Faites comme chez vous

'Madhouse' is a mild comedy made much funnier by the presence of it's two lead actors--John Laroquette and Kirstie Alley--who both have good chemistry together and create the necessary counterweights to a goofy situation comedy.

This is the story of a Californian couple, Mark and Jessie Bannister, who just bought a house in L.A. On short notice, Mark gets word that his wimpy cousin and his irritating wife (John Deihl and Jessica Lundy) are coming to visit. As annoying as the wife may be, these are the least of their worries since they will be followed by a number of other equally annoying characters who the Bannisters just can't seem to get rid of. It is a mild, simple situation comedy, but as the situation becomes more outrageous as the visitors become more numerous and the Bannisters more desperate to get rid of their houseguests from hell who have taken over their once-comfortable home and are slowly invading their lives (including their work). By this point, it's destined for a lot of laughs, especially as the Bannisters become more neurotic.

Fans of late 80s/early 90s mainstream situation comedies should enjoy this one. It's a good weekend afternoon snoozer comedy. It's on the order of oddball disaster comedies like Mystery Date or After Hours (although with much less humor than After Hours).