Genres

Visitors Review

smatysia 2013-06-16 21:22:36

Trapped, all right

Not funny. At all. This film did not get a single chuckle from me. Thelonebright spot was whenever Madchen Amick was on screen. What a babe! ButCageand Lovitz can do a lot better. Carvey is an acquired taste, which I donotpossess much of. Spare yourself! Grade: F

2013-06-16 06:51:16

Trapped In Paradise

This movie stars Nick Cage Jon Lovitz, and Dana Carvey. what a better cast to star in this hillarious film all three of them are awesome together. i recommend this movie to everyone

2013-06-04 01:36:48

Overlooked Christmas gem

This review is from: Trapped in Paradise (DVD) This quirky little comedy has become a Christmas staple in my house. The story of 3 bumbling brothers sticking up a small town bank on Christmas eve has enough surprises to keep you laughing, while also including enough cliches to allow you to just sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. And for a modern Christmas movie there's a surprising amount of real "Christmas Spirit" in this tale, as the 3 big-city robbers find the townsfolk of the little hamlet of Paradise to be filled with the kind of love, kindness and grace that the Yuletide is supposed to engender, but rarely does. Not a cynical film like so many modern Xmas flicks, there's still enough edginess to keep the jaded happy, but just enough sentiment to warm the hearts of those who prefer the more traditional Christmas fare. If you like "Christmas Vacation" you should enjoy this.

2013-06-03 17:00:14

WHY DID IT DO BADLY??

This Is One of The Greatest Movies EVER, Even Though It Flunked on All Levels of Cinematic History. I Could Not Stop Laughing at This Movie, and I Always Keep it On my Christmas Movie Agenda. The cast is amazing, btu I would not have casted Cage for a script like this.

2013-05-31 16:03:54

Christmas Sleeper a Keeper

"It's A Wonderful Life". "Miracle on 34th Street". "A Christmas Story". "Bad Santa". What makes for a holiday staple? What separates "The Bishop's Wife" from "Fred Claus"? Whatever it is this flick has the Christmas mojo going. Sure there's some profanity but it makes up for it with it's humanity and it's sincere message that lacks cynicism. It should come as no surprise because the film's director-writer is George Gallo who scripted one of the unsung comedy classics of the Eighties, "Midnight Run". When this film was released in 1994 it was met with a collective yawn from the critics and audiences alike. Time has been kind to this gentle little flick and it would behoove you to make it a seasonal must-see.

2013-05-31 02:49:00

Great Movie

This review is from: Trapped in Paradise (DVD) Had this movie on Video tape and had to upgrade to DVD. Quality of picture is great and played back with no problems! Love this movie!

2013-05-27 19:44:12

Crudeness and obnoxiousness ruin what could have been a great movie

The premise of the story was great: a pathological liar and kleptomaniac are straight man Nicolas Cage's brothers, who somehow get him involved in robbing a bank as poorly guarded as the one in Mayberry (on the Andy Griffith Show). But as they escape, they have a great deal of trouble, and in the process, the townspeople are so good to them that they eventually all reform. (The title refers to Paradise, Pennsylvania, where they stage the robbery.) The writing is punctuated with an abundance of crude language, Nicolas Cage's character gets cranky to the point I didn't like him, and Dana Carvey's retarded-sounding kleptomaniac overdoes his silly laugh. The music was well-written, but the script wasn't, which hurt the chemistry of the cast members and made the movie annoying to me: an awkward blend of crudeness and sentimentality.

2013-05-27 11:15:59

Funny, cute, good holiday movie.

I really liked this movie, even though it recived TERRIBLE reviews, it is really underrated. No, it's not an Oscar worthy film, but it's one of those that you like to have sitting in your cabinet to watch from time to time. It's not intelligent humor, but it's not as graphic as "There's Something About Mary" it's not even close. (I think that's GOOD.) I don't like Nicholas Cage, but I don't like him anyway. His role is okay though. Carvey and Lovtiz are great, although I would've really liked to see more of him in this movie and less of the kleptomatic shtick. All and all it's a very cute underrated movie. Besides if you want to see it DO don't just listen to a whole bunch of crabby critics who don't have YOUR taste. If you like it you do, if you don't, you don't.

2013-05-26 23:15:02

A fun, silly film

And this is the next review in my Cage-a-thon. Actually, I saw this movie many years ago, but watched it again recently because it's a fun film. Nothing that will leave you in stitches from laughing like a maniac, but it's not boring either. It's...it's silly. That's the best way to describe it - not meant to make you bust a gut, but not something that tries way too hard to make you laugh and fails miserably. (Warning, this review will contain spoilers).A short summary: Three brothers rob an ill-guarded bank, have a change of heart and give it back. I personally loved the three main characters - great development and a nice variety. There's Bill Firpo, played by Nicolas Cage. He's the responsible brother and I'm assuming the eldest. He the seemingly honest working stiff who secretly fights his urges to commit crimes so he doesn't end up like his siblings, Dave and Alvin. These two, played by Jon Lovitz and Dana Carvey, respectively, are doing time for robbery or theft. Dave Firpo is a pathological liar who is responsible for most of the mischief in the film, and Alvin is a kleptomaniac. I don't think better actors could have been picked for these roles. The trouble starts when Dave and Alvin are released on parole early for the holidays due to over-crowding.After Dave convinces Bill he's a wanted man in New York and they need to get outta dodge, they hit up a bank in a nice little Pennsylvania town called Paradise on Christmas Eve. The kind of town where everyone knows everyone and you can leave your doors unlocked at night. From what I can tell, Dave heard of this place from another inmate and wanted to rob the place before someone else did. So he sets up an elaborate scheme to make Bill think he's a wanted man and they need to leave their home state of New York.The bank robbery scene is probably my favorite part of the film because these three are total idiots. In a nutshell, these three get to know the bank president and his family and they feel bad for robbing such good people and putting the bank in danger of being shut down. So they give the money back without saying who they were, and as a result, the townspeople refuse to identify the Firpos as the robbers. Since, you know, that would happen in real life and all. They learn their lesson, Cage gets the girl, The End. The side romance is kind of boring because the character Sarah Mazucci/Collins is rather bland.I can't really say there's anything bad about this movie. Maybe not the kind of thing you'd expect to see Nicolas Cage starring in (though I think he does well in humorous roles), but hey, he's done MUCH worse *cough-TheFamilyMan-cough*.From an aesthetic viewpoint, the movie is shot very nicely. Camera angles aren't boring, the music works, costume design was nice, sound quality is good. It's by no means an edge-of-your-seat exciting story, it's not thrilling. It's one of those movies you can watch with your parents and not have to worry about that awkward sex scene popping up and making the weirdness in the room thick enough to cut with a knife. And, of course, if you like Christmas films, this one's not reeking of the spirit, but it's alright to watch not only in December, but any time of the year. If this is your kind of movie or you like any of the main actors, I'd say give this film a try. It might be something you find in the bargain bin, but give it a chance. I found Serial Mom in the bargain bin and I love that movie; don't always let a low price dictate film quality.

bobc-5 2013-05-26 14:33:38

Was anybody really trying?

This movie isn't a total waste of time. The overall idea is appealing andactually quite well executed, but in the specifics it becomes almostunbearable unimaginative. Nicolas Cage and Jon Lovitz do their characterswell, even if very predictably, but they do them as if they weren't evenfilming the scenes together. There is no rapport whatsoever, and the poorselection of shots just makes it worse. The characterization of Paradise,the police, and just about everyone else suffers the same fate. Dana Carveysinglehandedly saves several scenes, yet he spends most of the movie doingan annoying and completely useless imitation of Mickey Rourke playing thetown idiot. With the exception of a few of the minor players (particularlyFlorence Stanley as Ma Firpo), one has to wonder if anybody in this movie,from director to cast to crew, was actually making any significant effortorjust trying to get something into the theaters in time forChristmas.

dearmond-1 2013-05-24 05:02:12

A film about three hopelessly inept thieves and townsfolk who haven't got a clue about anything.

Al though this movie isn't at the bottom of my list, this is among theworse commercial movies I have seen. I do not understand why Nick Cagetook on this movie. There are only two things that rise slightly abovecategory, but these are not enough to change my vote: Dana Carvey andhis slick and funny pickpocketing and Florence Stanley is funny — Iliked her a lot. She and Dana raise the movie to 1.5, which is stillshort of 2.The acting sucks and the writing sucks. And the plot sucks big time.The movie is roughly a modern version of slap stick. Classical slapstick is probably better. The finale was worse than the movie itself.Essentially, the finale was predictable.

2013-05-23 20:40:36

CAGE IN A GILDED PARADISE

TRAPPED IN PARADISE is a surprisingly charming and fun to watch movie, that could be enjoyed at Christmas or any time of year. The movie has the feel of one of those forties or fifties charmers, where the bad guys aren't so bad and they become good guys once they realize what life is really all about.While the leads (Nicolas Cage, Dana Carvey and Jon Lovitz) are all very good, the movie's heart lies in the supporting performances: Florence Stanley as the boys' potty-mouthed mom; Donald Moffatt and Angela Paton as the Andersons, the bank president and his wife who unbeknownst to them are having the bank robbers for Christmas dinner; Madchen Amick (Twin Peaks) as the convict's sweet daughter; John Ashton as the redneck deputy; and Richard Jenkins as the putupon FBI agent. The scene where the bus depot clerk gives the duplicitous Cage enough money to get his ticket home is heart tugging, showing just how nice the people of Paradise really are.Goofy and off the wall, TRAPPED IN PARADISE worms its way into your heart and is one of those critically panned movies that is much better than they thought! Enjoy!

2013-05-23 03:28:32

Mediocre holiday crime-comedy is less than the sum of its parts

Nicolas Cage has made some of the best movies I've ever seen - "Raising Arizona" in particular is near and dear to my heart, but "Lord of War" and "Leaving Las Vegas" also belong in the pantheon of Movies Worth Seeing.I can only imagine that his younger self was dreaming of movies like those while he was schlepping away on "Trapped in Paradise." Working along side "SNL" alums Dana Carvey and Jon Lovitz, who never turned their TV promise into Hollywood magic (excepting Carvey's Garth, of course, but that was a mere extension of his SNL character), Cage gets to go through the motions in this formulaic caper-comedy.Cage plays the straightest of three crooked brothers. Lovitz is - shockingly - a lying boor and Carvey is a kleptomaniac whose most annoying feature isn't his need to steal, it's his grating voice. I don't use their characters' names because they are completely irrelevant and never emerge as characters in their own right. Through a cock-and-bull story Lovitz convinces Cage to go along on the world's easiest bank robbery. But this is a Christmas movie - and one without the savage glee of "The Ref" - so after knocking over the only bank in a small town full of Small Town Goodness, Cage and his brothers get religion and try to give the money back. Supposedly-comic hi-jinx ensue, but to little end, no purpose, and fewer laughs. A "dramatic" high-speed chase involving inept policemen, FBI agents, and a horse-drawn sleigh is so obviously-staged you can almost see the stage hands blowing snow in the actors' faces during closeups while the stunt guys are plainly visible during the action shots.A laughingly half-hearted romance clogs up what remains of this surprisingly profane movie, which except for some gratuitous swearing belongs squarely in the safe PG bin.If you're looking for a good holiday film and you've worn out your copy of "A Christmas Story," stay away from this one. Watching the holiday special for "Iron Chef America: Battle Egg Nog" is time better spent.The movie is saved from one star only by my hunch that the sunglasses Cage dons during the robbery are the same shades he wore in "Valley Girl." Not exactly a high point for cinema, but a high water mark for this movie.

ncurrie47 2013-05-22 10:10:00

One of the worst ever

This movie is easily among the ten worst I have ever seen. It hasabsolutely no redeeming qualities. It's so bad it's past good and backto bad again, only worse. There is no way I can possibly convey inwords just how bad this movie is.Oh, and I can't even begin to imagine what (if anything) goes on in theminds of people who claim to enjoy this movie. It's certainly possiblethat their brains were completely atrophied in the 111 minutes of theirlives they spent in front of this complete waste of celluloid. Such isthe potential danger of watching this movie in a state even resemblingsobriety (or consciousness for that matter).This movie is worse than all the worst moments of all the worstChristmas movies strung together. In the name of all that is holy,please do not watch this movie. I've done all I can. If you stillinsist in watching this steaming pile of, um, really foul stuff, maygod have mercy on your soul.

Mike 2013-05-19 03:44:31

Awsome Christmas

This movie was one of my favorites right from the start. Its original plot and good acting with Nicolas Cage is really cool, and the comedy gives it a great boost. Its definitely a good family movie worth seeing.

2013-05-18 04:50:22

trapped in paradise

This is a purely escapism type movie and very very funny. I've seen it time and again and never tire of it.

moonspinner55 2013-05-17 19:15:58

Disastrous comedy...it should come equipped with emergency exits

George Gallo wrote and directed this ridiculous, braying, foul-mouthedcomedy (with a Christmas theme!) about three brothers who rob a bank inParadise--a quaint, sweet-natured Pennsylvania town--and come to regrettheir actions; meanwhile, two slow-witted deputies are on their trail.The bad East Coast accents aside, you know you're in trouble whenNicolas Cage is portraying the 'sane' sibling (he gives a mostdisconcerting, let-me-outta-here performance). Lame in the extreme, thepicture is only saved by a solid supporting cast doing their best tokeep the material afloat. As Cage's brothers-in-crime, Jon Lovitz andDana Carvey are a nightmarish twosome. 'Trapped' is right. * from ****

bing-10 2013-05-17 08:20:34

This Movie Was SO Bad I could not watch more than 20 minutes

I really like nearly all of Nic Cage's films, and enjoy Dana Carvey and JohnLovitz also. I expected the film to be at least entertaining with such highquality actors and comedians. But after not laughing for the first tenminutes and groaning for the next ten minutes, I had to shut off my VCR.This movie does not even deserve to be rewound!

Pat-181 2013-05-10 12:51:12

What a disappointment.

I saw the beginning of this movie in Consumer Foundation class, where theteacher showed us some tragic sad type movie every other day. On the lastday, she said she had a suprise for us. She said that we were going towatcha movie that had nothing but laughs in it. I was excited, I love comedies.At first it seemed very promising. I read the opening credits in my mindwith joy. One of my favorite actors, Nic Cage had the leadrole.Then, my favorite comedian, Dana Carvey's name appeared. Jon Lovitz, whoisfunny at times, also had a leading role. The first scene was watchable,withNic Cage. Then the movie went completly down hill. I kept waiting andwaiting for it to end, finally I jut decided to doze off. When I woke upatthe end of class, I asked a friend if I missed anything good. "Nope", hesaid, "My favorite parts were when the teacher fast forwarded through thepartsthat were not as important as the rest so we could see it all." I did notknow whether to believe him or not. I guess I was still in denial thatbothNic Cage and Dana Carvey could accept roles in a movie that bad. A coupledays later the movie appeared on Comedy Central. I decided to watch what Imissed. My friend was right, it is one of the worst movies I have everseen.I have lost plenty of respect for my teacher's tastes, too. My overallrating 1/2 star out of 4.

2013-05-10 07:55:35

one of my all time favorites

Two brothers who just got released from prison, trick their brother to go to paradise to do a favor for a friend in prison, to see his daughter that he says won't ever visit. Nicholaus Cage who plays Bill, wants to go on the strait and narrow, but the temptation of robbing the bank in paradise is just to much, kinda of like a drinker or smoker trying to kick the habit, and hanging out with people who do. So they end up robbing the bank, and just can't seem to get out a paradise, finding along the way, that the townspeople who they stole from, would go out of their way to help someone they didn't even know, changing the hearts of the brothers. I really enjoyed this movie and watched it at the theater. I think Jon Lovitz, Dana Carvey, and Nicholaus Cage were great.