A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: The Whole Nine Yards

Date Viewed: 2/19/00

Details:

Bruce Willis

Matthew Perry

Natasha Henstridge

Amanda Peet

Kevin Pollack

Rosanna Arquette

Michael Clark Duncan

Director: Jonathon Lynn

Score: +

The Review: A dark comedy, or more accurately, a morally-bereft comedy. Good, though. (*see footnote*)

Who do we find moving in next door to a hen-pecked Montreal dentist Oz (Perry), but an ex-con from Chicago, Tony the Tulip, a mob hit-man (Willis) on early release from prison who has refused witness protection. Oz recognizes him rather quickly -- coincidence warning: the ex-pat dentist is from Chicago -- and loses it. Oz's wife (Arquette), who (unbeknownst to him) has already tried once to put out a contract on him, tries again with Tony. Add to this already confusing mix a marginally articulate Chicago crime lord of indeterminate Eastern European origin (Pollack), the dentist's attractive receptionist (Peet) who has unusual career aspirations, Tony's beautiful but estranged wife (Henstridge), an ominously bulky ex-enforcer compatriot (Duncan), and $10 million floating around off-screen with some odd strings attached -- and you have a twisted plot, twisted humor, and several seriously twisted characters.

Some of the comedy is situational, some physical, some..., well, you're laughing and that's all that matters. But you may not respect yourself in the morning. Some of this is akin to watching the Roadrunner consistently bring about the demise of Wiley Coyote -- and laughing when he pancakes into the canyon floor. Willis' timing is good, but his smirk gets a lot of exercise and he's a bit "over the top" on occasion. Perry's entire physical presence is funny, and his approach to mortal fear is refreshingly non-macho. And relative newcomer Amanda Peet is fresh, engaging, and simply contagious. An enjoyable caper.

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