SPLITTING HEIRS
A film review by James Berardinelli
Copyright 1993 James Berardinelli
Rating: 5.8 (C, **)
Date Released: 4/30/93 Running Length: 1:27 Rated: PG-13 (Language, nudity, mature themes)
Starring: Rick Moranis, Eric Idle, Barbara Hershey,
Catherine Zeta Jones, John Cleese
Director: Robert Young
Producers: Simon Bosanquet and Redmond Morris
Screenplay: Eric Idle
Music: Michael Kamen
Released by Universal Pictures
It's a case of two babies switched at birth. Tommy (Eric Idle), really a duke, has been growing up as one of many children in an Indian household in London. Henry (Rick Moranis), really the son of a cook, has been accepted for years as the legitimate heir to the dukedom. When Tommy discovers that he is actually the heir, he begins to scheme how to assume his rightful position. With the help of an unethical lawyer named Shadgrind (John Cleese), Tommy plots to assassinate Henry and take his place. After Tommy proves to be an inept killer, Shadgrind decides to take matters into his own hands, but his attempts prove little more successful.
Without a doubt, John Cleese is one of the modern masters of comedy. In addition to his large body of MONTY PYTHON work and the riotously funny television series FAWLTY TOWERS, Cleese turned in a terrific performance in the little-known Clockwise and was the creative force behind A FISH CALLED WANDA. His presence in SPLITTING HEIRS all-but-guaranteed a film of some quality. Or so I thought before seeing it.
SPLITTING HEIRS manages to utterly fail in spite of Cleese's presence. Actually, although his presence has been heavily promoted, John's performance is little more than a cameo--at most, his screen time totals ten minutes. Like in ERIC THE VIKING, the scenes in which Cleese is featured have a degree of life and humor, but most of the rest of the production is in need of resuscitation.
Sadly, Eric Idle, another of the Pythons, is part of the problem. He is not the same comedian that he was twenty-five years ago--or even ten years ago. Those who have enjoyed his recent, banal projects will likely enjoy SPLITTING HEIRS. The humor, while not in the same vein as the awful NUNS ON THE RUN, is definitely on the same level--juvenile, stupid, and frequently unfunny. The script is insulting to the intelligence. Too often, this movie plays like a run-of-the-mill television sitcom. Little, if anything, of the unique brand of mayhem that made MONTY PYTHON so enjoyable, exists in SPLITTING HEIRS. This is BLAME IT ON THE BELLBOY with John Cleese--cat food garnished with caviar.
Since LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, Rick Moranis has been drifting listlessly from role to role, rarely eliciting more than an occasional laugh in any given film. SPLITTING HEIRS will do nothing to reverse that trend. From start to finish, he is flat, and Idle isn't much better. At least Barbara Hershey enjoys a rare chance to go over-the-top.
Most of the laugh-generating scenes involve Cleese. Had his role in the movie been enlarged, the production might have been less tedious, but such a boon to the audience was not to be. Eric Idle, who wrote, executive produced, co-starred in, and sung a couple of songs for this movie, has to bear the brunt of the responsibility. Anyone contemplating going to see SPLITTING HEIRS would do better to watch some old PYTHON re-runs and wait for John Cleese's next film. Hopefully next time he'll be involved in something less ugly and more innovative.
Note: in response to some requests, all movie reviews written by me may be reprinted provided that they carry the following notification: "Copyright 1993 by James Berardinelli".
- James Berardinelli (blake7@cc.bellcore.com)
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