Outrageous Fortune

Outrageous Fortune (1987) Shelley Long, Bette Midler, Peter Coyote, Robert Prosky, John Schuck, George Carlin, Anthony Heald, D: Arthur Hiller.

Hilarious comic yarn involves two opposite women who both have a fling with the same man and when he dies in an abrupt explosion, secrets unfold. Effervescent performances from Long and Midler in a perfect showcase for them both, where credibility isn't the point, making it a lot of fun.

Running Time: 100 minutes and rated R for strong language and brief sensuality.

RATING: *** (out of ****)

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.

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.

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.

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.