The Real Howard Spitz ** (1998, Kelsey Grammer, Amanda Donohoe, Genevieve Tessier, Joseph Rutten) – Classic Movie Review 3793

Kelsey Grammer is the real Howard Spitz and Patrick McKenna is the fake one in director Vadim Jean’s relatively enjoyable, hardly seen 1998 family comedy film.

Spitz is a grumpy, failed detective novelist until he meets eight-year-old Samantha Kershaw (Genevieve Tessier), who convinces him he can write children’s books.

The skilled, amusing and appealing Grammer works hard to raise laughs and be charming but the movie is harmed by Jurgen Wolff’s slack screenplay, Jean’s tepid handling and a dreary music score by David A Hughes that damps its bright atmosphere.

Also in the cast are Amanda Donohoe, Joseph Rutten, Kay Tremblay, David Christoffel, Denny Doherty, and John Dunsworth as the Clown at the Amusement Park.

Grammer and Vadim Jean collaborate again on Jean’s seventh feature film, Breaking the Bank (2014), which is released in the UK on 3 June 2016.

Canadian actor John Dunsworth.

RIP busy Canadian actor John Dunsworth, who died on 16 October 2017, aged 71. He was a hit as Jim Lahey in the comedy series Trailer Park Boys.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3793

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