drewsterwang

Tom Hanks' Joe Banks finds a way out of his dead-end existence with a death sentence. His run-ins with three Meg Ryans lead him to a new realization of what life is about. The main draw of this film is that is a series of vignettes featuring incredible character actors, as is the case with many 80s and 90s films. Ossie Davis is incredible as the limo driver and Barry McGovern's scene as the luggage salesman is one of the finest comedy scenes I've ever seen. I will probably be work in "It is the central preoccupation of my life" into conversations as long as I live. On the other hand, the trope of the Pacific Islanders as shallow kitsch fodder is a tired trope that thankfully only lasts a few minutes. Nathan Lane manages to pull out laughs from a black hole of stupidity.

The trailer makes it seem like Dr. Clitterhouse is a mad scientist, but nothing supernatural or science-fiction-y is to be found. Darkly humorous, but you probably won't laugh more than a couple times. It's a bit of a goofy plot, so they did well to frame it as a dark comedy with colorful characters, yet there is no hint of farce. Well-acted, technically better produced than a lot of other films of the time. The dialog is incredibly clear and the cinematography pretty good. Dr. Clitterhouse is a great way to pass an hour and change. A must-watch for fans of Key Largo since the core cast is the same. Claire Trevor is quite a dame in this film, and Edward G Robinson's acting chops are excellent even by today's standards. Bogey as always shines.