FBMR - Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

What can you say about Steve Martin and the movies he made in the 80s? They’re all great. Now throw Michael Caine and director Frank Oz (of Muppet-fame) and the French Riviera into the mix and you’ve got a fantastic, smart, and very funny movie. This is one allows Martin to tap into some new wacky characters as he tries to con women into giving him money for his supposedly ailing grandmother. It reaches another level when he meets and is challenged by conman extraordinaire Lawrence Jamieson, played wonderfully by Michael Caine (when isn’t Michael Caine wonderful … ok, maybe in JAWS 3-D). Freddy Benson (Steve Martin) thinks it’s an accomplishment to scam $20, whereas Jamieson sets his sights much higher.

Caine and Martin have great chemistry, with Caine playing the straight man to Martin’s funny man. Some of the best scenes involve them trying to con the same women. Each knowing that the other is putting on an act, but never certain of what the other is going to do. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of these scenes actually included some improv. Whether there was or not, these scene are hilarious. And the movie also has a couple of little twists and surprises that often heighten the humour.

Love it!


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DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS (1988) **** What can you say about Steve Martin and the movies he made in the 80s? They’re all great. Now throw Michael Caine and director Frank Oz (of Muppet-fame) and the French Riviera into the mix and you’ve got a fantastic, smart, and very funny movie. This is one allows Martin to tap into some new wacky characters as he tries to con women into giving him money for his supposedly ailing grandmother. It reaches another level when he meets and is challenged by conman extraordinaire Lawrence Jamieson, played wonderfully by Michael Caine (when isn’t Michael Caine wonderful … ok, maybe in JAWS 3-D). Freddy Benson (Steve Martin) thinks it’s an accomplishment to scam $20, whereas Jamieson sets his sights much higher. Caine and Martin have great chemistry, with Caine playing the straight man to Martin’s funny man. Some of the best scenes involve them trying to con the same women. Each knowing that the other is putting on an act, but never certain of what the other is going to do. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of these scenes actually included some improv. Whether there was or not, these scene are hilarious. And the movie also has a couple of little twists and surprises that often heighten the humour. Love it!