Expected more

n my opinion it was a great movie with some interesting elements, even though having some plot holes and the ending probably was just too messy and crammed together, but still fun to watch and not your casual movie that is similar to all other ones.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

This movie isn't at all what I expected. I thought it would be much more predictable, more cartoonish, or childish, like "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World." Certainly there's a lot of slapstick, and a lot of the references and jokes are dated - but, for the most part, this movie stands up to the test of time, and is skewering so much more than the tobacco industry: the self-righteous Joel-Osteen-like preacher, the Tea-Party-like Christopher Mott Society, the product tie-ins to the city's stunt, the resulting media circus, the attempts by the town to make money off their stunt, the anti-capitalist protesters (Occupy Eagle Rock?), the armed militia, the corporate villains afraid of the movement, the new age guru… it's all here, just like now. This a darkly hilarious, searing, indictment of misplaced American values, most of which we're still embracing today. If you are going to watch, keep in mind that this is a very visual movie - most of the laughs, and the satire, come from what you are seeing, not what's being said, so you have to watch (no multi-tasking!). It's also a movie worth watching only on a channel that won't cut any of the very adult language. The almost-silent Pippa Scott almost steals the film, IMO - she's brilliant, as is her character. Second comes Judith Lowry as the gun-toting Odie. There's only one thing I don't like about the movie: Bob Newhart. He's more creepy than funny, which I didn't think was possible (I'm a big fan).

With a marvelous cast, you know you're in for a treat on this satire regarding smoking.Eagle Rock, Iowa accepts the challenge of tobacco for its residents to quit smoking for one month so that the depressed town can get $25 million. The man who proposed this as a joke, soon finds it no laughing matter and Bob Newhart, as that man, tries about anything he can to prevent this from happening.The town Reverend, wonderfully played by Dick Van Dyke, even starts smoking again himself to show the town how difficult it will be to give it up.There are so many wonderful themes discussed here-commercialization, and factory pollutants which endanger the health of the residents as well. The depiction of withdrawal and the irritability it causes is hilarious, but so very true.The ending was somewhat silly in showing that you don't give Judith Lowry a gun. Barnard Hughes,as the surgeon, who is a constant smoker, steals the movie with some of his acting.

Norman Lear's satire is more fun than funny. Dick Van Dyke is a minister in small dying Eagle Rock, IA who rallies the townspeople to quit smoking for one month in order to win $25,000,000. The town goes crazy, eating everything in sight, bickering and even kicking dogs. Van Dyke is stoic rather than funny but it helps a lot that the town is populated by clowns likes of Vincent Gardenia, Jean Stapleton, Barnard Hughes, Graham Jarvis and Tom Poston (very funny as the town dipsomaniac). Pippa Scott is pretty fetching as Van Dyke's wife. Bob & Ray pop up from time to time as hilarious newscasters and Bob Newhart is the shifty tobacco company man who starts it all and then tries to stop the town from winning. Randy Newman's music score, his first, remains one of his best.

Every now and then some naive or scheming corporate executive comes along with such a stupid or outrageous idea to boost sales of a particular product, he believes no one can actually overcome his incredible challenge. Such is the basis for this film called " Cold Turkey." In the spirit of trying to imitate notable figures like Dr. Albert Schweizer or Alfred Nobel, Merwin Wren (Bob Newhart) a Valiant Tobacco executive convinces Hiram C. Grayson (Edward Everett Horton) of a brilliant, though patently ludicrous idea to increase sales, while at the same time appearing philanthropic and noble. His challenge to America is to offer a $25,000 million dollar prize to any city in America which can quit smoking for thirty days. Taking the challenge is a baptist minister (Dick Van Dyke) a Rev. Clayton Brooks, in Little Rock Iowa. Once the town is enrolled in the pledge, the fun begins. What transpires in the following weeks is sheer lunacy for the towns people, the Tobbaco company and the news media. Although the test is one of physical discipline, emotional struggle and civic patriotic commitment, it transforms into one of social upheaval when all involved realize the prize and it's future personal potential. This is a superb achievement in films and noted as Edward Everette Horton's final film. Tom Poston, Vincent Gardenia, Barnard Hughes and Jean Stapleton are simple magnificent. Excellent family fare and easily recommended. ****