I immediately love the delightfully playful score composed between Tom Jenkins and Michael Tavera, and it's very noteworthy that practiced writer of spoofs Pat Proft also penned this picture. That Anthony Perkins directed, of all people, is itself a small joy. Humor alternately cheeky and dark is always clever (if also at times a little crude), and greets us from the very start. Joe Alaskey impresses right away as he embraces the readily sympathetic lead role, and all of hapless Ron's heartbreak, excitability, and pep, with fantastic delivery and comedic timing. Though perhaps a little too over the top at times, and even juvenile as it bears elements of slapstick, 'Lucky stiff' is nonetheless generally funny and entertaining.
It needs to be said, there's a content warning on hand for suggested incest, and fatphobia. Less critically but also inelegant, there's some green screen shenanigans at play in the production. But the screenplay is broadly smarter than its lowest moments, and a tiny tad of tawdry trifles are less prevalent than fine attention to set pieces, hair and makeup, costume design, props, and other such details. Dialogue, characters, and scene writing, all built for comedy, are strong in their own right, and feed well into an engaging and well considered narrative. And renowned as Perkins is for his acting, he nonetheless demonstrates an able hand as director in realizing Proft's screenplay; one rather regrets that more projects didn't come to him in that capacity, that he could continue to grow.
Alaskey steals the show, but the rest of the cast is just as capable. Donna Dixon portrays beautiful and conniving Cynthia with admirable grace and allure, and Barbara Howard is charming as Frances. Meanwhile, all the actors rounding out the Mitchell clan are duly creepy and subtly threatening in their portrayals, with William Morgan Sheppard a great anchor as the patriarch of the family.
I'm not sure that all the jokes quite land - especially whenever the film leans into the utmost cartoonish ridiculousness - nor the entirety of the narrative as it presents. Still, for whatever problems there may be with the picture, it only ever aims to be a silly, fun romp, and it succeeds to a much greater extent than not. More than that, the strength of Alaskey's lead performance, and adept scene writing, help to elevate the feature above its weaker instances. Not necessarily an essential must-see, 'Lucky stiff' is a good time all the same. Don't go out of your way, but this is enjoyable and worthwhile if you come across it.
