Noises Off (1992)

Review by All Movie Guide
Peter Bogdanovich has had his ups and downs in his career, but a nice little feather in his cap is Noises Off, a fast-paced comedy adapted from the stage play by Michael Frayn. The film chronicles the journey of a British farce from tryouts in the Midwest to its Broadway opening and the comical disasters that ensue amongst the cast, crew, and director. Michael Caine is perfectly cast as the play's director, Lloyd Fellowes, and he delivers the best overall performance. His mannerisms and facial expressions demonstrate a comic timing that is right on. Bogdanovich deftly manages his ensemble cast, which, in addition to Caine, features Carol Burnett as an aging leading lady, John Ritter as her offstage paramour, Christopher Reeve in a rather dimwitted role, and Denholm Elliot as the old school, somewhat senile, has-been. There are tons of belly laughs and sight gags. The acting takes a bit of a backseat to the physical comedy, particularly in a long extended "backstage" sequence where there are myriad sight gags and virtually no dialogue. It's obviously a very difficult orchestration, but Bogdanovich acquits himself well as the editing and the pacing are fairly seamless. Marilu Henner is very funny as the "gossip," and the cast is rounded out by Julie Hagerty, Mark Linn-Baker as the beleaguered stagehand, and Nicollette Sheridan, who spends most of the film in her underwear. At times it seems like the cast is trying a bit too hard and the whole thing moves so fast it can lose an inattentive viewer, but these are minor points. It's a bit odd that a film with a prominent director and a top-of-the-line cast should have had so little success in theatrical release, but it's a treat worth searching out on video when the occasion calls for a few genuine laughs. ~ Dan Friedman, All Movie Guide