mark.waltz A similar set-up of a film made after this one shows that even an apparent rip-off can be funny, although I can tell honestly that the 1987 Bette Midler/Shelley Long comedy was not ripping this off. It's a shame because I had high hopes for the first pairing of Gene Wilder and Gilda Radner, and they end up with a humorless thriller that wastes their talents. If I had wanted a spy thriller, I would have gotten a James Bond film, not Willy Wonka meets Emily Latella. Wilder is in the wrong place at the wrong time, ending up accused of killing Kathleen Quinlan and on the run with Radner, going from New York to Boston to the grand canyon while being chased by Richard Widmark and his thugs for a convoluted old computer tape. It is a mess of a plot with familiar character players popping up in minute long cameos. It took a while for this to get off the ground, and I breathed a sigh of relief when Gilda showed up. Unfortunately, there aren't really any major laughs, and far too many plot twists, none of which are thick enough to fill up the holes. Gene and Gilda deserved a lot better than this, especially in a film directed by Sidney Poitier.

gwnightscream Gene Wilder, Gilda Radner, Kathleen Quinlan and Richard Widmark star in this 1982 comedy-thriller. Wilder (Stir Crazy) plays Michael Jordon, no not the basketball player, but a New York architect who gets caught up in a web of intrigue when he's mistaken for killing a woman, Janet Dunn (Quinlan). He meets female reporter, Kate Hellman (Radner) who helps him clear his name and he helps her in return by finding her brother's killers. Michael and Kate are chased by Janet's killer, Ransom (Widmark) and his men while they try to find the clues. I've always liked this film and think it's underrated. Gene and Gilda were great together and Richard was a good villain. I recommend this good comedy-thriller.

Kieran Green 'HANKY PANKY' Directed by Sidney Poitier,(To Sir With Love ) Is an only so-so comic outing with Gene Wilder, Minus 'Richard Pryor,RIP:( Instead wilder is cast with his real life wife, Gilda Radner,(Rip) Wilder plays innocent bystander, Micheal Jordon, who whilst in a taxi cab unwittingly becomes involved with a hysterical women, played by Kathleen Quinlan, Quinlan hand's some Government documents on to wilder who then becomes the target of Richard Widmark, in another trademark villainous role, as a shady government agent, Wilder And Radner, are hilariously pitted together with supreme comic situations, that culminates in a deadly showdown, with the villains,

jimnesie-1 This is such a great classical Gene Wilder movie. The first one he starred in with Gilda and they married soon after. Full of funny Wilder mannerisms. If you are not a fan of clean comedy you may find it not to your liking. In my personal favorites collection. It has everything a comedy should have. Wilder and Radner seem to feed off each other in their comedy. There is a lot of contrived material, but this is fiction and this material can be considered poetic license. Gene Wilder is at his usual with his unique mannerisms and his character portrayal. There are some extremely funny moments. There are some slow moments when the thin plot is being expanded. But this is not a movie you view for high drama, it is a movie you view just for the sheer pleasure of laughing.