The Man Who Knew Too Little Review
by Ben Hoffman (bhoffman AT ix DOT netcom DOT com)November 14th, 1997
THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO LITTLE
BAD!
Every year there are some bad movies but they usually involve non-stars. That Bill Murray should be in a film that is so bad is pitiful. It is not alone the story; it is Murray himself who has grown chubby in the face, looks dissipated but still tries to exude the boyish charm and glib speech for which he has been noted lo these many years. You cannot keep doing that; it palls.
The story reeks of contrivance. Wallace (Bill Murray) is a video store clerk from Iowa. Flying to London to celebrate his birthday with his wealthy brother James (Peter Gallagher) he is treated to a surprise by James who takes him to a "Theater of Life" where the audience gets into the act and takes on a role. Wallace takes it seriously and is soon unable to distinguish the participatory part of the theater with real life. Not very funny.
When Wallace takes a phone call, it is a wrong number call which should have gone to government-hired assassins who wants to overthrow the current British government and start another cold war with Russia. Wallace becomes involved with this assassination group. He thinks it is part of the acting he is doing. Are you still with me? This is as far as I will go.
Joanne Walley is wasted in the film.
It took two writers to write this mess of a screenplay:
Robert Farrar and Howard Franklin.
It took only one director:
Jon Ami
0 Bytes
4 bytes = Superb
3 bytes = Too good to miss
2 bytes = Average
1 byte = Save your money
Copyright 1997 Ben Hoffman
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