underneath Caine's yachtsman inflections. This is not to say Caine is unsuited for the role. Quite the contrary; Caine's star power, silent dignity and "up-for-anything" attitude brings to mind an old-guard acting sensibility channeling Alec Guinness in his prime. Being the straight man to one "Wild and crazy guy" is hard enough but to do so with effortless class is a downright miracle which the great Michael Caine pulls off.The previous year's Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) saw Steve Martin transitioning from his goofy, ironically infused brand of comedy, to the sullen but lovable rube role he used to coast through the 90's. Improvising much of his lines and energetically bouncing off the walls, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is seen by many as his final hurrah. A ham at his most acclaimed, Martin falls into a caboodle of eccentric characterizations, Prince Ruprecht being the most entertaining. He's an absolute comic gem, a permanent fixture in the comedic firmament and this film is Exhibit A to all the naysayers who saw The Pink Panther (2006) and thought he's not all that.If Howard Hawks thought every great film is three great scenes and no bad ones, then Dirty Rotten Scoundrels certainly fits the bill. There are in fact three scenes so astoundingly funny that it'd be easy to miss some of the subtler gags hidden in the quieter moments. What's more, each scene (both good and great) are natural extensions of the characters and play with our assumptions of where the film will ultimately lead us. Leave it to director Frank Oz to find moments of glee in the sophisticated halls of a ritzy Casino or the marble mezzanine of a Mediterranean villa.Of course this film is not without it's faults including most egregiously an outdated attitude towards women. Glenne Headly certainly holds her own against our two leading cads, and sure she does sneak in her own counter- plays, but when Lawrence refers to women as "the weaker sex," you can't help but feel the screenplay means that. In one scene Martin poses with a gaggle of bikini-wearing models at the beach. It's rumored in the European release those same models were topless and when the women were ordered to undress Oz referred to himself feeling like "the most powerful man in the world."I wouldn't challenge anyone who dislikes this film for that reason, though, for me, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels has enough gut-busting laughs to overcome most of it's transgressions. Very few comedies deliver the goods as often and with such voracity as this film does. The film has since been turned into a live stage musical. While I cannot speak for it's quality I can say the casting of John Lithgow and Broadway legend Norbert Leo Butz should be enough to make you curious about the original winner.
carbuff
Classic comedy of the kind that they really isn't made anymore, probably because it would seem too flippant and lightweight in our bleak and sophisticated modern world. Fun to watch for the nostalgia, the solid plot, and the performances (although, as usual, Steve Martin can be a bit too much at times). Nothing deep or profound here at all, just an entertaining way to pass nearly two hours. As other reviewers have mentioned, stick with it even if you are having your doubts, because the last 15 or so minutes really bring it home. For you parents out there, it's also basically clean (at least by modern network TV standards) beyond maybe a few swear words, if that's a concern of yours.
William Strange
I have to disagree with those who do not consider this a classic. For my money, it is.Yes, it is a trifle long (but there's nothing I'd want to cut out).This film has certainly provided my family with some of its most enduring catchphrases ('Excuse me, may I go to the bathroom . . . Thank you', 'PS I kept the money. Did I do wrong?').For me the real humour is the irony in this film. Whole scenes of action and reams of dialogue take on different meanings for the viewer as more is revealed to the viewer of what is really going on. While within the action, characters with different levels of insight into what's happening understand words and actions with different meanings. It is actually very intricate and surprisingly clever - for Fozzy Bear.
