The Man Who Knew Too Little (1997)

This Bill Murray film is trite and silly but it does remind us why we like the actor. Maybe moreso than any of his films within the last few years, "The Man..." is silly, goofy, seemingly improvised fun that allows Murray to simply relax and stretch out into his goofball character. Murray doesn't go overboard though. He seems relaxed and that makes it ten times easier to enjoy his apparent impormptu ramblings. That being said, this is not a great film; It's just a pleasant diversion.

The plot is so simple, it's hard to believe it's based on a book. Murray plays a video store clerk (who surprisingly doesn't ramble on about films) who celebrates his birthday by going to England to visit his brother (Peter Gallagher). The brother, a banker, is supposed to entertain a group of German businessmen on this same night, so he has to find a diversion for Murray. Surprisingly, the film has Gallagher glad to see his sibling. This film really takes higher ground at times and doesn't fall into slapstic cliches. This is unusual since much of the plot IS a cliche.

So in an effort to entertain his brother, Gallagher sets up Murray with a present of a trip to a new sort of theater. Like "The Game," Murray is cast in a live play, here called "The Theater of Life" where he gets to improvise with a cast in real life settings. It's supposed to be sort of experimental dinner theater type stuff.

Of course, wires get crossed and Murray actually gets caught up in a real plot involving international intrigue, modern day espionage and nuclear terrorism. Murray, meanwhile, thinks this is all part of the play and goofs his way through the plot with casual abandon that is generally amusing and often hilarious.

There is a love interest, of course, played by Joanne Whalley-Kilmer, as well as a guest terrorist played by Alfred Molina. No one really can take the spotlight off of Murray however and they are really secondary to what is going on here. It is nice to see Molina though, even if it's in a silly part.

"The Man Who Knew Too Little" isn't anything special. But if you check your brain at the door, it's fun. Murray is charming and Gallagher actually gets a funny scene. Forget the plot and just relax. You'll like it.

Note:

Directed by Jon Amiel.

The novel by Robert Farrar was entitled "Watch That Man," and the film was to be called this as well. The screenplay was written by Farrar and Howard Franklin. Music by Christopher Young.

A instrumental version of the song "Fever," is used throughout the first few minutes. A song by Nancy Sinatra is used as well.

(Review written in 1997)

Report Card

Script: C+

Acting: B+

Cinematography\Lighting: C

Special Effects\Make Up: D

Music: C-

Final Grade: C+