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Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Binding: DVD
Brand: WARNER HOME VIDEO
DVD Layers: 1
DVD Sides: 2
EAN: 9780790734798
Feature: A naive American in London is mistaken for a spy by a group bent on reviving the good old days of Cold War skullduggery. Believing it's all a game, he treats every dramatic situation and threat as a joke. Based on the novel "Watch That Man" by Robert Farrar.Running Time: 95 min. System Requirements: Feature-Length Audio Commentary by Director Jon Amiel Alternate Music Only Track (5.1) Interact
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, Widescreen, NTSC
ISBN: 0790734796
Item Dimensions: 20
Label: Warner Home Video
Languages: EnglishOriginal LanguageDolby Digital 5.1EnglishSubtitledSpanishSubtitledFrenchSubtitled
Legal Disclaimer: Warranty does not cover misuse of product.
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
MPN: 15626
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Warner Home Video
Region Code: 1
Release Date: March 25, 1998
Running Time: 94 minutes
Studio: Warner Home Video
Theatrical Release Date: November 14, 1997
Features:- A naive American in London is mistaken for a spy by a group bent on reviving the good old days of Cold War skullduggery. Believing it's all a game, he treats every dramatic situation and threat as a joke. Based on the novel "Watch That Man" by Robert Farrar.Running Time: 95 min. System Requirements: Feature-Length Audio Commentary by Director Jon Amiel Alternate Music Only Track (5.1) Interact
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Editorial Review:
Product Description:
THE FATE OF THE WORLD DEPENDS ON THE ONE MAN WHO CAN'T EVEN SPELL CIA. BILL MURRAY IS LICENSED TO LAUGH IN THIS GOOD-TIME TALE OF A HAPLESS VIDEO STORE CLERK FROM IOWA WHO UNWITTINGLY STUMBLES INTO A HIGH-LEVEL ESPIONAGE NETWORK.
Amazon.com:
Only die-hard Bill Murray fans will likely consider this movie for their home-video library, but it's not without its rewards. You can see why someone as comically astute as Murray would agree to play a dimwitted American who can't tell the difference between improvised theater and a real-life espionage plot. There's certainly plenty of potential for belly laughs, and Murray milks the opportunities like the old pro that he is. Here he plays an American tourist in London who thinks he's been recruited into a street-theater act called "Theater of Life"; actually, he's stepped into a complicated spy scheme that plays like a cross between Hitchcock and the Marx Brothers. Joanne Whalley costars as the femme fatale who may or may not be a double agent, and along the way there's enough comical confusion to foil any number of idiotic villains. The movie stretches its one-joke premise to desperate extremes (Murray thinks he's in a play, so he's oblivious to genuine danger), and 95 minutes is more than enough time to exhaust the comedic possibilities. But, as always, Murray finds a way to mine gold from a few clever bits, and he cuts loose with some inspired lunacy during a climactic scene involving a hidden bomb and a troupe of dancing Cossacks. It's not Murray's finest hour, but give him credit for making the best out of a challenging situation. --Jeff Shannon
Average Rating: 
Rating:  -
If you don't find Bill Murray funny in general, this movie is not for you. If you do, then you're in for a treat. This is a fast-paced, genuinely funny movie. Not deep, just funny. Think Abbott and Costello, for a lot of physical comedy and slapstick humor.
Joanne Whalley, as the cabinet minister's call girl, and Alfred Molina, as "The Butcher" also put in wonderful performances. But Bill Murray steals the show with his hilarious Matreshka dance that he performs with a group of Russian dancers. If you're in the mood for comedy, don't miss this highly underrated little movie!
Rating:  -
It's a strange thing about films starring Bill Murray as I usually find myself hating them the first couple of times of viewing and then gradually finding myself enjoying them a whole lot more after a few more viewings. Just like "Groundhog Day" I hated this film when I first saw it and just like "Groundhog Day" I found myself liking this a lot more after each repeated viewing. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that this is my favourite Bill Murray film. In an obvious reference to/spoof of Peter Seller's work on the entire Pink Panther franchise from the intro Mancini-esque opening sequence music ala "The Return of the Pink Panther" to the bumbling detective/spy protagonist this film has actually remained a whole lot funnier than that film that upon recent viewing has truly aged very, very poorly. There are also links to "A Fish Called Wanda" as well with the scene where the male "actor" abusive to his "girlfriend" is also called Otto and also the female lead Whalley just like in that film first tries to outwit the protagonist before eventually falling for him; again, this film has aged much better than that other English/American collaboration too.
Overall, this is a very good action comedy and falls into that rare category of comedy where even the jokes age very well and also one that I can actually see myself enjoying over the years through repeated viewing. The only knock on this dvd version though is the lack of any meaningful special features as both the picture and sound quality in Dolby 5.1 Surround is very good. I still don't know why this is so for me but thankfully I decided to give this film another chance and although I hated it the first couple of viewings, I now find myself enjoying this more each time I watch it. I guess I can only describe it as the Bill Murray effect!
Recommended!
Rating: -
Much like Ground Hog day, this script was written just for Bill Murray. No one else could make this ridiculous plot work. And like Ground Hog Day, this has become one of my favorite Murray outings. Forget what the elitist critics say. They don't get comedy and they don't get Murray. He plays a dimwitted simpleton thrust into what he perceives is a live action mystery theater constructed just for his amusement, but what is actually a real life cloak and dagger adventure. This sets up perfect Bull Murray scenarios that he milks for all the laughs possible. He plays it to the hilt and the results are hilarious. If you like Bill Murray's humor, you will love this movie. Don't look for deep meaning. Don't expect answers to the meaning of our existence (unless it's just to laugh). This movie delivers the hoots at a fast pace. Nuke the popcorn, pour a Dr. Pepper, open up the red vines and enjoy.
Rating: -
Fast delivery, great price, and came exactly as described. Easy transaction and I'm very pleased. Thanks!
Rating: -
Probably Bill Murray's best movie. A very improbable story about a guy who thinks he's acting in a "reality" TV show when in fact he's mistaken by British MI-5 and the KGB as a CIA agent. Just a fun film that goes non-stop.
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