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Actors: Steve Martin, Goldie Hawn, John Cleese
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about The Out-Of-Towners |
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Henry and Nancy Clark are New Jersey empty nesters who find themselves alone with each other and fallen out of love. There youngest son has just left home and Nancy (Goldie Hawn) finds herself in an identity crisis wondering what to do. Henry (Steve Martin) is an aging advertising exec who suddenly finds himself without a job. Not telling Nancy that he is unemployed, he gets an offer in New York and decided to steal away for the interview. Imagine his shock when she shows up on the plane.
The whole trip is a disaster. They are diverted to Boston, their luggage is lost, they miss the only train out to NY, they end up with an overly expensive rental car with a stuck heater and eventually crash it having not bought the extra insurance. It doesn't get any easier when the get to New York as they are mugged on the street and all funds are taken. All except a credit card that Henry stuck in his sock for safe keeping. Henry thinks their luck has finally when they arrive at their upscale hotel. He whips out the magic credit card not knowing that his daughter has ran it up over the limit causing the card to be denied. The manager Mr. Mersault (John Cleese) is overly snide with their situation. Having not eaten and no money they decided to seek out their daughter who is living in the city. They do not find her at home but they do find the neighbors vicious dog just a little unfriendly. After being chased by they dog, they end up in a support group for sexual deviants and the truth about Henry's job comes out. They finally remember the lost luggage. They return to the hotel only to find things the same as before. In a desperate attempt, Nancy pretends to pick up on a guy in the bar so that she can get a free meal. This doesn't work out either. Henry gets caught in his room and the couple flee to the roof. This actually ends up being a lucky break because they spy the snooty Mr. Mersault cross dressing in a guests leopard shoes dancing a disco.
They couple sneak away from the hotel ending up in a robber's getaway car which they get tossed out of, they pick the worst of spots to rekindle their ailing romance and Henry get arrested for relieving himself in the park. Henry comments to another prisoner that he has an headache and instead of an aspirin the prisoner slips him a mickey. Nancy places a call to the dancing manager of the hotel and reminds him of his little show. This prompts him to bail the still high Henry out of jail and return them to there newly occupied penthouse suite. Henry finally sobers up just in time for his interview and knocks their socks off with his spontaneous slogan. He is hired on the spot and returns to the hotel to inform Nancy, who is about to leave him. He chooses her as his ad partner and gives her an office of her own, thereby solving her identity crisis. The couple live happily ever after making the penthouse suite their new home and becoming fast friends with Mr. Mersault.
--Talea, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of The Out-Of-Towners |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Comedy, primarily
Yes
Time/era of movie:
- present (2000-2010)
Kind of comedy
- vacation or seeing foreign culture
How much humor v. drama
- Nearly all humor
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- unemployed
Age:
- 40's-50's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Hair color?
- white
Hair type
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- (man) average
Events of movie makes character more...
- caring
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor?
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Hair color
- blonde
Hair style
- (woman) medium/shoulderlgn straight
Body type
- (woman) average
How much in movie?
- 90%-100%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Main Adversary
Identity:
- general circumstances
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 90%-100%
Setting
City?
Yes
City:
- New York
Misc setting
- resort/hotel
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
Movie makes you feel...
- full of laughter
Sex/nudity in movie?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- vague references only
- kissing
Is this movie based on a
- play
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Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
 Talea
SCHOLARS:
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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