Genre: Comedy
Directed by: Allison Anders, Alexandre Rockwell, Robert Rodriguez, Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Tim Roth, Madonna, Valeria Golino, Jennifer Beals, Antonio Banderas, Tamlyn Tomita, Bruce Willis, Quentin Tarantino, Marisa Tomei
Released: December 25, 1995
General: The film revolves around ‘Ted’ (Roth) and the extremely zany evening he has on his first night on the job as he takes his new position as a bellhop on New Years Eve.
Liked:
Tim Roth. Dude is an amazing actor point blank period. I always end up looking forward to and enjoying his performances and this one is no exception as he portrayed a character that was seemingly an homage to Charlie Chaplin and Mr. Bean. His mannerisms and facial expressions seem picked straight out of a Mr. Bean movie, and his dimwitted-ness is adorable.
Antonia Bandaras and his bad ass kids. I cringed watching Bandaras’ character comb his sons hairs and felt the pain, the torment, and the torture every little boy has to suffer through when their parents want them looking presentable. It’s not as small a price to pay as some parents think!
Quentin Tarantino. The guy is an over the top character in a over the top movie, so its perfectly appropriate to allow the guy to torture poor Ted as well in a hilarious short about a bet. no, not just any bet mind you THE BET, winner take all. Either someone is losing an exotic car or a pinky. Without revealing too much, I just have to say that I really like who won the bet and how it was handled.
Hated:
Quentin Tarantino. I would have liked this more if it were ordered a little sooner in the movie. After sitting through all the other trials and tribulations, I really just wanted to see Ted go home and get the rest and relaxation he so righteously deserved. This scene was too over the top to force someone to endure after all the other hijinx that were witnessed, the viewed is just plain exhausted. Aside from the placement of the skit, I loved it.
Overall I thought the movie was enjoyable. I enjoy seeing Tim Roth in starring roles, and the list cast and directors are star studded enough that you would at least read the description if you saw this on the shelf of a store. I thought it was a tad too long, and the shorts should have been organized differently for better pacing, but aside from my small qualms the movie is a classic and deserves to sit closer to the hi-jink movies of the late 80’s rather than next to the testosterone action movies of the mid 90’s. I’d recommend renting this one or looking out for it on cable if you don’t intend to own it.
1995 Trailer:
