Where to start, first the movie was filmed around the fall of the Berlin wall, a bit of intentional dating of a time period, and actually filmed in Germany, so the filmmakers get a few plus points for that. Technically it is about the fall of the inner German barrier, between east and west Germany and a wacky inventor who wants to cross it, and doesn't due to the fact that by the time he is done with his invention to cross it, the wall is torn down.
And that is the waste of a good idea, a great movie could have been made about a man trying to cross the barrier, and not suceeding until Oct 1991, when the barrier was opened. Instead what we get is a version of the fish out of water scenario with wasted cameos, wasted talent, and shoddy writing.
First off, I had this movie as a kid, the supermarket had it for sale from their previewed video aisle, all copies I have seen on the market have been previewed from rental stores, I doubt this movie saw a wide retail release, or even a wide theatrical release. Just to write a review I tracked down another copy on VHS and watched it, and it was just like I remembered it, except my tastes had changed and i found it to be rather dreary and a chore to sit through, with occasional laughs from the cameos that are very much wasted.
Where to start with describing the actual film, what was put out on VHS back in 1992. it starts out with some classical music and scenes of the town that reflects the change from communist names to non communist names, it isn't important to the film, just a cheap joke. After the credits you get a voice over describing the inventor and some of his silly inventions. His final invention after 5 or so years of experimentation is a Trabant that is capable of high speeds and is powered by reuben (turnup) and the wall gets torn down before he gets to use it. later an American investor comes to town to become wasted cameo #1, George Kennedy gets a few scenes where he plays a generic American businessman. For that actor it is not really that much work, it was an easy paycheck and a trip to Germany. After two scenes, which for this film warrants a box cover photo to make it seem like you are in the entire movie, the inventor enters into an agreement to help save his town by sending his car to America for an auto show, where wasted cameo #2 gets started, Milton Berle playing a hotel clerk who isn't flummoxed by any earthquakes. He also meets one part of wasted talent, Billy Dee Williams, who is underused in this movie as a valet parker who was also a car thief at one time, who helps our inventor after the car is stolen. The entire movie then starts to become a traditional fish out of water story, the car gets found at wasted talent #3's house, played by Dom DeLuise, doing a mafia impression. Along the way we see Richard Moll, James Toklian, among other actors in roles that are more or less cameos. The movie resolves after they steal the car back and find an invenstor to save the town.
Now that the plot is out of the way, time to get down to the crux of the problem. The movie is full of bait and switch moments, the movie baits you with a story about a wacky inventor like the absent minded professor, but switches to a political commentary and fish out of water story that is not pulled off well at all. Half the jokes are "in east Germany this and that." It is not funny, the jokes get stale after the first 20 minutes as they are all retreads of the same joke. The guy has never been in a normal supermarket, show him amazed at that. The guy has never been in a huge city, show him amazed at that, rinse and repeat that joke. That is how most of the humor in this movie works. This film could have aired on a weekend TV movie show in the 90s like the NBC Sunday night movie, not a theatrical release.
In conclusion, avoid this movie unless you are a fan of cheesy comedies from the 90s that are boring and clichie beyond belief
And that is the waste of a good idea, a great movie could have been made about a man trying to cross the barrier, and not suceeding until Oct 1991, when the barrier was opened. Instead what we get is a version of the fish out of water scenario with wasted cameos, wasted talent, and shoddy writing.
First off, I had this movie as a kid, the supermarket had it for sale from their previewed video aisle, all copies I have seen on the market have been previewed from rental stores, I doubt this movie saw a wide retail release, or even a wide theatrical release. Just to write a review I tracked down another copy on VHS and watched it, and it was just like I remembered it, except my tastes had changed and i found it to be rather dreary and a chore to sit through, with occasional laughs from the cameos that are very much wasted.
Where to start with describing the actual film, what was put out on VHS back in 1992. it starts out with some classical music and scenes of the town that reflects the change from communist names to non communist names, it isn't important to the film, just a cheap joke. After the credits you get a voice over describing the inventor and some of his silly inventions. His final invention after 5 or so years of experimentation is a Trabant that is capable of high speeds and is powered by reuben (turnup) and the wall gets torn down before he gets to use it. later an American investor comes to town to become wasted cameo #1, George Kennedy gets a few scenes where he plays a generic American businessman. For that actor it is not really that much work, it was an easy paycheck and a trip to Germany. After two scenes, which for this film warrants a box cover photo to make it seem like you are in the entire movie, the inventor enters into an agreement to help save his town by sending his car to America for an auto show, where wasted cameo #2 gets started, Milton Berle playing a hotel clerk who isn't flummoxed by any earthquakes. He also meets one part of wasted talent, Billy Dee Williams, who is underused in this movie as a valet parker who was also a car thief at one time, who helps our inventor after the car is stolen. The entire movie then starts to become a traditional fish out of water story, the car gets found at wasted talent #3's house, played by Dom DeLuise, doing a mafia impression. Along the way we see Richard Moll, James Toklian, among other actors in roles that are more or less cameos. The movie resolves after they steal the car back and find an invenstor to save the town.
Now that the plot is out of the way, time to get down to the crux of the problem. The movie is full of bait and switch moments, the movie baits you with a story about a wacky inventor like the absent minded professor, but switches to a political commentary and fish out of water story that is not pulled off well at all. Half the jokes are "in east Germany this and that." It is not funny, the jokes get stale after the first 20 minutes as they are all retreads of the same joke. The guy has never been in a normal supermarket, show him amazed at that. The guy has never been in a huge city, show him amazed at that, rinse and repeat that joke. That is how most of the humor in this movie works. This film could have aired on a weekend TV movie show in the 90s like the NBC Sunday night movie, not a theatrical release.
In conclusion, avoid this movie unless you are a fan of cheesy comedies from the 90s that are boring and clichie beyond belief