Outrageous Fortune (1987)

Outrageous Fortune (1987)

 

3/10

Starring          

Shelley Long

Bette Midler

 

Directed by Arthur Hiller

 

In life, when you get some free time, you want to make the most of it. You could go for a walk, have a picnic, or just simply relax. I decided to watch this movie, and let’s just say it was a regrettable decision.

Outrageous Fortune is a complete letdown. It’s hard to understand how this film made so much money at the box office or earned Bette Midler a Golden Globe nomination. Because if it is possible to go into my head and remove every trace of this movie, I will.

The plot is ridiculous, and honestly, the whole thing feels like a poorly executed joke on me. Two women, Lauren (Shelley Long) and Sandy (Bette Midler), who are both romantically involved with the same man, Michael. Which alone is not the ridiculous part. You see, Michael is on the run from the CIA after stealing something, he then uses the women to pass secret messages. I can think of a less complex way to get that done, but this seems very simple for Michael, I guess I lack the charm to get two women to fall for me, is why this seems far-fetched.

Then to make it more ridiculous, the CIA is too incompetent to find Michael when he goes on a run. But these two women, when they found out about one another, by some sheer luck, manage to track him down.

I do not know how this movie got past the development table. I kept wondering how Michael was passing the messages, because we were just told about it. That year, must have been a bad year for movies, because the acting is so dreadful that it becomes almost painful to watch. As the plot progresses, it exposes plot holes that make no sense.

I just couldn’t buy into it. It’s one thing to stretch the limits in a film, but Outrageous Fortune just throws any attempt at making any sense out the window. And the worst part? The humor is flat. The movie drags on, hoping to make up for its weak plot with unconvincing gags that fall completely short.

If you somehow find yourself watching this movie, I feel sorry for you. If you haven't seen it yet, trust me you’re not missing anything. Skip it. It's not worth your time. Don’t waste a single second of your life watching it. Save yourself the frustration and find something better to do with your free time.