| Overall Grade: |
A |
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| Story: |
A+ |
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| Acting: |
A |
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| Direction: |
A |
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| Visuals: |
B |
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Zero Mostel, inspired acting
by Jonathan O (movies profile)
Jan 8, 2006
1
of
1 people found this review helpful
I'm told that Mel Brooks took this film's general idea from a failed Marx Bro's film idea. Some of the stuff looks a tad dated 35 years later, but few films can escape unscathed from that one. Yeah, the Scandanavian secretary is a sexist 1960's era stereotype, and Brooks would be lynched today by GLAAD for the portrayal of the director. That said, its damned funny! Mostel is a force of nature in this film. Mostel, complete with really bad combover seducing an eighty year old is wonderfully ridiculous. Gene Wilder as the meek, fearful accountant who sets the storyline in motion is great in one of his most inspired roles. Even the little throw away scenes are priceless. The playwright's who rather noisily and pointlessly explains in the thickest New York accent in history that "I'm the concierge. My husband used to be the concierge, but he died..."
Priceless. It is one of a very small, very select group of comedies that I have in my DVD collection. Definitely worth a rental |
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