The Cheap Detective | Peter Falk, Ann-Margret

The Cheap Detective | Peter Falk, Ann-Margret | A Pleasant, Affectionate Film Noir Spoof

DVDs:

The Cheap Detective

	The Cheap Detective Peter Falk, Ann-Margret Sony Pictures, 2001 average customer review:based on 26 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

PLAY IT AGAIN PECKINPAH

Neil Simon's tongue in cheek parody of Bogie films like CASABLANCA and MALTESE FALCON is entertaning and offers some fine comic moments by a vast array of talented comic actors. Never mind the plot; it's just an excuse for these talented thespians to generate some good laughs. Peter Falk plays Peckinpah, a private gumshoe investigating his partner's murder among other things; the rest of the players include Madeline Kahn as 16 different persons, all the same person though and Kahn as always is delicious; Marsha Mason is the dead partner's wife, who was also sacking up with Falk; Ann-Margret is the vixenish wife of septegenarian Sid Caesar; Louise Fletcher is the Lauren Bacall parody who is the world's most boring woman; James Coco is the French maitre'd; Nicol Williamson the Gestapo man from Cincinnati; Fernando Lamas is the clueless French restaurantuer; John Houseman does a great caricature of Sydney Greenstreet; the effervescent Dom DeLuise bubbles in the Peter Lorre takeoff; Paul Williams is the diminutive bad guy; Eileen Brennan the sexy siren who la las "La Vie En Rose"; and Stockard Channing is Falk's lovesmitten secretary. It's all silly nonsensical fun, and entertaining to boot.

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A Pleasant, Affectionate Film Noir Spoof

Peter Falk does an impressive Bogart impersonation as gumshoe Lou Peckenpah throughout "The Cheap Detective," doing such a fine job that you'll never confuse Lou with Lieutenant Columbo. He's given ample support by a "Who's Who" of 1970s supporting actors, including Vic Tayback, Dom DeLouise, Ann-Margaret, and Madeline Kahn. There's a clever story full of red herrings and convoluted double-crosses. The entire film is bathed in gorgeous lighting and impressive period sets, effectively recreating the look of such Bogart star vehicles as "The Maltese Falcon" and "Casablanca." It's easily one of the best-looking films of the late 1970s. Indeed, the film looks so good that it puts similar Film Noir knockoffs like "Curse of the Jade Scorpion" and "Sin City" to shame.

The movie's fatal flaw is screenwriter Neil Simon's continuous reliance on sketch comedy setups and overt silliness. Sometimes this works; sometimes it doesn't. Most times it doesn't, and there are huge stretches in "The Cheap Detective" where you'll be grateful that you can stop the DVD, take a nice long break, and return to it later. While unquestionably affectionate, Simon's satire lacks the bite that Mel Brooks possessed during the same time period, and "The Cheap Detective" could have used a sharper parody attack during its slower moments. This is a tamer spoof than the setup demanded.

Still, Falk fans will not be disappointed in this film. Nor will anyone in love with the classic look of 1940s Bogart epics. I'm glad I have it because I'm a Noir buff and Columbo fan, but you might want to rent this one first before buying it.

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Grows On You

I saw this movie in the theatre when it first came out, and was hugely disappointed. I felt that it was the biggest waste of comedic talent since "Mad Mad Mad Mad World."

But it grows on you. My categorical prior objection to the broad farce played by Sid Caesar and Ann-Margret, for example, is overborne by how great she looks. Subtle details of production begin to emerge. The filled whisky glass in the night stand drawer, for example. The continuous Peter Falk rehearsals for Columbo, which all happened later...it's a good movie for an easy evening.

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reviews: 1, 2, page 3, 4, 5, 6

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