BootDigest Such a frustrating disappointment

Comwayon A Disappointing Continuation

Neive Bellamy Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

Fleur Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Carl S Lau With the introductory titles at the beginning of the movie, one can sense that this film is in big trouble. After all, how much emphasis should a palm tree receive - shot and reshot via redundant closeups and pull backs? The first set of scenes seems to set the tenor of the movie and is a grand hint that what follows has the potential of being awful. Cheesy sets, lousy dialogue, poor editing - all worthy of a ninth grade film buff student in his first big homework assignment. The framing of the shots almost seem to be out of "How to Make a Movie 101," with the subsequent movie having a very cook booked feeling or how to make a movie by the numbers. Somewhere about the 30 minute mark, it becomes exceedingly difficult to suppress the thought that the producer, director, and writer, John Landis, should not be taken outside and shot. It is amazing how he can take a more than capable cast and have most of them looking like low IQ dimwits. The movie's only saving grace is that it is highly uneven, meaning that there is something there to almost balance out its dreadfulness, but not quite. That factor is Dan Aykroyd whose reputation as a comedian proceeds him and without that awareness, the movie would be a complete failure. As the character, Bob, Akyroyd does his version of Tom Hanks in "Road to Perdition" - a deadly serious killer whose lack of on screen humor makes him very funny. The basic plot of the movie is contained within its title, "Dying to Get Rich! --- Susan's Plan," and revolves around Susan, played by Nastassja Kinski, scheming to get rid of her ex-husband to collect his insurance money. Characterizing the film as a "black comedy" cannot mask its gross deficiencies. It is painful to watch an actress of Nastassja's caliber having to mouth some of the lines that are liberally interspersed with a four letter word, starting with "f" and ending in "k." This must be a Guinness world record for Nastassja uttering the "f" word in any of her movies. It is my fervent hope that Nastassja will never have to attend a film festival of her works and have to provide commentary on a frame to frame basis for this movie. Because this movie is like a sitting duck, it is too easy to blast it out of the water. One scene has the major participants openly discussing the murder in a crowded, public restaurant! The awkwardness and stiffness of some of the scenes should constitute a nice lesson on how-not-to-make a movie. This is one movie that not even Nastassja can escape unscathed as she leads her merry band of idiots down a path of ruin.

unbrokenmetal Hard to say what went wrong with this movie. Great cast and a director famous for his funny films - but somehow the pieces of the puzzle don't fit together. Everything is a bit lame. Except for the unexpected dream sequences, the film holds few surprises and just doesn't make me laugh as often as it should. Worth watching for the fans of Dan Aykroyd, though, because he's never had the opportunity to play such a mean tough guy before (as far as I know). Nastassja Kinski still got the magic: I love the moment in the prison cell, when she looks at the other prisoner and doesn't know if she wants to cry or laugh... (Voted 6/10)

blutosky I've seen this film this evening with my wife and I'm very perplexed about it. I think John Landis is near a genius - The Blues Brothers are there to show it - but this is a tired film with some great gags. The cast of characters is very good and Dan (Aykroyd, obviously) play a splendid cameo but I'm not satisfied at all. I understand that directors are not always thinking about a masterpiece but some more diligence would be appreciated. However - Landis is Landis - your money and your time will be well spent.

ltsarnas WARNING!!!!WARNING!!! In case you haven't seen the movie. then do not read this comment I do mention main things about the ending. Did Paul (adrian paul) die in the movie or what. After he is supposed to have been smothered to death by bob. Adrian paul's character calls his ex-wife susan(nastassja kinski)and says he been been in an accident but he is fine.so is he dead or what, or was it all a scam.Then at the end it shows betty (lara flynn boyle) in vegas who happens to run into the doctor (thomas hayden church),when he asks her how she's been. she says she does not know him. This would only make sense if paul"s character really died. So could someone please explain this. I really liked the film thought it was very funny,I laughed a lot.