generationofswine For a lot of people Martin Short can be sort of a turn-off. "¡Three Amigos!" "Innerspace," a small but enduring part in "Father of the Bride" movies...and really that's about all. Even then he's not exactly the lead in any of them, or at least not entirely so you can relax and rest assured that it won't be that annoying.At first glance "Pure Luck" certainly seems like one of those, you know, Martin Short comedies.But, you do have Officer Murtaugh, or I guess Danny Glover and if we know anything about him it's that your diplomatic immunity has just been revoked and that Glover can play one of the best straight men in Hollywood.No joke, it's a role that's often overlooked and there is a tendency to look at Glover as a dramatic actor and for good reason...but even in the Lethal Weapon movies you can see it.He's got great comedic timing. He approaches comedy in the right way, that is to say that he treats it like it's a dramatic role...and what's more he knows when to not be funny and just react so that horribly over the top people like Martin Short get a chance to shine.You put it all together and he was the perfect man to cast against someone like Martin Short. Without Glover "Pure Luck" never would have worked as a film.The jokes are funny, they really are.The part that stands out the most, in the twenty-plus years since it was on the big screen is the clip where Glover is torturing a poor soul with a photograph. A scene that would have failed if it was over done, but again, Glover knows when to step back for the sake of the joke and because of that it is still one of the most memorable and hysterical gags I've seen in a movie."Pure Luck" is a comedy that should have missed it's mark entirely, but despite of it's failures turned out hysterical and should be a lesson to all young actors out there. It only really succeeded because of Danny Glover and now it stands as a testament to how to properly play a straight man.

videorama-759-859391 You gotta love the originality and smarts to this movie. Just watching it again, last night (God knows the last time I saw this film, it was yonks) he had me bringing up the question, "What the hell happened to Martin Short?". He wasn't a bad actor, and deserved more roles. This film, incidentally, if you didn't know, was made from the people who made Malcolm. This is their first film, venturing out of Australia, yet somethings gone afoul here, when judged against their last three films, which I all enjoyed. They were all good films, and I'll let you in on a little secret, I did like this one the best, but as a film, it just fell into average fare, and as a comedy, I would of found it funnier, when I viewed it all those years ago, and I too clearly remember being impressed by the makers of it, if a little envious. The plot is pure genius. This consistently accident prone daughter is kidnapped while holidaying on the French riviera. No ransom, no note. A month has passed where this super detective (Glover) has got nowhere. His only option at the advice of the daughter's dad (Wanamaker) and a psychiatrist, is to use a accident prone sales assistant (Short) of equal misfortune, to lead, or more correctly let em' stumble onto the daughter's whereabouts. Glover and Short do make a wonderful team, and some of the gags are truly memorable, trust me, no more greater than the bee sting that gets out of control and Turns Short into Blubberman, while the ending is classic, and genius, not the only genius moment. I must of really enjoyed the film, cause it passed quick, yet again it's just average, as if running short of something. Some gags won't rub off of people. Summed up, it's a cute little film, like it's actress Kelly. The ending is a match made in Heaven, literally, if they die first. Ha.

Scott LeBrun This Americanized remake of the French film "Le Chevre" is essentially a mild, one joke comedy. That said, that one joke is reasonably amusing and leads to some effective slapstick, all performed with bravado by the talented Martin Short. He and the other cast members make this pleasant, if not hilarious, to watch. Certainly there's gorgeous Mexican scenery to enjoy as well. Eventually the movie does get a little tiresome but it *does* continue with the gags right up to the end credits.Sheila Kelley co-stars as Valerie Highsmith, the daughter of a business magnate played by Sam Wanamaker. Her character is terminally accident prone, and when she disappears, a psychiatrist in Wanamakers' employ (Harry Shearer) has a brainstorm: use Eugene Proctor (Short), the unluckiest man in the company, to try to track her down. Hopefully these two hapless souls will be just unlucky enough to be drawn to each other somehow. Naturally, dedicated private detective Raymond Campanella (Danny Glover) thinks this is a stupid idea, and he starts to grow weary of Proctors' endless pratfalls, but starts to become a believer as he and Proctor get some leads.If it weren't for Short, this wouldn't work as well as it does. He just throws himself right into the part. And Glover, just as he did in the "Lethal Weapon" franchise, proves to be the consummate straight man. Shearer doesn't really get a chance to be funny, but Wanamaker is good, and the sexy Ms. Kelley is an appealing klutz. Also providing fine support are Scott Wilson as small time crook Frank Grimes - who comes to deeply regret his association with Valerie, Jorge Russek as helpful Mexican police inspector Segura, Jorge Luke as an amiable pilot, and Sergio Calderon as a sleazy bartender.The best gag revolves around a bee sting, with fun makeup effects by the ever reliable KNB effects group.All in all, it's watchable enough, and good for some modest chuckles.Six out of 10.

Movielover This is my favorite movie. I have never laughed as hard as I did in this movie. I don't like comedy actors like Martin Short, Jim Carrey or Steve Martin. As a matter of fact I avoid them and any other "slapstick" comedy, but this movie made me laugh. The idea of it...using one person with bad luck to find another is ingenious! I hope others out there will give the movie a chance and watch it with a light heart. If you don't think people like this exist...you are wrong! They are living their lives trying to accept with a positive attitude what fate has given them...just plain old bad luck! I had to watch this movie several times to hear the whole dialog, my continuous laughter made me miss a lot!