Rented Lips

Whenever anyone asks me about the worst movie I've ever seen - I ALWAYS say, "Rented Lips." Thankfully, these lucky people never know what I'm talking about. I only saw this because I'm a fan of Downey Jr's... and much like the Ally McBeal saga was - no matter how much of a fan I am of his, there are some things I just can't sit through.

This film is just bad... I don't remember if it was Downey Sr's directing, or Jennifer Tilly's existence, or the fact that Martin Mull was in it AND wrote it (look at all these warning signs.. and I still decided to watch)... I just remember how much I couldn't believe that it actually got made... Thus reaffirming my belief that ANYONE can make a movie these days.

Save yourself folks... Even if you're Downey Jr fans... If you want to sit through a bad Downey Jr movie, go rent Two Girls And A Guy.. at least you'll get some singin, dancin, Shakespeare and great acting in that one.

By now Robert Downey Sr is probably only known as Robert Downey Jr's father. Some years ago I saw the elder Downey's "Putney Swope" and found it to be THE perfect satire. So now I see Downey's "Rented Lips", starring Martin Mull and Dick Shawn as documentary makers who get the chance to make their dream picture, but also have to make a porno movie, and then have to protect it from a fanatical clergyman (Kenneth Mars). It's one of those movies where the humor is very subtle, almost centering on the plot line. Plenty of scenes definitely made me laugh, but this is far from the most hilarious movie. Robert Downey Jr has some of the best scenes as the porno movie's temperamental star, but the whole movie almost seems like something that they made for fun.

Also starring Jennifer Tilly, June Lockhart and Shelley Berman.

I had been looking for this for a while, because I am a huge fan of Robert Downey Jr. When I purchased it in a thrift store the other day and watched it last night, I knew why it was rare and out-of-print. I only got through the first twenty minutes before I had to stop it and ask myself why I had even sat through that much. It's absolutely disgusting and poorly acted (though if you've seen any of Robert Downey Sr's other movies this doesn't seem strange). Plus, it was written by Martin Mull, who isn't that great of an actor (he was pretty bad on "Sabrina The Teenage Witch").

It is kind of cool to own this movie because of it's rarity, but as much as I love Robert Downey Jr, I can't bring myself to finish watching this. If you're a fan as well, avoid this movie. You have been warned.

a command performance from every star involved; this movie presents a fine, enjoyable, and quite entertaining jaunt through mull's exquisite grasp of subtle intellectual humor easily on par with his f.m., the TV show, and white people, and an easy constituent of the jerk, this is spinal tap, and clue. truly one of the pioneering mocumentaries (though this is a film about them rather than in the actual mocumentary genre.)

reiner, mckean, and mull's early productions tend to blend in humor aspects, writing style, and occasionally cast and are pinnacles in the industry of b movies. this collaboration is one of the prime pictures showing the American's loose grasp of dry, non-laugh tracked humor, that so many British television seems to have left us straggling behind in the dust. any b- movie aficionado would be proud to watch and subsequently force upon every person they cared deeply about.

i mean really, a musical nazi porno . . . what's not to nervously laugh at?

This film is so weird, but it does have its "Moments"..although very few in between such long dull stretches. Kenneth Mars, and Downey have a few good moments,as well as Dick Shawn. I could not believe June Lockhart was in this mess, but she was slumming.But the entire movie as a whole is a waste of time.. The plot is great. A Nazi porno movie, but it went so wrong. I think a better director/writer could have had a field day with this premise, but Martin Mull is a minor talent one his small level. A bizarre film and end/swan song to a great talent like Dick Shawn. He deserved better.But in way, he was a really different type of talent, so there you go.