Another ensemble piece with a great cast that lacks a real sense of structure and focus. I have to admit, I was laughing a good deal of the time. With Woody Allen in the cast, how could I not? Woody, though working with a low-level script (that he didn't write, I might add), delivers a great comic performance. I thought maybe since he didn't contribute to the writing or directing, he might be a little subdued. But that wasn't the case, at all. In fact, there are even a few of those trademark Woody zingers (one-lingers)! There are many other talented cast members as well, but they seem to be in this movie to make the cast list look good. Yes, you heard right. Cheech Marin has a thankless role, and doesn't deliver too much of his usual schtick. Andy Dick doesn't even have any speaking parts! The only other actor, besides Woody, that delivered some genuine laughs was Eddie Griffin.
This is basically a broad comedy that hands us a series of vingettes, but doesn't generate a good energy due to its meandering style. You may as well have made this into a 90-minute sketch comedy for cable! Sure, everything is linked to a similar theme--a miraculous hand that supposedly belonged to a virgin and has magical powers--but it still feels scattered. Sure, it's a quirky premise, but there's not much ambition put into the execution. Most of the time, Alfonso Arau (the director) goes for cheap laughs. Of course, we can't just have the hand of this alleged virgin (who's actually a rampant slut who's had sexual intercourse with guys in every zip code) lying on a dirt road and leave the joke alone. That's not enough irony. The middle finger of this magical hand has to be extended. Now, I know this is farce not meant to be taken analytically, but why would this one blind woman gain her sight back through this hand and suddenly everyone in this New Mexico town believes it belonged to a virgin? What makes you think it came from a virgin? And what makes you think that a hand with spiritual powers would have its middle finger raised? Right there, you really really have to suspend disbelief! And down the road of cheap laughs, we have a dwarf who wishes upon this hand and grows a huge penis and a woman who grows huge breasts. And of course the "giving the finger" joke ran its course. Especially since I heard it before on a "Beavis and Butt-head" episode. So this ain't the first time I heard the "giving the finger" joke used in a literal sense.
This is not a boring comedy; in fact, it's quite entertaining. Quite funny as well. It just isn't what I consider a good movie. Don't be fooled by the big stars. This movie went direct-to-cable and it's obvious why. Not the worst comedy I've ever seen (far from it), but a lot more could've been done with it's lucrative, darkly comic premise. If you want to see a better example of this type of dark comedy, watch "Very Bad Things." The movie is much more graphic in its approach (a VERY dark comedy), but it's executed well and nicely gels.
My score: 6 (out of 10)
This is basically a broad comedy that hands us a series of vingettes, but doesn't generate a good energy due to its meandering style. You may as well have made this into a 90-minute sketch comedy for cable! Sure, everything is linked to a similar theme--a miraculous hand that supposedly belonged to a virgin and has magical powers--but it still feels scattered. Sure, it's a quirky premise, but there's not much ambition put into the execution. Most of the time, Alfonso Arau (the director) goes for cheap laughs. Of course, we can't just have the hand of this alleged virgin (who's actually a rampant slut who's had sexual intercourse with guys in every zip code) lying on a dirt road and leave the joke alone. That's not enough irony. The middle finger of this magical hand has to be extended. Now, I know this is farce not meant to be taken analytically, but why would this one blind woman gain her sight back through this hand and suddenly everyone in this New Mexico town believes it belonged to a virgin? What makes you think it came from a virgin? And what makes you think that a hand with spiritual powers would have its middle finger raised? Right there, you really really have to suspend disbelief! And down the road of cheap laughs, we have a dwarf who wishes upon this hand and grows a huge penis and a woman who grows huge breasts. And of course the "giving the finger" joke ran its course. Especially since I heard it before on a "Beavis and Butt-head" episode. So this ain't the first time I heard the "giving the finger" joke used in a literal sense.
This is not a boring comedy; in fact, it's quite entertaining. Quite funny as well. It just isn't what I consider a good movie. Don't be fooled by the big stars. This movie went direct-to-cable and it's obvious why. Not the worst comedy I've ever seen (far from it), but a lot more could've been done with it's lucrative, darkly comic premise. If you want to see a better example of this type of dark comedy, watch "Very Bad Things." The movie is much more graphic in its approach (a VERY dark comedy), but it's executed well and nicely gels.
My score: 6 (out of 10)