Outrageous Fortune (1987)

Outrageous Fortune proved to be another moderate hit for Bette Midler after her hilarious turns in Ruthless People and Down and Out in Beverly Hills, as well as one of the only hits on the checkered resumé of Shelley Long. "Outrageous" is a pretty good word to describe it: About as zany as farces get, Arthur Hiller's film moves along with a bold head of steam for much of the narrative, before losing some of its grounding in a misguided finale that finds the two actresses jumping between cliffs. The leads work quite well together, with Long's snooty Diane Chambers persona playing memorably off of Midler's brassiness. George Carlin is funny, too, one of the few bright spots of the over-the-top final act in the Southwestern desert. Leslie Dixon's auspicious screenwriting debut earned a succession of subsequent work in similarly madcap comedies, including Mrs. Doubtfire (1993). While mismatched buddy movies like this are nothing new, it's a nice change to see the leads essayed by women, especially capable comic actresses like Midler and Long. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide