Man Trouble * (1992, Jack Nicholson, Ellen Barkin, Beverly D’Angelo, Harry Dean Stanton, Saul Rubinek) – Classic Movie Review 6867

Jack Nicholson stars as a down-at-heel guard dog trainer hired by opera singer Joan Spruance (Ellen Barkin) to steal a manuscript for a tell-all book from one of his clients, her airhead sister who is spilling the beans on her gangster boyfriend, in Bob Rafelson’s initially promising 1992 project that soon gets into its own trouble.

What’s gone wrong with this comedy thriller reuniting the star, writer (Carole Eastman) and director of the brilliant Five Easy Pieces (1970)? A lack of charm in the performances, a lack of wit in the screenplay and a lack of control in the direction, that’s what’s wrong.

Also in the cast are Beverly D’Angelo, Harry Dean Stanton, Saul Rubinek, Veronica Cartwright, Michael McKean, Paul Mazursky, David Clennon and Lauren Tom.

The amusing ad slogan says: ‘She put her life in his hands. Unfortunately his hands have a life of their own’. Unfortunately, it is wittier than the film. It is hard to argue with the great cast, though, and maybe worth a look just for them.

Man Trouble is directed by Bob Rafelson, runs 100 minutes, is produced by Penta, American Filmworks and Budding Grove, is released by First Independent, is written by Carole Eastman, is written by Stephen Burum, is produced by Vittorio Cecchi Gori and is scored by Georges Delerue.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6867

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