The Out-of-Towners **½ (1999, Steve Martin, Goldie Hawn, John Cleese) – Classic Movie Review 1956

Remember the old Jack Lemmon-Sandy Dennis comedy of 1970? Well, this time in director Sam Weisman’s 1999 comedy it’s Steve Martin’s turn to bicker with his wife Goldie Hawn and endure a series of comic catastrophes as the small-town couple, Henry and Nancy Clark, getting torn to shreds on a trip to New York City for a job interview. The couple’s trials and tribulations accumulate with fast-paced momentum in a movie that’s agreeably amusing in its old-fashioned way, mixing acid wit with (less successful) silly pratfalls.

Their mishaps and misfortunes take us on a jolly scenic tour of New York, including Central Park (of course), Greenwich Village, Times Square, the Fulton Fish Market and a luxury hotel, presided over by none other than John Cleese, doing his Basil Fawlty act just once more as the snooty manager Mr Mersault, whose tastes include insulting the guests and wearing ear-rings and high heels.

It must be admitted that all three stars have been funnier, but for easy-going, friendly entertainment, this is quite good value. Marc Lawrence bases his moderate screenplay on the original, brighter 1969 screenplay by playwright Neil Simon, which was written directly for the screen.

Hawn’s real-life son Oliver Hudson plays her son, Alan Clark.

The couple are renamed Henry and Nancy Clark from the original George and Gwen Kellerman.

Martin and Hawn also starred together in HouseSitter (1992).

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1956

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Hawn’s real-life son Oliver Hudson plays her son, Alan Clark.