IMDb RATING
5.2/10
2.2K
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A high-school teacher in the 1960s becomes an international spy and becomes involved in a plot to overthrow Fidel Castro.A high-school teacher in the 1960s becomes an international spy and becomes involved in a plot to overthrow Fidel Castro.A high-school teacher in the 1960s becomes an international spy and becomes involved in a plot to overthrow Fidel Castro.
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Upon reading the description on the back of the video box, I immediately thought of the classic "The In-Laws" with Peter Faulk & Alan Arkin. Company Man turned out be more of an Austin Powers or Top Secret, instead.
Perhaps it was not a cinematic masterpiece. It was fun to watch, though, and gave me several really good belly laughs -- such as the "real" secret behind Gorbichev's alleged birthmark!
The plot is silly & "quirky," as some have noted, but it had a nice feel to it. Overall, I would call it a good little film.
Perhaps it was not a cinematic masterpiece. It was fun to watch, though, and gave me several really good belly laughs -- such as the "real" secret behind Gorbichev's alleged birthmark!
The plot is silly & "quirky," as some have noted, but it had a nice feel to it. Overall, I would call it a good little film.
A snowstorm was coming. Anticipating a snowbound weekend I grabbed this and several other unfamiliar titles from the library shelf. I chose this one because I liked several of the cast members and it sounded like it had some promise. I was right - it had some promise. Unfortunately it never delivered more than a few moments. The uncredited Woody Allen may have demanded his name be removed. A few of his scenes were among those that delivered. Dennis Leary's scenes delivered most frequently and Alan Cumming hit the mark about half the time. I was so disappointed by John Turturro and Sigourney Weaver. Perhaps it is because they are so closely wrapped around the character played by Douglas McGrath. I don't know if it is the basic premise (english teacher with all consuming dream to rid the world of bad grammar turned CIA agent) or just his ability to deliver it. I suspect both. I grew annoyed with the premise and in between "comic facial expression here" he seemed to have a cardboard appearance.
If we had been snowbound for a month we would not have watched this again. As I review Sigourney Weaver's and John Turturro's previous films, I know they can be SO much better but perhaps if you're in a dog you just have to act like one. I don't know why everyone associated with this film said yes. Were they that bored, broke, desperate, owed someone a favor, being blackmailed? The only person I can see who must have been happy was Douglas Mcgrath - having been given the starring role in a picture. I hope he enjoyed it because I doubt he will be given another.
If we had been snowbound for a month we would not have watched this again. As I review Sigourney Weaver's and John Turturro's previous films, I know they can be SO much better but perhaps if you're in a dog you just have to act like one. I don't know why everyone associated with this film said yes. Were they that bored, broke, desperate, owed someone a favor, being blackmailed? The only person I can see who must have been happy was Douglas Mcgrath - having been given the starring role in a picture. I hope he enjoyed it because I doubt he will be given another.
This movie, as underdistributed as it has been, should be picked up wherever you can find it.
All you need to enjoy this movie is an I.Q. and a sense of humor. If either of the aforementioned are lacking you will probably agree with the "Don't watch this movie" reviewer.
Woody Allen has some classic lines in this film.
ALSO, the plot is not MUCH sillier than the ACTUAL Bay of Pigs incident.
All you need to enjoy this movie is an I.Q. and a sense of humor. If either of the aforementioned are lacking you will probably agree with the "Don't watch this movie" reviewer.
Woody Allen has some classic lines in this film.
ALSO, the plot is not MUCH sillier than the ACTUAL Bay of Pigs incident.
This is a VERY funny movie, that owes a great deal to Woody Allen. It's kind of like "Bananas", 30 years later and badly gone to seed. Who cares if the premise is absurd and the movie is episodic, there's some hilarious material here, and stars like Sigourney Weaver, Woody Allen, John Turturro and others are very funny. Sometimes it's a bit like a prolonged SNL skit, with the whole grammar teacher bit, but there is always another laugh around the corner. All this said, the film was a bit of a disappointment in retrospect, and does not live up to its potential. It's almost like they ran out of money and cut some corners while making it. It is also fairly short, and it appears that pieces of some scenes that may have been cut from the film are actually shown during the credits. Lightweight, yet nowhere near as bad as some reviewers are saying.
Douglas McGrath leads an all star cast in this film.
The film is set in the early 60's. McGrath plays Alan Quimp, a grammar school teacher who makes up that he is in the CIA so that his wife will stop hassling him about getting another job. He then ends up helping a Russian ballet dancer defect from the Soviet Union and then is sent to Cuba to find "Agent X" who the CIA have been looking for for over 2 years. The story goes on from there when Agent X is found.
This is a quirky, constant, light hearted film with some funny bits. I loved the fact that it has an all star cast. Woody Allen is very funny. Best to watch a second time to appreciate it more. It might not be everyone's cup of tea but I personally enjoyed it.
7/10.
The film is set in the early 60's. McGrath plays Alan Quimp, a grammar school teacher who makes up that he is in the CIA so that his wife will stop hassling him about getting another job. He then ends up helping a Russian ballet dancer defect from the Soviet Union and then is sent to Cuba to find "Agent X" who the CIA have been looking for for over 2 years. The story goes on from there when Agent X is found.
This is a quirky, constant, light hearted film with some funny bits. I loved the fact that it has an all star cast. Woody Allen is very funny. Best to watch a second time to appreciate it more. It might not be everyone's cup of tea but I personally enjoyed it.
7/10.
Did you know
- TriviaBill Murray had a cameo in the film but his appearance was cut.
- GoofsWhen Alan first lands in Cuba in the late 1950s, he flies in on a Cessna Caravan, an aircraft that didn't take its first flight until 1982.
- Quotes
Daisy Quimp: [after losing all of her hair] Oh my God! I look like an Oscar!
- Crazy creditsSeveral scenes are interspersed during the closing credits.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Comedy Central Roasts: Comedy Central Roast of Denis Leary (2003)
- SoundtracksI'm a Simple Girl
Written by David Lawrence
Lyrics by Douglas McGrath
Arranged by and Orchestrated by David Lawrence
Produced by David Lawrence and Robby Merkin
Performed by Faith Prince
- How long is Company Man?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $16,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $146,193
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $74,743
- Mar 11, 2001
- Gross worldwide
- $146,193
- Runtime
- 1h 26m(86 min)
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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