(1995)
2
Derek Armstrong
One way to recognize a bad movie, if you lack the perceptiveness to identify its other flaws, is to look at the character names. It's a screenwriting tradition for character names to serve as metaphors for personality traits, but there's such a thing as too much, and Two Much is a perfect example. In this screwball comedy, Antonio Banderas' character is named Art Dodge -- Art, because he's a painter and gallery owner, and Dodge, because he swindles grieving families into paying for artwork supposedly purchased by the deceased, so he's constantly "dodging" vindictive marks. (Never mind that this surname overlooks the fact that he's supposed to be Italian). This one silly detail epitomizes all of Two Much. Mistaken/dual-identity comedies live and die by how successfully the lead transitions between roles, and how convincingly the other characters are duped by the ruse. Truth be told, Banderas is pretty adept at this, including one genuinely clever set piece in which he's scurrying back and forth between two bedrooms, narrowly avoiding an awkwardly placed indoor pool on each trip. The problem is, the other characters seem pretty stupid for not recognizing it's the same guy, superficially changing his wardrobe and ponytailing his hair. Daryl Hannah and Melanie Griffith are the big losers in this respect, though Griffith doubtless fancies herself a winner, having hooked up with her future husband (Banderas) on this set. That's probably the most meaningful contribution Two Much makes to cinematic history, but for what it is -- a cookie-cutter farce -- it could be worse. Making things more tolerable is Joan Cusack as Dodge's assistant, who's reluctantly in on the scam, and has a heck of a fun time making him squirm as she flirts with revealing his secret.
releases for Two Much on AllMovie
Two Much (1995)
|
Title/Studio |
Release Date |
|
Two Much
Buena Vista Home Entertainment (Canadian)
More
|
January 1, 2008 |
|
Two Much
MGM
More
|
November 7, 2005 |
|
Two Much
Walt Disney Video
More
|
April 8, 2003 |
