Purely Joyful Movie!

Far from Perfect, Far from Terrible

Go in cold, and you're likely to emerge with your blood boiling. This has to be seen to be believed.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Eclectic director Arthur Hiller gives us another movie from his "odd-couple-up-to-their-neck-in-adventure" oeuvre with Outrageous Fortune. The film has obvious similarities to Hiller's earlier hit Silver Streak, and is a clear forerunner to his See No Evil Hear No Evil. In fact, the concept of ordinary characters being caught up in international intrigue found considerable favour during the '70s and '80s – besides the three Arthur Hiller films already mentioned, there's also the likes of Hanky Panky, The Man With One Red Shoe, High Anxiety and Jumpin' Jack Flash (to name but a few).Sandy Brozinsky (Bette Midler) and Lauren Ames (Shelley Long) are members of a New York acting class. They are as opposite as can be – Sandy loud, vulgar and brash; Lauren bookish, tender and sweet. Without knowing it they are both in love with the same man, Michael Sanders (Peter Coyote). When he is seemingly killed in a mysterious explosion, the two distraught lovers discover the truth about each other… and later, when asked to identify his remains, they realise that the body in the morgue is not the Michael Sanders they've shared a bed with for the past few weeks. Thrown together by chance, Sandy and Lauren embark on a cross country odyssey to track down their mystery man. Soon they are up to their necks in international espionage as it becomes clear they are not the only ones searching for Michael Sanders – indeed, the CIA and the KGB want him just as much as they do! The film is put together very slickly, with a fast-moving plot and plenty of snappy one-liners. At this point in her career, Midler was on a hot streak in a series of smash-hit comedies (Down And Out In Beverly Hills and Ruthless People being two of the biggest). Her character here is either flat-out hilarious or horribly annoying, depending on your taste in humour. Long plays it straighter and comes across very likably as the sweeter of the two hoodwinked lovers. Once the plot twists unravel themself, the film loses steam and in its final quarter becomes a disappointingly routine chase movie like any other. But up to that point, Outrageous Fortune is a lot of fun, a feminist variation of all those buddy-buddy flicks so typical of movies from the era. It has energy, vulgarity and attitude - much like its two female protagonists – and if you're looking for an entertainingly easy way to kill 100 minutes, you could do a lot worse.

What it lacks in originality it makes up for in chuzpah and pace. It also 'plants' key elements that will be needed in the last reel in the first reel (specifically Long being shown as accomplished in fencing and leaping). I can only agree with the poster who queried what kind of a guy would be drawn to both the personification of genteel breeding, stylish clothes, sophistication etc(as personified by Long) and the blowzy, uncouth, unpolished street-wise hooker (personified by Middler), in real life now way but this is a movie, right, so artistic license comes into play. By and large this 80s attempt at 30s Screwball keeps us interested and gives good diversion.

Two completely different dames fall for the same guy. Bette Midler and Shelly Long make a wonderful dynamic duo.The problem with the film is that once the total plot is revealed, the movie goes downhill in quality and becomes one with full chase scenes.The quality here is that these totally different women could possibly bond together. Of course, given the situation that confronts them, bonding would be a way of survival.Robert Prosky was quite funny as the acting teacher, who is really a KGB agent. Peter Coyote has his moments as the false elementary schoolteacher up to his neck in espionage as a double agent.Fun, but then it becomes increasingly inane.

This is one of my favorite movies. It is a little cheesy, but that's what makes it really funny. Bettey Midler and Shelley Long are hilarious together.One of the funniest scenes is where they are in the whorehouse looking for Their boyfriend. They put their ears to the door, and hear sexual noise coming from the first door. When they put their ears to the second door, they hear a goat. Finally, they recognize his "Oh God, Oh God, Oooooh Yeeeeeeah!" as he passes out.There are many other hilarious scenes in this movie. If you're in the mood for a good laugh, you will not be disappointed in this movie.