User reviews

Shelley Long and Bette Midler make a wonderful comedy team and the first half of the movie makes the most of this - snappy dialogue and quickfire direction make for a marvellously funny first hour. Unfortunately, the plot then takes over – a convoluted spy story - and the thicker the plot, the fewer the laughs. Pity somebody didn't sort it out - this could have been one of the best comedies in donkey's years.

Peter Coyote did not know what he was letting himself in for in Outrageous Fortune when he started kanoodling with both Bette Midler and Shelley Long, both fellow students in Robert Prosky's acting class.

You do got to wonder what to make of a guy who's attracted to such opposite types as Long and Midler. Shelley expands a bit on her famous Diane Chambers character from Cheers. And Bette Midler is simply Bette Midler and that's good enough for me.

These two naturally don't hit it off, but when Coyote turns up as the victim of a bomb blast, both Midler and Long show up to say they're next of kin. Upon examination of the lower extremity of the burned cadaver which is all that's left, the two of them come to the same conclusion it's definitely not Coyote.

Long and Midler just want to find this guy and get an explanation for his behavior and to find out who he really prefers. But there's a lot more to Coyote as the two of them on a merry chase that takes them to the New Mexico desert find out.

Besides those already mentioned look for good performances from John Schuck as the rather rigid thinking CIA man and George Carlin as a droll and philosophical Indian.

You can't say there aren't any more good women's roles being written when you see Long and Midler in Outrageous Fortune.

The comedy that comes in Outrageous Fortune may come in small doses, but it is supplied in good lengths by stars Bette Midler and Shelly Long. They make good comic chemistry as two ladies who have been screwed by the same man. Funny along the way, but it doesn't exactly hit the dart on the head. But it is OK, because of co-star George Carlin, who is good as always, and is especially good here as a Indian hippie-tracker who helps Midler and Long along the way. Best comedy of 1987. B+

I saw this movie originally when it was first released at the theaters. I again saw it later when it made it to cable, eg. HBO, Cinemax. ect. I loved the movie but then saw the edited version when it came to network. They cut out a lot of the adult humour. Examples: When Bette says "Gee, you thought I was going to go in and pee on him." verses edited version "Gee, you thought I was going to go in and spit on him". Then the tobacco shop scene: Bette says: "How about a blow job" and then the edited version: "How about a party". Also several scenes cut from the edited version: Bette with Peter Coyote having sex in a chair, seen from behind the chair. The scene at the police station where Bette tells the cop needle dick, pencil dick, ect. when she is trying to make him get the picture. My point is that for some reason this edited version is the only one you can get on tape now. I bought one from Hastings music store and it was this edited version- 99-100 minutes version. Don't know why you can't get the original unedited version of this movie, my favourite comedy of all times.

In the 80s it just felt like this was how they made movies, but there's a very specific feel to the era that can't be recaptured, and a limited supply of gems like this, so it's always great to stumble on one you've been missing. All the trademarks are in place, from the clothes to the music to light hearted nature of the whole endeavour. Bette and Shelley play up the characters they'd been type cast with all decade and stumble through a series of zany situations. It's all simple fun and an endearing time capsule.

Bette Midler and Shelley Long star in "Outrageous Fortune," a 1987 comedy also starring Robert Prosky, Peter Coyote, John Schuck, George Carlin and the almost unrecognizable Anthony Heald.

Lauren (Long) and Sandy (Midler) are two women taking the same acting class with the brilliant, Stanislavsky-like Korzenowski (Prosky). What they don't know is that they are dating the same man, Michael (Coyote). When he's killed in a bombing, both women wind up at the morgue, and after taking a good look at the body's southern regions, realize it's not their boyfriend. Once they set out to find him, they find that the KGB and the CIA are after them, and they can't tell the good guys from the bad.

This is a fun movie, with Midler a scream as a burlesque queen and Long as the uptight, Diane Chambers-like aspiring serious actress. George Carlin plays an Indian who helps them, and he's very funny.

There is a lot of running in this film, up hills, leaping across cliffs, etc., as the women try to escape whomever is chasing them at the moment.

A very popular film from the '80s, which was Bette Midler's movie heyday. She is a wonderful comedienne and dramatic actress - it's a shame that Hollywood's ageism caused her film career to dry up. Well, also some poor choices such as turning down Sister Act. Long did not make it to true movie stardom, but she is good here. Directed by Arthur Hiller.

Adversaries Bette Midler and Shelley Long take turns putting each other down while fighting over the same smooth-talking man (Peter Coyote, miscast but OK). Turns out their lover has staged his own demise and is now on the run from the CIA. After the initial set-up is in place, there's nowhere really this slapstick comedy can turn. Midler and Long each harp on the other's idiosyncrasies (for Long, it's her snippy gloating; for Midler, it's her bossy brashness). The third act in the desert smacks of plain desperation, and poor George Carlin is given the shaft in an ignorant supporting role. For the first twenty minutes or so, the movie has a sassy appeal; it prods at the viewer for laughs--like an R-rated sitcom--but does come through with some funny bits of business. Director Arthur Hiller and screenwriter Leslie Dixon eventually toss the whole thing overboard, and not even Bette's energy can save it. ** from ****

After that lame sitcom, I had given up on Bette Midler. Amazingly, this film still stands up to this day. When I recently watched it again I was surprised - just as funny as when I was eight, except now I get some more of the jokes. A buddy flick with chicks, and laugh out loud funny. If you haven't seen it, get it out some tuesday night, load up on junk food, enjoy. Pair with Ruthless People for the definitive Bette double bill.

While some of the performances in this movie were ok (especially George Carlin) the movie wasn't very funny overall. The worst part, as someone mentioned, is the ridiculous 2nd half of the movie where there is way to much "action". I'm not sure why so many comedies follow this formula. Put some "funny" stuff in the beginning but wind up with an "exciting" thriller at the end. The comedy isn't anything to get excited about, unless all your favorite comedies fit the above formula. I can't stand seeing a movie where I see the joke coming from a mile away, and this was the case in this movie. There weren't any jokes you have to think about, movie/book references, or non-sequiters. Just stuff like Shelly Long being unable to say "penis", some cross-dressing, and other boring "fish out of water" jokes. The movie only shines with the dialogue between Midler and Long early in the movie. I'm sure there are a lot of people who like this sort of movie, but if you're a fan of Monty Python, the Simpsons, the Coen Brothers or any other real comedy I'd stay far away. 4/10.

By the end of the 80's they were churning out countless male buddy pics, so why not a female one? This one features Midler when she used to make funny big budget movies and Long when she used to make movies period. Just like any buddy film, the two hate each other on first sight, Midler the foul-mouthed antagonist and Long as the goody two-shoes. Things are set in motion when the two discover they were "boffing" the same man (Coyote) and decide to find him when they realize his death was staged. They set out on an oddyssey across several states and end up fighting for their lives when he shows us he's not only a spy but somewhat psychotic! There's a great, if contrived, climax set atop skinny vertical rocks that are about 10 feet apart and 100 feet off the ground. But what you look for in these types of movies you find, well-written bickering that should make you giggle plenty of times. Though guys should look out, with this written by a woman, there's a large dose of on target man bashing. Pretty much Long and Midlers last best comedy offering.

This is a good funny comedy movie. The actresses are both very good in their roles.

It is just a simple comedy adventure type movie, the jokes are pretty funny. I haven't found it on DVD except for the edited for TV version which is too bad because I just know it won't be as funny with parts edited out.

I'm not sure how the edited for TV version of the movie is different but it is about 10+ minutes shorter so obviously they just cut out some stuff either for length or because of adult situations which I don't remember from the movie but maybe there were some.

Average 80's formula comedy that delivers just enough for the viewer not to really regret watching this one.It all rides on Long and Miler who carries the film despite too outrageous and clumsily handled gun encounters which were critical for the credibility of the story.Too bad becouse the story had something going for it.Do not expect much but it does ok for Long and Midler fans and for fans of those comedies with action scenes towards the end.....

You can find everything you expect form an 80s comedy.

And as a plus, George Carlin as a guest star.

Two extremely desperate women chase a man across the country for "love." Shelley Long and Bette Midler are two women from different sides of the tracks. At the morgue they find out they are dating/sexing the same man. At that same morgue they also find out that their beau, Michael (Peter Coyote), is not really dead. That's when they embark on their incredibly desperate mission to find their lover and see which of the two of them he wants. Their adventure, as they would come to know, ended up being more than just a mission for a man.

Bette Midler is normally cool. Shelley Long is OK. The two of them together, at least in this role: pass.

Bette Midler and Shelley Long... make one of the best female pairs ever! They are an absolute scream! It would be wonderful if we were to see them in another film together. This movie is one of the best under-rated comedies I have ever seen!

Funny action/mystery plot is very winning that packs both power and energy. A must see for anyone that loves a good comedy... however... is on the adult side of things....

U will laugh your ass off!

I recall seeing this one on cable in the late Eighties. It still seems to be a decent comedy. Shelley Long and especially Bette Midler have good comic timing and do well here. Yes, there are some plot holes, and some dubious directing choices, but that is a lot less important in a light comedy such as this. There were a good number of quite funny zingers, and amusing situations. Still pretty good. Not great.

I loved this movie. Bette Midler and Shelly Long were the best female team-up's since Laverne & Shirley. I have seen this movie over and over again and I laugh like a fool every single time.