The Man Who Knew Too Little (1997)

The Man Who Knew Too Little (1997)

6/10

Starring

Bill Murray

Peter Gallagher

Joanne Whalley

Alfred Molina

Richard Wilson

Directed by Jon Amiel

The film is based on Robert Farrar novel Watch That Man, and the title is a parody of Alfred Hitchcock's 1934 film The Man Who Knew Too Much and its 1956 remake. Farrar also co-wrote the screenplay. The movie is nice on first viewing as you will be carried on a maze of what's to happen next. On second viewing you kind of start to see the problems with the movie.

The plot holes and the silliness of Wallace can only be that, silliness. The way it took everyone by surprise on this new character who seems to have everyone on the run can only make you wonder how unprofessional everyone in this movie are made to look.

The movie plot is about Wallace (Bill Murray) who flew from the U.S. to the U.K. to be with James, his brother on his (Wallace) birthday. This was a surprise visit and James not expecting Wallace at such a time as this, arranged for his brother to have a full English experience. James sets him up with an interactive improv theatre business called "Theatre of Life." What they do is, make you be a partaker in a crime drama.

Now that seems simple, but what happens when James in an eager to get back to his business meeting, brings Wallace to the spot he was supposed to be get into the play early.

Wallace gets a call meant for a hitman, and he gets mistaken for the that said hitman and got the wrong orders. The hitman by mistake was at the spot when Wallace was supposed to be there, getting also a call to begin his role in the improv theatre. The hitman took the crime (being acted) serious and does what bad guys do.

The movie gets along with this error being followed by countless other errors and Wallace’s live free attitude gets him by, he is none the wiser that he just got involved in an espionage.

Acting wise, everyone knows what they are supposed to do and did it. The screenplay is what failed to carry the movie to climax. Murray as usual over delivered in a good way and the action scenes even though were out of place in notable places were fun to see.

The comedy however fails to leave up to high the excitement to make you want to see this movie again.

Regardless, the first ride on seeing this movie is fun and you will love it, this is a movie set for the 90s.