Excess Baggage *** (1997, Alicia Silverstone, Benicio Del Toro, Christopher Walken, Harry Connick Jr, Jack Thompson, Nicholas Turturro) – Classic Movie Review 9717

A chaotic cross-country escapade is the setting for director Marco Brambilla’s Excess Baggage (1997), an offbeat, fast-paced, outrageously quirky mix of caper comedy, action thriller and romance.

Alicia Silverstone stars as petulant teenager Emily, who feels neglected by her millionaire dad and, to get attention, fakes her own kidnapping by writing a ransom note and hiding in his BMW car boot, but is taken away for real by laconic car thief Vincent (Benicio Del Toro).

The mismatched duo are chased across country by creepy ex-CIA killer Uncle Ray (Christopher Walken), sent by dad, who refuses to pay the ransom, but their mutual disdain turns to love.

Excess Baggage is mixed bag, but some of it is very funny and Walken effortlessly steals the show, easily out-weirding all the other weird performers, though Del Toro is pretty good too.

Silverstone is a tad irritating, here, but that is the character she is playing, though she can’t tip the performance over into likeable like she did in Clueless.

Excess Baggage is the first offering from Silverstone’s production company, First Kiss Productions.

Also in the cast are Harry Connick Jr, Jack Thompson, Nicholas Turturro, Michael Bowen, Robert Wisden, Leland Orser and Sally Kirkland.

Excess Baggage is directed by Marco Brambilla, runs 101 minutes, is made by First Kiss Productions, is released by Columbia Pictures (1997) (US) and Columbia TriStar Films (1997) (UK), is written by Max D Adams (story and screenplay), Dick Clement (screenplay) and Ian La Frenais (screenplay), is shot in Technicolor by Jean-Yves Escoffier, is produced by Alicia Silverstone, Bill Borden and Carolyn Kessler, and is scored by John Lurie.

Marco Brambilla previously directed Demolition Man (1993).

 © Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9717

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