How Annoying - The Out of Towners (1970) Discussion

[–] tigger0705 17 years ago

Agree. I also hated Jack Lemmon's "Felix Unger-ish" anxiety. The Steve Martin/Goldie Hawn remake is much funnier and more enjoyable.

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[–] anabbott88 17 years ago

Yea, I did actually enjoy the remake.

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[–] d14le 17 years ago

you guys are rediculous. the remake was awful and the original is one of the funniest movies ever. im 21 and im saying this. shame on you, ha

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[–] bethlehem62 17 years ago

got to agree
you guys are being ridiculous
jack lemmon ? Sandy Dennis ?
Get over it. They were great

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[–] scotty-38 17 years ago

I agree too. The remake is so stupid and pointless. This film is a classic and is funny the entire way through. Who cares whether the wife was annoying or not. That's what makes it hilarious.

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[–] jkinoz 17 years ago

no one could ever top Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis!

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[–] r_and_m 17 years ago

Her voice was great. Every time she said, "Oh my god!" it was a crack up. Image if she had a voice like Marilyn Monroe or even Zeta Jones, not half as funny.

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[–] ekentb 17 years ago

OH MY GOD....YES...yes yes yes...EVERY time she utters that line it cracks me up...

Sandy Dennis was one of the greatest actresses of the 20th century, and I loved her in this comedy.

And yes...the remake SUCKED!

No, no..."cruelty." I always think that has a nobler ring to it.

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] dpatrickq 17 years ago

Defintely.

As Gwen would say...

"I need a cup of coffee or a DRINK, that's what I need!"

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[–] Casper_Storms 17 years ago

As much as I enjoyed Goldie and Steve in "Houseguest" I didn't care for their version of Out of Towners like I expected to. Jack and Sandy were great in this movie. The remake doesn't even compare to the original.

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[–] tigalincoln 17 years ago

totally true.how can anyone not find this film funny,i know we all have different tastes but come on,this is sandy dennis and jack lemmon at their best.

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[–] andrewsk8s 16 years ago

This movie is hilarious and still holds up well after all these years. I would consider it one of the best comedies of all time, certainly in my Top 20.

I think Sandy Dennis is perfectly cast in this as the dutiful wife, intentionally nasally, annoying, naive, deadpan, and reasonably cute, but not overly attractive. I can't think of another actress from that era that could have done a better job.

The re-make, I'm sorry to say (because I like the actors), was garbage (very forgettable and unnecessary). Steve Martin's Planes, Trains and Automobiles did a much better job of capturing the spirit of the travel mishap comedy genre and is another comedy in my Top 20.

"Oh my God!"

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[–] Isaac5855 16 years ago

I have to agree...the remake had its moments, but I think the original is much funnier overall.

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[–] 16 years ago

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[–] information_police 14 years ago

That "Felix-Unger-ish anxiety" you mention was Jack Lemmon's trademark. I guess you either like it/him or you don't. I happen to think he was one of the most enjoyable comedic screen actors of all time. And he translated it to drama well, also, in movies like "The Apartment" and "Glengarry, Glen Ross."

Nobody's looking for a puppeteer in today's wintry economic climate.

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[–] celestial_princess 12 years ago

I disagree. The remake had the couple move to New York, despite all of the problems. I didn't like the remake at all.

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[–] Holden Caulfield 17 years ago

The best part of this movie was seeing a pre Cloud City Lando Calrissian working as a ticket agent. And there were some good shots of New York too.

I also tried to like this, but while they were on the plane I was hoping for some turn of events that would change the way it was going. By that time I was already tired of both the husband and wife. The way he said his wife was worried about something when it was really him that was worried made me dislike him, and the way she didn't stand up for herself made me dislike her. And I know I was supposed to find humor in that, but I'm sorry to say I didn't, and for me, that reaction pretty much sums up all the happenings in this movie. I don't mean to sound like it's a big deal, it's just that I didn't find the movie very funny or entertaining, thats all. I'm glad other people have though.

I've greatly enjoyed other Neil Simon works - The Odd Couple, Murder by Death, Biloxi Blues, Max Dugan Returns, and a few others. I also love comedies of every sort from all ages of film-making so it's not like I was stepping away from what I'm used to by seeing this movie.

So anyway, like I said it's no big deal, I'm just saying it didn't work for me. Humor is funny like that.

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[–] Isaac5855 16 years ago

I also loved Anthony Holland as the desk clerk, Ann Prentiss as the stewardess, and Anne Meara as the woman at the police station who had her purse snatched.

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[–] be_leafer 17 years ago

I thought this movie would be great but found it totally annoying. I don't know how anyone would find it funny - maybe New Yorkers?

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[–] huweyjenkins 17 years ago

I agree - the remake wasn't a patch on the original. I admire Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn but as comic actors they are light years behind Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis who are in a class of their own. They were such great performers.

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[–] cleoew 16 years ago

I have to totally disagree. It was the interaction between Lemmon & Dennis that made this movie what it is. When I first saw this many, many years ago with my sister, we just howled with laughter. We *still* do Sandy Dennis' voice..."Oh my God." I think she was awesome, and can't imagine any other two besides them that could've pulled this off to the razor perfection that they did. The Martin/Hawn movie, by comparison, was a ridiculous joke...and I love Steve Martin. But you just can't improve on the original.

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[–] dudufrias 16 years ago

How can anyone hate Sandy Dennis' adorably pretty face?

You arrived home, found Miguel with M. Gambrelli, and killed him in a rit of fealous jage!

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[–] alice_doesntlivehere 16 years ago

My mom hated her because of her buck teeth. I think Sandy Dennis was an excellent actress.

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[–] koffeenkreame41-1 11 years ago

I loved her and thought she was very pretty, especially in here.

"I am the ultimate badass, you do not wanna `*beep*` wit me!"- Hudson in Aliens.

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[–] 11 years ago

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[–] MystMoonstruck 9 years ago

My mom and I watched Sandy Dennis in "Up the Down Staircase" tonight. Partway through, my mom said, "I want to see that movie. You know the one. 'Oh my God!'" She did Sandy's nasal voice perfectly! In fact, the two of us throw those words in that tone back and forth at opportune times, especially when we need a lift after too much bad news.

Little did I realize that Encore would be showing it later tonight! I'm watching it now at 1:30 a.m. though I planned to go to bed early~well, early for night owl me.

"Oh my God!" Or, should that be "Gawwwwwwd"? *giggle*

This was a date movie for me, and, to this day, I don't think I have laughed as hard at a movie! Well... There was our first viewing of "Airplane!" I suppose. Still, for a "reality" comedy, this one still is hilarious~painfully so~because things go sooooo wrong! Then, there's the ending! *snicker*snort*

EDIT: The remake is horrid! I like the actors, and a local guy is in the film. But, it was simply too awful, especially if you're familiar with the brilliance of Neil Simon's Seventies film.

(W)hat are we without our dreams?
Making sure our fantasies
Do not overpower our realities. ~ RC

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[–] deem714 16 years ago

I am not the only peson in the world that didn't like the wife in this?? Thank god.

I just saw it for the first time in its entirety and I couldn't stand her. She looked too plain to be with him. I mean he got Virna Lisi and Shirley McClain in other movies... why a plain jane here??

I have not seen the remake yet, but I think that this movie was not a movie of Lemmon's to remake. I would love to see a remake of How To Murder your Wife, personally.

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[–] 16 years ago

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[–] srklondie 16 years ago

Go watch " When Harry Met Sally ". I think that's more your speed.

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[–] srklondie 16 years ago

Go watch " When Harry Met Sally ". I think that's more your speed.

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