Genres

Visitors Review

2013-04-30 13:48:33

I Just About Died Laughing

Spoof? Farce? Homage? I don't quite know what to call this film, except simply Comedy. But what fun it is! The plot is second to the leads (Tucci and Platt) proving that comedy duos still work. From a silent movie-ish opening credits sequence to a surreal closing credits sequence, everything about this movie works just wonderfully. Tucci's best work since Undercover Blues, another hysterical film.

giacomofeliciano 2013-04-30 06:10:23

Embarrassing

Four out of 10 is a generous rating for this disappointing lightweightcomedy. At the beginning there are some promising scenes but 20 minutesin hopes turn to fears. The other three stars are for having IsabellaRosselini in it. Watching this movie is like watching your smarmy12-year-old nephew do his own stand up: there is a lot of franticeffort and you know it's supposed to be funny, but you watch inembarrassment and horror for the performer and whoever's bright ideathis was. Sadly, any comparison with well-done screwball comedies, Marxbrothers, and Laurel/Hardy just highlights how Tucci's movie islacking. More sadly, it might have been funny had there been comedictiming, better writing, and fewer moments that your 12-year-old nephewwould think are absolutely hah-larious. A good cast couldn't save thismovie for me. A character in an actually funny movie asked about aperformance, "Is this rotten or wonderfully brave?" For The Impostersand Tucci, it's both.

-208 2013-04-19 05:30:37

A very positive response to a rare viewing experience

Rented THE IMPOSTORS for the first time on Friday and by the end of theweekend had watched it 4 times - and yes, I do have a life. Blithe is theonly word I can use to describe the experience of watching this video. Inaworld of multi-screen theaters that show a variation of 3 basic movies -mindless action, gross-out comedy, or big-screen version of the issue oftheweek - THE IMPOSTERS was a homage to an earlier genre - the silly, almostplotless comedies of Laura & Hardy. Homage - not remake - an importantdifference. This was definitely a 1990's movie - more quirky thanslapstick,with slick production values. A series of vingettes, tied together to makeawhole, yet each scene easily stands on its own as a comic gem - theinitialcredits being my personal favorite. One final word - all this and a greatcast! and score. This movie was a rare 10.

gunga-2 2013-04-19 00:19:27

Wrestling, naked, on the steps of the Acropolis!

My God! That line alone was enough to make me soil mypants.One of the best farces I have ever seen with characters to make one'simagination drool.I want to keep Stanley Tucci's brain in a jar and show it off as a prizedpossession to all my friends.Better yet....invite them to watch the film.

jbliss 2013-03-31 13:45:02

Extremely enjoyable--loved it!

This movie was so much fun! I think I was grinning the entire time, betweenlaughs. The performances were very entertaining and the story was verygood. I loved the ballroom scene. It is great to see so many fine actors insuch a fun movie. I definitely want to see Big Night again, and lookforward to Tucci's next film.

helpless_dancer 2013-03-30 21:06:18

Totally off the wall comedy

I hated the 1st half, and loved the rest. This is one of those filmswhich,to be appreciated, one has to develop an acquired taste. It was a goofy,herky jerky movie with a Laurel & Hardy plot, and every manner of looneycharacter imaginable. Good once you become accustomed to it, yet verystrange.

2013-03-27 12:53:52

Imposters One-Up the Popular Dreck

Imposters is a head above the leading name brand movies. It's witty and even side-splitting hilarious at moments. The leads are wonderful actors who make the most of their juicy roles. That goes for the German, too. A fine film for the discriminating viewer.

mogier 2013-03-27 03:49:57

A little gem of a film with a continental flavour that may not appeal to all

The fact that a film like this can be made in the US is almost enough torestore one's faith in Hollywood.The writing and direction are reminiscent of a continental movie, with thedirector (Tucci) owing a debt more to films like Waking Ned and othersimilar 'gentle' films than the zany antics of Airplane or The NakedGun.Yet there is a lot of original and self-referential humour in here, too,with one of the best moments a scene where one of the characters finds outwhat a foreign character is saying by reading the subtitles!The setting, apparently the 1920s or 30s, is perfectly captured, yet whenthe two leads are on board the ship there is little attempt made todisguisethe fact that this is a movie set. This is taken to the extreme during theclosing credits…A real diamond of a movie that stands out from the crowd - but lovers offast-paced action/sex comedies may be advised to rent There's SomethingAbout Mary again…(Personally, I'm going to track down a copy of Tucci's first film aswriter/director, Big Night).

mumblethesilent 2013-03-22 02:33:25

Comical Genius

Though different and very unique, I found this movie absolutelyhilarious. I laughed so hard, I had to stop the movie about three timesto finish laughing and so I wouldn't miss a thing. I'm glad i had it onvideo because I have watched it over and over again. Not only is itcast wonderfully, but the way the film is set up mixes old and moderntechniques to create perhaps the funniest movie I have ever seen.Stanley Tucci is a wonderful writer, producer, and actor in thisintricate comedy. The adventure this film follows is not your usualadventure and can be just as gripping as it is funny. I HIGHLYrecommend this film. I have already told all of my friends and haveeven written a review of it for my school newspaper.

2013-03-21 19:29:37

The Impostors, Stan & Ollie (Tucci & Platt), old style.

This review is from: The Impostors (Amazon Instant Video) I understand that the professional critics did not value this one highly. Yes, some "plot" turns leave room for improvement. But I find the performers to be totally delightful, and the characters provide the vehicles for the actors' robust talents. I owned this film as VHS, and have to say that the DVD offers an additional element to the viewing experience that reinforces my decision to upgrade. I recommend this film to lovers of classic film comedy.

mystic80 2013-03-20 02:46:05

Homage to old 30's comedies

Probably one of the best homages I've seen in years to 30's comedies. Humorous comedy tells that of two dirt poor, out of work actors (StanleyTucci, Oliver Platt) that are so poor, they have to scam food off bakeries.The two of them attend a play where a snobbish, overrated actor (AlfredMolina) is performing. The two of them offend the actor by insulting him ina bar behind his back. He takes it to the max by declaring it as assault andthe two of the actors run from the police and end up as stowaways on a shipwhere they meet a group of eccentric people including a ballbusting German(Campbell Scott), a sweetheart (Lili Taylor), a suicidal comedian (SteveBuscemi), a treacherous employee (Tony Shalhoub), and a husband and wifepair of scam artists (Richard Jenkins, Alison Janney). Another guest on theship includes the offended actor and has the two of them yet again on therunThis movie is very comical and the chemistry between Platt and Tucci is wellmatched as bumbling actors. Top notch performances are also among the castincluding Buscemi, Taylor, and Scott. A well scripted comedy that plays offlike a stage play played off as a movie. Grade: B+

BadWebDiver 2013-03-19 14:01:20

Rib-ticklingly hilarious!!!

This is a top-notch comedy at the most audacious level. I once heardsomeone say that door-slamming farcical comedy never works on film; andI think this is one of the movies that proves them wrong. It remindedme of the brilliant stage farce "Noises Off" (which was also turnedinto a movie with fairly successful results).I thought the opening title gags were brilliant, especially OliverPlatt. I loved Billy Connolly as a camp tennis player and AllisonJanney as a gangster's moll. I also thought Alfred Molina, TonyShalhoub, Campbell Scott, Steve Buscemi and Matt McGrath were brilliantas well. The pastry shop scene and Tucci crying poor were alsooutstanding highlights.My only slight criticism with this film is that the pacing seemed atiny bit slow at times, but otherwise this is an exceptional storyline.This is definitely the sort of movie I'd like to see a lot more of. Italso proves that they CAN make 'em like they used to.

2013-03-18 04:45:31

Ship of Fools? Ship of Farce!

This review is from: The Impostors (DVD) The original title would have served the audience a little better, although the 40 minutes of set-up takes place in the Big City. That's fine... the set-up is wonderful. The few folks who gave such poor reviews would have understood much better what they were in for.A friend of mine describes this film as "a feast of overacting". Clearly a compliment, especially if you saw him say it... he grins from ear-to-ear and almost cracks up with the mere mention of the title.I remember (the beautiful and talented) Isabella Rossellini on Late Night With Conan O'Brien talking about The Impostors. According to her, director Stanley Tucci urged the cast to ham it up and offered a weekly contest... each week whoever over-acted the most would win the Golden Ham award. Isabella was proud to say she was one of the winners (and you can tell which scene it is for). Oliver Reed must be rolling over in his grave that he couldn't have been in the picture. Each successive scene is more zany than the last. From the brilliantly executed opening credits (which could be a great short film) to the chases in the bar to the wacky character introductions to the closing credits (the actors leaving the film studio whilst dancing) the film is an absolute treasure.Just when you think it cannot get any sillier... it does. Of course, all these great reviews (not to mention my obvious gushing) might leave you expecting much more. Don't get carried away with the reviews... just think of the very British television farce Fawlty Towers. If you liked that you'll probably love The Impostors. This isn't a clever and witty little film... and it *never* attempts to be anything other than a cute and silly little comedy. That said I walked out of the theater gasping for air and in pain from laughing so much.At the current Amazon price...it's an absolute steal.

Chiron-5 2013-03-17 21:32:15

Very funny, but not to everyone's taste.

An extremely clever, funny farce. It is very artificial, and rather in theBritish style, although set in New York. There is a great deal of dashingabout, hiding under beds, and similar business, but it is saved fromtiresome silliness by the charm of the main characters, and the sense thateverybody in the cast is having a wonderful time. I saw it in a theaterwith a very small audience, and one of them walked out. I had a good timeand laughed heartily as did a few other people, but I got the impressionmost of the audience was a little confused.

Kimberley 2013-03-17 13:33:03

Love this movie!

I rented this knowing nothing about it (not much of this kind of thing makesit to Kentucky). I just really like Oliver Platt. So I rented it one nightin college, having nothing better to do...And I loved it. It's really not like any movie I've ever seen. I'm notreally a connoisseur of Laurel and Hardy or anyone like that--I'm just youraverage college kid, I guess. I don't like most American comedy, though,because it's a little too dependent on violence and switching one's brainoff. But this movie was so different and so funny! It was silly, sure, butit was smart and really amusing. I love Steve Buscemi in everything he's in,and he was just TOO funny here. I was rolling in the floor.And Campbell Scott was just great, I loved how he kept popping up at themost inopportune times. But my favorite part, I think, was that little bitwith the Hamlet play. I've seen productions like this and known actors likethat and it was just PERFECT! The archetypical actor who can't fit hisinflated head through the backstage door. It was truly hilarious all the waythrough, and I don't know anything about what it could be based on. I justliked it a lot. But it's not your average American comedy, and it mightinspire a love/hate response in many viewers. I think it's probably anacquired taste.

R. Batty 2013-03-16 23:38:36

Harking back to the days of Laurel & Hardy, The Imposters is a hilarious, slightly modern homage to the film comedies of a more innocent time.

The Imposters is one of the freshest movies to come into the "mainstream" inquite a while. Probably the most notable aspect of the film is its superbcast, each member fitting a character niche created in the comedies and noirfilms of the 30's and 40's. Campbell Scott almost steals the show, as theuptight, smitten, Nazi-esque porter-captain on the USS Inter Continental.Oliver Platt and Stanley Tucci bear a striking resemblance to Laurel & Hardy,and play the straight guy/funny guy bit to the T. Highly-recommended if youwant a good laugh, and a modern look and salute to some of the best comediesever made.

2013-03-05 10:12:49

Slow start, side-splitting finish!

The first hour or so was hard to sit through. It was slow, disjointed, and cheesy - but just wait! The entire first half of the movie was just setting up for the outrageous onslaught of laughs when punchline after punchline finally came together! Definately worth seeing, just for the experience.

2013-03-04 18:51:52

The best comedy of the 1990's!

The Imposters is a classic farce. The film is not only hilarious, but also packed with talented actors. (I haven't seen this many cameo's since The Muppet Movie.) Stanley Tucci and Oliver Platt play two umeployed actors in New York during the 1920's. They accidently become stow-aways on a classy ocean liner. Not only are they stow-aways, but a rival actor on the boat is out to destroy them. The comedy in this movie is not only brilliant, but extremely entertaining.

2013-03-01 19:38:17

"To life--and its many deaths."

The trailer for The Imposters is shameful--it in no way indicates the freshness, the subtlety, and the hilarity of one of Stanley Tucci's efforts (on the heels of Big Night and preceding Joe Gould's Secret). I long put off watching this movie simply because the trailer was so overdone. Thanks to a two-fer offer at the nearby Hasting's video store, however, I took the chance and rented it. Being the bourgeosie pig that I am (a trait pointed out to me by one of the movie's Leninist characters), I reveled in the European settings, the Twenties-era costuming and tunes, and the general lushness of the surroundings. But unlike most aesthetic efforts, in The Imposters the clothes and the backdrops and the jingles are pleasant but not distracting. As a review piece in Vanity Fair toasted, "Long may they Charleston."From the very first scene, Tucci and Platt--two starving actors who constantly practice their craft in public, at home and ultimately on a cruise ship where they've accidentally stowed away--are funny and sharp and never boring. Their misadventures in conning a bakery chef out of some goodies, badmouthing the star of a local production of Hamlet, hiding from the cops on an ocean liner and uncovering numerous nefarious murder plots are punctuated by momentary examples of Tucci and Platt as two truly decent guys and good friends. Tucci's work here more than validates his past appointment as a spokesperson at Sundance.Rarely have I seen two male film characters whose friendship doesn't rot into misogyny (In the Company of Men) or just plain ugliness and evil (Very Bad Things, Your Friends and Neighbors). Tucci as a screenwriter does not appear to tap into those veins, thank God.

Mickey Knox 2013-03-01 02:50:55

What a pity!

It started so well and turned out so bad!The first 20 minutes of this film were awesome. Probably the best comedyi've seen lately. Great satire, great gags. Great acting, especially byTucci. See the gag with the cakes, or them practicing some roles. Simplyawesome.What happened after 20 minutes? I don't know. The movie suddenly turned intoa low class predictable comedy, a missed remake of Laurel and Hardy. Thegags became stupid, pathetic and totally not funny, the acting becameaverage. It's a pity, because this movie had such a great potential... watch it, butonly until they go up the ship. Afterwards it's a wastedtime.Vote: 4 out of 10.