This attempt to remake the clever 1977 French farce
Un Moment d'Egarement stars 50-film-a-year man
Michael Caine as an executive named Matthew Hollis, who, together with friend Victor Lyons (
Joseph Bologna), travels to Rio de Janeiro on business. Victor sets out on the town in search of a lambada partner, leaving Matthew to fend for himself against his friend's over-sexed teenage daughter (
Michelle Johnson), who's come along for the ride. Soon, Matthew succumbs to her advances, despite his efforts to break off the affair, and finds himself a repeated statutory rapist, at least by American legal standards. The script plays out like an extended version of
Three's Company, with lots of near-misses and dumb-dumb humor; critics aptly noticed Caine's apparent discomfort throughout the film. Still, the breathtaking backdrops of Rio alone make the film worth watching. Certainly, Blame It on Rio falls short of equaling its inspiration. ~ Jeremy Beday, All Movie Guide