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+

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.

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.

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.

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.