There was a time in the 90s when, for lack of shows that anyone cared to watch, some cable TV networks steadily played cinematic releases from the late morning through until the early evening. By my recollection it often seemed like it was the same films day after day, week after week, and as a prime example, I couldn't possibly count how many times I saw 'Trapped in Paradise' playing somewhere, at some point, during the day. Saw - but never fully committed to watching. All these years later I felt overdue to watch, and after almost thirty years the question is also raised of how the humor has aged. With esteemed comedic actors Dana Carvey and Jon Lovitz on hand, and the additional star power of Nicolas Cage, among others, one may reasonably have some fair expectations of this 1994 feature. It doesn't take long after we begin watching that we can begin to form an impression of the movie, and it's not necessarily the strongest one. It is enjoyable in some measure, though, and a decent credit to those involved, and worth watching if one has the opportunity.
One of our questions is answered by the time we're only twenty minutes in, as some bits have not aged well; note some tawdry ableism in the dialogue, and in how a couple supporting characters are written. There's also a bit of a mean streak running through these 111 minutes generally, and having watched a sufficient number of comedies that were wonderfully funny without any need for abject meanness, the approach is no more appealing here than it is in other like-minded titles. At the same time, there's some fun to be had in the core content of a trio of bumbling bank robbers who are stymied by both their own ineptitude, by the unbothered good nature and kind spirit of the people in the town they're victimizing, and by inclement weather and unlikely circumstances; there's plentiful cleverness in the screenplay. Yet the tone is a tad too gentle, and the pacing somewhat lax, diminishing the intended impact of some of the humor; conversely, there are some moments when George Gallo's direction or Terry Rawlings' editing feel a tad brusque or forced. And that's to say nothing, of course, of how from top to bottom the narrative demands hearty suspension of disbelief as it is stitched together in no small part by some Movie Magic and wishful thinking.
In fairness, that growing concatenation of conditions that comprises the storytelling is, in turn, part of the whimsical charm that 'Trapped in Paradise' boasts at its best. Despite the troubles that this carries, thankfully its strengths are more significant. The situational humor is delightful, however far-fetched; the silliness of some gags and scene writing is just swell. The characters and dialogue are written well, full of personality, and the cast very ably bring the proceedings to cheerful, meaningful life. Beyond the humor Gallo's writing is also marked with just the right measure of earnest heart and themes to provide an anchor for the picture, The scene writing is pretty terrific, giving us a steady stream of efforts by the Firpo brothers to make a clean getaway, efforts by other parties to intervene or resolve the situation, and incidents of one variety or another that obstruct them all. The result may not be riotously funny, but the flick does earn some laughs and serve up consistent amusement, and is ultimately pleasant, endearing, and a good time overall.
The filming locations are outstanding, not to mention the art direction, and any stunts and effects that are employed. Though imperfect in some noted ways, at large this is well made all around, including capable orchestration of every shot, smart cinematography, and good use of lighting. All told the film is is never robustly entertaining, and it's not something that wholly commands one's attention, but even with faults it's broadly well-rounded, with a suitable balance between the comedy and the more sincere dramatic elements. I do wish that it did more to make a major impression, for if it did then it would be more memorable and I'd think more highly of it. Nonetheless, while a tad too low-key for its own good, 'Trapped in Paradise' remains worthwhile on its own merits; best reserved as something relatively light on a quiet December night, this deserves to be checked out if you have the chance.
One of our questions is answered by the time we're only twenty minutes in, as some bits have not aged well; note some tawdry ableism in the dialogue, and in how a couple supporting characters are written. There's also a bit of a mean streak running through these 111 minutes generally, and having watched a sufficient number of comedies that were wonderfully funny without any need for abject meanness, the approach is no more appealing here than it is in other like-minded titles. At the same time, there's some fun to be had in the core content of a trio of bumbling bank robbers who are stymied by both their own ineptitude, by the unbothered good nature and kind spirit of the people in the town they're victimizing, and by inclement weather and unlikely circumstances; there's plentiful cleverness in the screenplay. Yet the tone is a tad too gentle, and the pacing somewhat lax, diminishing the intended impact of some of the humor; conversely, there are some moments when George Gallo's direction or Terry Rawlings' editing feel a tad brusque or forced. And that's to say nothing, of course, of how from top to bottom the narrative demands hearty suspension of disbelief as it is stitched together in no small part by some Movie Magic and wishful thinking.
In fairness, that growing concatenation of conditions that comprises the storytelling is, in turn, part of the whimsical charm that 'Trapped in Paradise' boasts at its best. Despite the troubles that this carries, thankfully its strengths are more significant. The situational humor is delightful, however far-fetched; the silliness of some gags and scene writing is just swell. The characters and dialogue are written well, full of personality, and the cast very ably bring the proceedings to cheerful, meaningful life. Beyond the humor Gallo's writing is also marked with just the right measure of earnest heart and themes to provide an anchor for the picture, The scene writing is pretty terrific, giving us a steady stream of efforts by the Firpo brothers to make a clean getaway, efforts by other parties to intervene or resolve the situation, and incidents of one variety or another that obstruct them all. The result may not be riotously funny, but the flick does earn some laughs and serve up consistent amusement, and is ultimately pleasant, endearing, and a good time overall.
The filming locations are outstanding, not to mention the art direction, and any stunts and effects that are employed. Though imperfect in some noted ways, at large this is well made all around, including capable orchestration of every shot, smart cinematography, and good use of lighting. All told the film is is never robustly entertaining, and it's not something that wholly commands one's attention, but even with faults it's broadly well-rounded, with a suitable balance between the comedy and the more sincere dramatic elements. I do wish that it did more to make a major impression, for if it did then it would be more memorable and I'd think more highly of it. Nonetheless, while a tad too low-key for its own good, 'Trapped in Paradise' remains worthwhile on its own merits; best reserved as something relatively light on a quiet December night, this deserves to be checked out if you have the chance.